Farmer Giles of Ham
Sep. 23rd, 2012 10:36 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
marycatelliFarmer Giles of Ham by J. R. R. Tolkien
In which Tolkien takes on the comic side of fighting dragons. . . .
Farmer Giles of Ham, in the vulgar (in Book Latin, he is much more plentifully supplied with names) deals one day with a giant by shooting his blunderbuss at it. This leads to two things: the king's sending him an old sword, and a dragon who's told how pleasant the lands are -- despite the stinging insects -- decides it sounds delicious.
When the king's knights have many valid reason not to undertake the dragon hunt, Farmer Giles learns the secret of the sword -- it can't be kept sheathed when within five miles of a dragon. One thing leads to another in extravagant whimsy, and ends with the foundation of the Little Kingdom. And Tolkien solemnly recounting the true story of certain English place names.
In which Tolkien takes on the comic side of fighting dragons. . . .
Farmer Giles of Ham, in the vulgar (in Book Latin, he is much more plentifully supplied with names) deals one day with a giant by shooting his blunderbuss at it. This leads to two things: the king's sending him an old sword, and a dragon who's told how pleasant the lands are -- despite the stinging insects -- decides it sounds delicious.
When the king's knights have many valid reason not to undertake the dragon hunt, Farmer Giles learns the secret of the sword -- it can't be kept sheathed when within five miles of a dragon. One thing leads to another in extravagant whimsy, and ends with the foundation of the Little Kingdom. And Tolkien solemnly recounting the true story of certain English place names.