The Book
For many, the stories of hobbits and fauns conjure up memories
from childhood and the clear theme of good versus evil, both on the battlefield
and within each character. In A Hobbit, A Wardrobe, and A Great War,
author Joseph Loconte argues that the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis
were influenced by their service in World War I. Tolkien served as a battalion
signals officer and began writing The Lord of the Rings while he was on
the front lines. The hobbits reflected the British soldiers he encountered, in
both courage and duty. Lewis was a 2nd lieutenant who saw active
trench warfare.
Loconte begins by helping the reader understand two contexts:
the world in the early 20th century and the context Tolkien and
Lewis grew up in: an era of progress and industrialization, science elevated
over religion, and duty. World War I entered this context like a bull in a
china shop. The views of man’s rationality were lost in trench warfare and the
mass industrialization of weapons destroyed nature. The post-World War I
narrative reflected humanity’s disillusionment with life and religion. Tolkien
and Lewis’s writing ran counter to that by combining tragedy and hope, showing
the individual struggle against evil and the eventual triumph over it. Grief
and joy comingle in Middle-earth and Narnia, just as they did on Armistice Day.
Loconte concludes by stating, “After returning to England from the front,
Tolkien and Lewis might easily have joined the ranks of the rootless and
disbelieving. Instead, they became convinced there was only one truth, one singular
event, that could help the weary and brokenhearted find their way home: the
Return of the King” (193).
A Hobbit, A Wardrobe, and A Great War is a unique book.
It serves as a biography, historical account, and commentary. The narrative
relies heavily on Tolkien and Lewis’s own words (in the moment and reflections),
historians, and prominent and average people from the time period. While World War
I is a well-known topic, Loconte uses a variety of personal accounts and imagery
to make the story feel new. The best part of the book is the generous use of
quotes from The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia
to help support the author’s claims and bring new context to the characters.
The Place
The Marion E. Wade Center is an ideal stop for those who enjoy the
writings of Tolkien and Lewis. But it doesn’t just focus on those two authors.
There are five more British authors (Dorothy L. Sayers, George MacDonald, G.K. Chesterton,
Owen Barfield, and Charles Williams) represented, who also blended their faith with
their literary work.
On the campus of Wheaton College, the Center
includes both a reading room and a small museum. The reading room is open to
the public with several guidelines that must be followed. The museum is in one large
room that showcases a rotation of exhibits. There is a lot to read and learn about
the seven British authors, as well as artifacts on display. I was particularly
excited to see the wardrobe that is believed to serve as the inspiration for the
wardrobe in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
The Marion E. Wade Center
has free admission and plenty of parking. The museum will not take more than
half a day and it isn’t far from downtown Wheaton. Smaller children who are
fans of Narnia will enjoy seeing the wardrobe, but the rest of the exhibits
might be better for older children and adults.
