Die Bovadium Fragmente

J.R.R. Tolkiens ganz persönlicher Kampf gegen die Zerstörung der Umwelt Mit Originalillustrationen von J.R.R. Tolkien Nahe der alten Stadt Bovadium erfand einst ein Daemon die Motores. Die begeisterten Menschen wurden bald zu ihren Sklaven. Mit diesem Buch beweist Tolkien, dass er erfasste, was die Menschen erst später begriffen: die Katastrophe, die mit der Automobilisierung von Städten auf uns zurollte.  Anfang der 1950er Jahre tobte in Oxford eine Kontroverse, und mitten drin J.R.R. Tolkien. Die nahe gelegenen Morris-Automobilwerke hatten den Verkehr ins Unerträgliche ansteigen lassen, und neue Straßen drohten, den Charakter der Universitätsstadt zu zerstören. Als Reaktion darauf verfasste Tolkien eine satirische Fantasy-Geschichte -  Die Bovadium Fragmente -, die erzählen, wie schreckliche Maschinen die Stadt erobern. Und die Motores verstopfen die Straßen mit Lärm und Gestank, bis alles Leben zum Stillstand kommt. Hier zeigt sich Tolkien von seiner ironischen, gelehrten und doch auch tragischen Seite. Die von Christopher Tolkien edierte Ausgabe aus Tolkiens Nachlass ist mit Bildern von seiner Hand, zeitgenössischen Fotos und Plänen versehen. Sie enthält einen exclusiven Essay von Richard Ovenden, dem Direktor der Bodleian Library, zur Geschichte Oxfords in der ersten Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts.

J.R.R. Tolkien was born on 3rd January 1892 in Bloemfontein.After serving in the First World War, Tolkien embarked upona distinguished academic career and was recognised as one ofthe finest philologists in the world. He is, however, best knownas the creator of Middle-earth and author of such classic andextraordinary works of fiction as The Hobbit, The Lord of theRings and The Silmarillion. His books have been translated intomore than 80 languages and have sold many millions of copiesworldwide. He was awarded a CBE, and an honorary Doctorateof Letters from Oxford University in 1972. He died in 1973 atthe age of 81.Ch ristopher Tolkien, born on 21 November 1924, was thethird son of J.R.R. Tolkien. During the Second WorldWar he served in the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm asa pilot. At the end of the war he returned to Oxford Universityand became a Fellow and Tutor in English of New College in1964, lecturing in the University on early English and northernliterature. Appointed by J.R.R Tolkien to be his literaryexecutor, he devoted himself after his father's death in 1973to the completion and publication of his writings, notablyThe Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, the twelve volumes collectivelyknown as The History of Middle-earth, and The Children of Húrin,Beren and Lúthien and The Fall of Gondolin. In 1975 he movedwith his wife Baillie to live in France and in 2016 was awardedthe University of Oxford's Bodley Medal for his outstandingcontribution to the world of literature, culture, science andcommunication. He died on 16 January 2020 at the age of 95.Richard Ovenden is Bodley's Librarian and Helen HamlynDirector of University Libraries, the 25th personto hold the senior executive position in the library of theUniversity of Oxford, having moved to the Bodleian Librariesin 2003 as Keeper of Special Collections. He is also thecurrent head of the University of Oxford's Gardens, Librariesand Museums group. Since 1987 he has worked in a numberof important archives and libraries, including the House ofLords Library, the National Library of Scotland (as a Curatorof Rare Books) and in the University of Edinburgh, where hewas Director of Collections. Richard was awarded the OBE inThe Queen's Birthday Honours, 2019