A review by ceallaighsbooks
Farmer Giles Of Ham by J.R.R. Tolkien

adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

“‘So knights are mythical!’ said the younger and less experienced dragons. ‘We always thought so.’     ‘At least they may be getting rare,’ thought the older and wiser worms; ‘far and few and no longer to be feared.’”

author: JRR Tolkien
published: 1937
publisher: George Allen & Unwin

genre: comic medieval fable
setting: the Middle Kingdom
main themes/subjects: children’s fantasy / mock charter myth / a local legend featuring a brave farmer & his cowardly dog & his determined mare, a comic & light-hearted narrative voice, mock etymologies of actual place-names, a silly giant, an inconvenienced dragon, a selfish king, a vindictive miller, a morose blacksmith, & a bunch of useless knights, also puns

summary/blurbs/premise: a plucky farmer finds himself the hero of an unlooked for confrontation with a trespassing giant & before he knows it, he’s sent off by his village & the king to fight a dragon!

my thoughts:
This charming little fable is such a beautiful example of Tolkien’s light-hearted, whimsical, & indescribably clever way with words. Combining influences from medieval fables, children’s stories, fairy tales, heroic legends, charter myths, & place folklore, Tolkien weaves a story that is equal parts humor, adventure, & moral to such subtle & well-crafted effect that you will wish he’d spent ten times as much ink on the antics of Giles, his mare, & his little dog.

i would recommend this book to readers who enjoy lighthearted, wholesome, hilarious adventure stories. this book is best read aloud, & with all the proper voices. Or you could just listen to Derek Jacobi’s audiobook narration as it is *brilliant.*

final note: In our bookclub discussion for this book one of the readers pointed out that Saint Giles is traditionally the patron saint of the poor & Giles is certainly the everyman hero, standing up for justice in the face of a selfish & inept king, supplanting him, & ensuring that the rewards from his adventures benefit the whole community. Tolkien’s class consciousness is always on point. 💅🏻

“The song and tales of his deeds were many, and if forgotten at court, were still remembered in the villages.”

CW // some stressful situations with the dog
season: Spring
music pairing: medieval English folk music

further reading:
Tolkien’s bookshelf—

Check out my review on StopAndSmellTheBooks.com for a list of my favorite quotes & illustrations from the book.
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