First ever audio edition of one of J.R.R. Tolkienâs most important poetic dramas, that explores timely themes such as the nature of heroism and chivalry during war.
was originally published in the 1953 edition of . In December of that year, J.R.R. Tolkien took possession of a reel-to-reel tape recorder and, some time during the first few months of 1954, decided to record âthe whole thing on tapeâ as a way of âtestingâ the performative quality of the dramatic dialogue between TĂdwald and Torhthelm.The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelmâs SonEssays and Studies
For the older TĂdwald, Tolkien adopted a slower, deeper voice, perhaps akin to âthe voice of Gandalfâ that W.H. Auden recalls hearing as an undergraduate, as noted in Humphrey Carpenterâs. For the younger, more idealistic Torhthelm, Tolkien used a lighter, more spirited tone to convey his youth. Christopher Tolkien notes that his father added sound effects, such as the âcreaking and bumping of the waggon wheels, by moving a piece of furniture in his studyâ.J.R.R. Tolkien, A Biography
This recording, together with an introduction and the two accompanying essays read by Christopher Tolkien, was released on cassette tape in 1992, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of J.R.R. Tolkien and the 1001st anniversary of the Battle of Maldon. It was presented as a gift to the participants of the Tolkien Centenary Conference, Keble College, Oxford, and is now available as an audiobook for the first time.