Leslie Ellen Jones

This book has a few interesting details and thought trains, but the organization versus application of those thoughts was disjointed.

For example, sections discussing specific mythologies assume a familiarity with the myths being covered. I had no problem reading the Greek section and following the author's thoughts, but the Celtic section lost me as I lack a true familiarity with that pantheon's mythology.

I wanted to know more about the man I knew as author of Lord of the Rings first and an accomplished scholar later; this biography covers the ground and, for me, contained some surprises like his birth in South Africa. The author also discusses his major fiction works, tracing sources and rooting all in his philological perfectionism.