Viking Bastard
Adventurer
Nice summary!
I bet it's also because the type of prose he was trying to evoke simply sounds better in Icelandic.
I think you are correct.
Nice summary!
I bet it's also because the type of prose he was trying to evoke simply sounds better in Icelandic.
I read it in Finnish when I was a kid, and I thought it was fantastic. Best thing ever, no faults whatsoever. Then I read the original language version, and I was stunned. The Finnish translation was faithful, it wasn't like anything was changed. And it is my language, so of course I'd prefer it. But I still hold that the English version isn't that good. There is something wrong with his prose.
If someone needs an introduction into fantasy just point them at The Hobbit. That's a foundational classic. Better book too.In my opinion, a great book, but certainly not a starter or introductory novel into fantasy. Better to get into the genre another way, and then try to appreciate LotR as the foundational classic.
It took me four tries over five years the get past the gathering at Rivendell scene. I love the story, and the background, but JRRT had a rough grasp of pacing.