Art Life

POSTCARD BIOGRAPHIES FROM THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

Sunday 04 January 1998 00:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

After the success of the first series of postcard biographies taken from the NPG's archives, this is a new series of specially commissioned 70-word biographies of and by major figures of today

Terry Pratchett on J R R Tolkien (1892-1973)

Renowned Oxford language scholar who in real life created Middle Earth, a vast fantasy world chronicled primarily, minutely and beguilingly in The Lord of the Rings. Perhaps some hippy children got christened Galadriel after his elven queen and his landscapes had as much character as his heroes - but the story enthralled. He re-created fantasy as an honourable genre and earned the devotion of a hundred million readers. He was an enchanter.

Terry Pratchett c Reserved. J R R Tolkien by John Wyatt, 1968 c Reserved. The National Portrait Gallery has produced a pack of 25 pull- out postcards to accompany this series. Now on sale (pounds 5) in the NPG shop, or by mail order (0171 306 0055, x280 / fax 0171 306 0092). Add pounds 1 p&p for up to two packs, pounds 1.50 thereafter.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in