Mr. Bliss facts for kids
First edition
|
|
| Author | J. R. R. Tolkien |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | J. R. R. Tolkien |
| Cover artist | J. R. R. Tolkien |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's literature Fantasy fiction |
| Publisher | George Allen & Unwin |
|
Publication date
|
September 1982 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Preceded by | The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien |
| Followed by | Finn and Hengest |
Mr. Bliss is a children's picture book by J. R. R. Tolkien, published posthumously in book form in 1982. One of Tolkien's least-known short works, it tells the story of Mr. Bliss and his first ride in his new motor-car. Many adventures follow: encounters with bears, angry neighbours, irate shopkeepers, and assorted collisions.
Narrative
The narrative follows the eccentric Mr. Bliss, known for his tall hats and a peculiar pet called a "girabbit," which is a hybrid of a giraffe and a rabbit. Inspired by Tolkien's own experiences with his first car, the story begins when Mr. Bliss decides to trade in his bicycle for a bright yellow motor car.
As he embarks on his first drive to visit friends, a series of comedic misadventures ensue. Mr. Bliss encounters various obstacles, including collisions with angry neighbors, irate shopkeepers, and even a trio of bears that kidnap him. The tale's humor is enhanced by Tolkien's unique illustrations.
The book reflects Tolkien's love for nature and his concerns about the impact of industrialization, themes that resonate throughout his works.
Concept and creation
The story was inspired by Tolkien's own vehicular mishaps with his first car, purchased in 1932. The bears were based on toy bears owned by Tolkien's sons. Tolkien was both author and illustrator of the book. His narrative binds the story and illustrations tightly together, as the text often comments directly on the pictures.
Several commentators have compared Mr. Bliss with the works of Beatrix Potter and Edward Lear, and also to The Wind in the Willows.
Mr. Bliss was not published during Tolkien's lifetime. He submitted it to his publishers as a balm to readers who were hungry for more from him after the success of The Hobbit. The ink and coloured pencil illustrations would have made production costs prohibitively expensive. Tolkien agreed to redraw the pictures in a simpler style, but then found he didn't have time to do it. The manuscript lay in a drawer until 1957, when he sold it (as well as the original manuscripts of The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and Farmer Giles of Ham) to Marquette University for £1,250. It was first published by George Allen & Unwin in hardback in 1982. It had Tolkien's difficult-to-read handwritten story and illustrations on one page, and a typeset transcription on the facing page.
Tolkien used two names from Mr. Bliss for hobbits in The Lord of the Rings: Gaffer Gamgee and Boffin.
See also
In Spanish: El señor Bliss para niños
- The Making of the English Landscape – a non-fiction book by an Oxfordshire author concerned about the loss of the historic landscape
