Customer Reviews
A most wonderful little book 
2007-08-02
Long ago, in the lands of the Little Kingdom, there lived a farmer by the name of Aegidius Ahenobarbus Julius Agricola de Hammo - or in the vulgar form, Farmer Giles of Ham. A no-nonsense man was Farmer Giles, and when someone steps onto his property, he is there to meet him with his blunderbuss. However, when the next person to set foot on his property is a giant, Farmer Giles soon finds himself dealing with kings and knights and legendary swords and, worst of all, dragons!
I have long been familiar with J.R.R. Tolkein's famous books - The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings - but, this cute little book shows that just about everything that he put his hand to he did beautifully! This is a most wonderful little book, one that is sure to entertain any lover of good fantasy literature. I loved this book, and highly recommend it!
Good story by Tolkien 
2006-12-21
A minor work by Tolkien, published in 1947, this small book (a bit larger than a short story, but well shorter than a typical novel) is set in an undetermined time in England (but which looks like the early middle ages, allowing for a number of anachronistic details, and unconnected with the Middle Earth of his most famous works). The hero goes through a series of encounters with mythical creatures and medieval knights, but his simplicity makes him always turn out on top. In that sense, this book has a tone that is remarkably similar with Chretien de Troyes great medieval book Perceval. So, in a way, this might be seen as Tolkien's own (indirect) try at the Arthurian legend.
Entertaining Fairy Tale 2006-11-24
This is the story of how a farmer (and his dog) defend their farm from ogres and dragons and the like, which propels them reluctantly to fame and riches. Filled with irony, humor, and good morals, (not to mention fairy-tale action) it is a story that shows Tolkien's lighter side.
Farmer Giles of Ham is a fairy tale like story. It is rather short, and LOTR fans will find it lacking a lot of the depth Tolkien usually has. I would recommend it to a younger audience to get kids interested in his greater works. Still, it is pretty entertaining.
Funny Fairy Tale 2005-09-14
This particular Tolkien's story might not be a classic but it is still a wonderful narration, full of comical characters. It is also accompanied by illustrations that might interest a child more in picking up the book to read. Compared to other Tolkien's writing, this is extremely brief. Tolkien was well-known for his vast imaginations and this yarn of his was another example of his ingenuity. Although the story line is brilliant, the language itself is not as beautiful or as smooth as other Tolkien's literary effort. Nonetheless, it is a humorous tale that brings smiles and laughter throughout all of the few pages.
A marvelous little jem. 2005-01-12
This can be appreciated by both children and adults. The story itself, children will delight in. JRRT's bilingual puns will delight the more educated adults. (When the Blacksmith says that the Feast of Sts. Hilarius and Felix was an 'unlucky' day, for example; for those who don't know Latin, 'hilarius' means 'funny' and 'felix' means 'happy.)
Through all the laughter, JRRT does make some serious points. In his definition of 'blunderbuss' (lifted from the OED, of which he was a compiler) it says that a blunderbuss has been 'superceded in civilized countries by more sophisticated firearms.' JRRT immediately points out that, as Farmer Giles' country had not yet been civilized, the blunderbuss was the only kind of gun around, and was fairly rare at that. This is a dig, of course, at those who would access how 'advanced' a society is by its technology, particularly weaponry. The fashion-conscious knights, the learned parson, and the young dragons who thought (and are now sure) that knights are 'mythical' also provide subtle commentary which children will not get, but adults will.
Another major theme is that of the ordinary man, living a quiet, comfortable life, who is forced into an extraordinary situation in which his eyes are opened to a larger world--some of it beautiful, some of it horrible--beyond the borders of his snug, smug little corner of it, and who finds out that he's a lot braver, and a lot cleverer than anyone (including himself!) thinks he is. This is the central theme of 'The Hobbit', and is told in a slighter form here.
One is tempted to speculate that JRRT's experience in WW I may have had something to do with his attraction to this theme, for in that conflict he was a junior infantry officer in the British Army, in which he found himself, and his fellow soldiers, ordinary young Englishmen--mill workers, farmers, schoolteachers, college students, etc.--found themselves doing things that they never would have thought they ever could or would do. Some of them very brave things, some of them very clever things, and many of them horrible things.
SHORT AND VERY SWEET! 2004-05-14
The editors of the best-selling rediscovered Tolkien novel Roverandom present an expanded fiftieth anniversary edition of Tolkien's beloved classic Farmer Giles of Ham, complete with a map, the original story outline, the original first-edition illustrations by Pauline Baynes, and the author's notes for an unpublished sequel. Farmer Giles of Ham is a light-hearted satire for readers of all ages that tells the tale of a reluctant hero who must save his village from a dragon. It is a small gem of a tale that grows more delightful with each rereading.
More Insight into Tolkien... 2004-01-20
As sevreal reviewers have already mentioned, this isn't Tolkien's deepest work. If you are looking for depth, Lord of the Rings & such are your best bet. HOWEVER, if you are curious about the mind that created such great works as Lord of the Rings, then I think this tale can give you great insight.
In this story, an ordinary though slightly short-tempered farmer is looked to as the savior of England due to an accidental but effective blow to a nearly blind & certainly lost giant. The king rewards him, and Giles is quite pleased...though the "professional heroes" of the time - the knights - are less than pleased with this amateur's success. However, when another threat turns up in the form of a neurotic dragon, Giles is not thrilled with his "duty" to save the people. The tale progress from here to its ironic, humorous, clever ending.
As other reviewers have mentioned, this tale shows a lively, sharp wit...playing off turns of phrase, ironic situations and unlikely heroes. However, the way such intelligence comes across seems as if Tolkien did this more for his own amusement than for impressing others. Like with "Roverandom" and "Father Christmas", Tolkien did not create this story for the public but rather for the private enjoyment of his sons.
As you learn this, you realize that Tolkien's mind naturally gravited towards fantastical adventures that access far-distant lands and many sorts of mythical creatures...and that he enjoyed writing such tales for his own sake...not to show off. He truly was an amazing man!
In the vulgar tongue: Cute 2003-04-15
"Farmer Giles of Ham" (in the vulgar tongue) is an entertaining little tale, maybe the first real comic fantasy novel (actually, more like novella). It's certainly not on par with his tales of hobbits and elves, but it's still cute, funny and very well-written.
Aegidius de Hammo (or in the "vulgar tongue," as Tolkien archly tells us, Farmer Giles of Ham) is a pleasant, not-too-bright farmer (a bit like Barliman Butterbur) who leads a fairly happy life. Until the day his excitable dog Garm warns him that a giant (deaf and very near-sighted) is stomping through and causing mayhem. Giles takes out his blunderbuss and takes a shot at the giant, and inadverantly drive him off.
Naturally, Giles is hailed as a hero. Even the King is impressed, and sends him the sword Caudimordax (vulgar name: Tailbiter), which belonged to a dragonslaying hero. By chance, the not-so-fierce dragon Chrysophylax Dives has started pillaging, destroying and attacking the nearby areas. Can a not-so-heroic farmer drive off a not-so-frightening dragon?
It's a fast, fun little adventure story with blundering giants, greedy dragons and unlikely heroes (the last one is what Tolkien always does best). It's not epic and it's not deep, but it is entertaining, especially for people who enjoy comic fantasies. You'll like this if you enjoyed the cuter moments of "The Hobbit" and stories like "Roverandum."
Tolkien's writing always seems to be winking at the reader. There are a lot of in-jokes for people who know Latin (the "vulgar tongue" comments) and a lot of cute moments, like the young dragons exclaiming that they always knew "knights were mythical!" And the illustrations resemble old tapestries and paintings, but they usually have a funny sort of twist to them.
"Farmer Giles" is not the deepest or most riveting of Tolkien's works, but it's a straightforward, cute little adventure that kids, adults, fans and non-fans of Tolkien will enjoy.
Tolkien was a badass 2002-12-28
This is a great little book. I can just see that grand old man Mr. Tolkien throwing bottles at his hound & Edith telling him forthrightly to drown the poor thing on the morrow. I'm going to go off-path a bit:Lots of folks say not to read this, that it makes you some kind of mindless Tolkien junkie if you appreciate his non-Middle-Earth material; I simply read on. I haven't spent a fortune on Tolkien: I bought the Hobbit & the Rings Trilogy when I was in sixth grade for $7. Everything else of his, including this, I've gotten at the local library. Smith of Wooton Major, Leaf by Niggle & Roverandom are just neat books worth reading in and of themselves. I read the Silmarillion & enjoyed it. I won't wade through Unfinished or Lost Tales because I'm not a junkie, just an enthusiast. The movies haven't been the most faithful adaptions, but I think Tolkien would have gotten a kick out of them. I'm not a mindless automoton addicted to capitalistic Tolkienia. I just like him because he was a man of faith, a lover of good beer & old yarns, a friend of C.S. Lewis, a fan of Robert E. Howard, & a great writer; he wasn't the smartest, the quickest, or the most academically prolific man, but was expectionally kind, thoughtful and enjoyably creative. Just give his non-Hobbit works a chance; they're good stuff.
A Fun Adventure by the Tolkien!!! 2002-06-18
"Farmer Giles of Ham" is a fast paced fantasy adventure by the same author of "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings." However, don't expect an epic like the ones of the other two books here. Tolkien here gives a fantasy adventure in a long ago Britain that is inhabited by supernatural beasts such as giants and dragons. The book is very short and can be read in one sitting.
Farmer Giles is a farmer of Ham, just as the title of the book suggests. When a huge giant comes into the village that he inhabits one night he fights it off and is recognized by the King. Farmer Giles is given a sword, named Tailbiter, and was used by a long ago hero that was a dragonslayer. When the giant spreads rumors of there being nothing in the lands that he came from to dragons, a curious dragon wanders down toward Ham. It is Farmer Giles' job to take care of the dragon. Read this fun filled fantasy adventure to find out the fate of the dragon and Farmer Giles.
This book is basically one very long chapter as it is not broken down into parts and can be thought of as a little part to a much bigger story. This is what differentiates this book from the classics "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings." At the end of the book there is an original text of how the original story was told. There is also a section of notes that were put together for people that are extra curious. The book also has many cute pictures that will get you along through Farmer Giles' adventures.
This is a super short read that can be enjoyed by adults as well as children, who I'd say this book would be liked by most. This simple tale was originally written for J.R.R. Tolkien's children and is like a fun fairy tale. This is a wonderful read that would be enjoyed by fans of Tolkien's other works. Just don't expect another "Lord of the Rings."
Happy Reading!
