Un camino inesperado. Desvelando la parábola de El Señor de los Anillos

by Diego Blanco Albarova

¿Quieres vivir una gran aventura? Todavía queda un Anillo y, aunque no lo sepas, lo tienes tú. Sal de la comodidad de tu agujero hobbit y ponte en camino con la comunidad si quieres arrojarlo al fuego y destruirlo para siempre. Tendrás que darte prisa, los Jinetes Negros ya saben quién lo tiene... y no tardarán en encontrarte.
Este libro te hará descubrir, de forma sorprendente y trepidante, de qué modo el camino de la fe se encuentra escondido, a modo de magistral parábola, en las páginas de El Señor de los Anillos. Adéntrate en él para descubrir qué significa ser cristiano y embárcate en la lucha contra los orcos y los demás siervos del Señor Oscuro.
«Cualquiera que viva el desvelo por hacer llegar a las próximas generaciones la frescura y el gozo del Evangelio de Jesucristo (...) no puede menos que alegrarse enormemente de que podamos contar entre nosotros con la edición de este libro, una `aplicación` católica de la parábola de El Señor de los Anillos». (Del prólogo de José Ignacio Munilla, obispo de San Sebastián)

436 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2016

About the author

Diego Blanco Albarova (Zaragoza, 1976) es investigador cultural, guionista y productor de TV y colaborador en la creación de contenidos culturales y de pastoral de la Universidad San Pablo-CEU. Director de la productora audiovisual Número 52, ha sido galardonado con el Gabriel Award 2019 de la asociación de prensa católica de EEUU y Canadá, y con el premio Mirabile Dictu por su documental sobre la figura de Tolkien, basado en Un Camino inesperado, libro publicado por Encuentro en 2016.

Es un apasionado de Tolkien, los cuentos de hadas y los mitos. Ha impartido numerosas charlas y conferencias en España y en Europa sobre El Señor de los Anillos, el significado cristiano de la fantasía, el cambio de paradigma de la cultura pop contemporánea y el impacto en la juventud de las tecnologías de la comunicación. Es formador del profesorado de la asignatura de religión en varias diócesis españolas y coordinador del proyecto de evangelización «Zurekin» de la Diócesis de Vitoria.

A comienzos de 2020 ha publicado en Ediciones Encuentro Érase una vez el Evangelio en los cuentos, cuyo eje central es el retorno al significado cristiano de los cuentos de hadas. En el mes de abril se emitió en A3 series la miniserie Por muchas razones, de la que Diego Blanco fue creador y guionista.

En la actualidad, además de lanzar con Encuentro la primera temporada de la colección juvenil de libros de aventuras El club del Fuego Secreto, Diego Blanco se encuentra preparando un programa de TV dirigido al público infantil para una conocida cadena norteamericana y un nuevo documental.

Reviews

[Graograman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Los que amamos El Señor de los Anillos y el mundo de Tolkien tenemos un problema: nos gusta hacernos con absolutamente todo lo que tenga que ver con él. Claro, al cabo del tiempo, es muy difícil encontrarse algo que no acabe desembocando en los lugares comunes que ya conocemos de sobra. Sin embargo, cuando menos te lo esperas, un mago vestido de gris, viejo y nuevo a la vez, viene a llamar a la puerta.

Eso es este libro, una auténtica delicia, unos maravillosos ejercicios espirituales para conocernos más a fondo partiendo de la obra del viejo profesor de Oxford y el Evangelio. ¿Qué más se puede decir? Este ensayo me ha ayudado a entender muchas cosas, incluidos varios pasajes que siempre me habían resultado muy oscuros. Cierto es que no estoy de acuerdo con todo lo que el autor dice: por ejemplo, no coincido con su interpretación de las palantiri (que para Tolkien no son malas intrínsecamente, al revés, fueron un regalo de los elfos a los hombres leales de Númenor en un momento de gran persecución), pero, oye, ¡qué aburrido sería no discrepar en nada!

En fin, recomendadísimo para todo el que quiera ahondar calmada y detenidamente en el profundo mensaje cristiano del que sigue siendo el mejor libro de fantasía de todos los tiempos.

[Miguel · Rating 5 out of 5]

libro total !!! de 10 sobre 10.

libro de obligada lectura para todo Cristiano que haya disfrutado de la lectura de los libros de Tolkien
Es abrir una dimensión totalmente nueva !
Muchas Gracias autor y a Tolkien!

[Silvio Pellas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buenisimo!

Si queres tener una interpretación fantástica sobre el significado Católico del Señor de los Anillos, favor leer este libro. No solo entenderás muchísimo más la profundidad del libro si no que también te ayudará a vos en tu vida del día a día. No lo dudes, léelo!

[Carmen Herrero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Increíble!! Muy recomendado a cualquier fan del Señor de los anillos que tenga ganas de adentrarse en lo que Tolkien quería transmitir. Muy cargado de significado pero a la vez fácil de leer.

Algunas cosas siento que el autor se toma la licencia de interpretarlas a su modo, pero en otras ves claramente lo que Tolkien quería mostrar.

Ya tengo ganas de volver a leerlo

[Teresa Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

El Señor de los Anillos en clave cristiana explícita. Lo empecé por curiosidad, por haber leído otro libro del autor (Erase una vez...el Evangelio en los cuentos) y haberme gustado su teoria de los cuentos de hadas, muy apoyada tambien en Tolkien. La verdad, pensaba que este libro me iba a gustar menos, que seria un pico más "peñazo". Pero ha sido un recorrido lúcido, sabio, respetuoso (y bien documentado), por El Señor de los Anillos y por Tolkien, lo cual es imposible que no guste a una creyente en los cuentos. Y no solo eso, pues Diego Blanco escribe muy bien, tiene un sentido del humor y una humanidad que dan paz, y me parece también muy lúcido en sus ejemplos. Así que he disfrutado mucho de la lectura del libro, y lo he terminado sintiéndome enriquecida, como cada vez que leo El Señor de los Anillos u otra obra de Tolkien.

[Juan Oxotko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Empieza muy bien, y durante todo el relato tiene muchas joyas. Pero creo que le falta un poco el punto fuerte de Tolkien: dar a entender el significado sin tener que hablar mucho de él. Creo que en este libro el autor, aún con buena intención, se va del hilo de la trama de ESDLA durante demasiados párrafos; y acaba pareciendo más un libro catequético que una descripción de otro libro.

[Luis Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totalmente recomendable para los fans de Tolkien.

[Paz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sorprendente

[Sergi · Rating 5 out of 5]

no todas las lágrimas son amargas

[Fonch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ladies and Gentlemen Many times we look outside for what we have inside. Undoubtedly, in the case of this book, we are facing one of the best non-fiction readings of this year 2022. Of course (and I'm not exaggerating) this book should be in my top 3 best nonfiction books. Which is not easy. Although this year I have not read as good non-fiction books as fiction. Yet there were writers of weight such as @jpearce_official with his wonderful "The faith of our Fathers a true history of England", https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... @juan_manuel_de_prada https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... with his brilliant essays published in @bibliothecahomolegens "AnAmendment to the Whole". https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5..., we also have Cardinal Robert Sarah's book The Day is Now Far Spent https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... edited in @palabraes, and writers such as Hilaire Belloc https://www.goodreads.com/author/show..., G.K. Chesterton https://www.goodreads.com/author/show..., St. Francis de Sales https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show..., or St. Thomas More https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... and brilliant sports amusements like Mr. @ramon_alvarezdemonoficial's book "That God came down, and I explained it" https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... . Well, Mr. Blanco Albarova's book does not detract from being in this Olympus, or my particular Parnassus. The first thing I have to tell you is why I chose this book. I first heard about Don Diego Blanco Albarova when the book came out in the Encuentro publishing house (because I, as a good collector of writers, and Catholic books, follow what Catholic publishers publish). My friend @jorgesaezcriado https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... told me about him when I tried to publish an article on Catholic writers, which because it was excessively long did not come out. I'm not going to fool anyone, if I said I always want to have this book in my home. What ended up deciding the purchase of this book was some wonderful interventions of his in a parish talking about the Series of the Rings of Power, and the stories (in Goodreads you will not be able to see the links, because Goodreads does not allow it so he encouraged you to look for them on my Instagram account). I have seen brilliant analyses of the Rings of Power fiasco (in the service of Wokism, theories of forced racial quotas, and cancel culture). I think of the always learned Kai47 https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... although he has been very lukewarm in this matter (because he was one of the experts that Amazon consulted, and invited him to the premiere), in the funny analyses of The Lair of the Titan, of the erudition of my admired @laluzdeearendil recommended by my great friend of @elentir I invite you to enjoy the articles of his blog ), the courage, and courage of @hildorien, may not have as much knowledge as those already mentioned, but in my opinion Mr. Blanco Albarova was the best of all, and was able to realize what was happening better than the youtubers mentioned (whom I admire deeply). But these men, and women only saw the tip of the iceberg, while Blanco Albarova went to the root of the problem. After seeing his wonderful interventions I told myself that I wanted to do three things with him. The first thing is to bring him to @goodreads to introduce him to my friends (all of them), especially Professor Manuel Alfonseca https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... (to whom I communicated my project), 2° I offered to help him found that Spanish Society of Catholic Tolkien that he wants to set up (I do not agree very much with the one we have), and 3° I wanted to ask for his intercession with the Editorial Encuentro to help me edit some writers, Even though the person who gave me this assignment is no longer interested in them. But, I want to read them so I'm doing it on my own, and I risk without expecting any economic benefit, just for the love of reading. Along with these writers I also added the interesting Polish writer @kossakszczucka https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... who had long wanted to read. I know I'll take no for an answer, but I wanted to tell everyone the background, or intra-story of this book, and this is not going to change my assessment. Because he deserves the note, and the good words I'm going to dedicate to him, and even more. There is a brilliant prologue by one of my favorite bishops @obispomunilla https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... who despite not being a fan of Tolkien is able to realize the value of his work. The first chapter of this book is fascinating because Blanco Albarova tells us about the conversation between J.R.R. Tolkien https://www.goodreads.com/author/show..., Hugo Dyson, and C.S. Lewis https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... that led to the latter's conversion. I like that Blanco Albarova does not despise Lewis's work (I am willing to accept that he is an outstanding student of J.R.R. Tolkien, and that his method of evangelization is more effective), however, in his interventions he was very critical of allegories, and I feared that he did not like the work of C.S. Lewis. The second chapter tells the influence that The Lord of the Rings has had on the life of Blanco Albarova, and how it led him to his Conversion. I think many of us identify with what he wrote in that chapter. Many of us experience the same sensations. Of course, in my case there was no conversion, because I was already a Catholic, but I felt very wrapped in my childhood, and youth by Professor J.R.R. Tolkien (to highlight two things in this chapter the influence of two Claretians, and that I read it because after people dissuaded him from doing so, and that he will tell us that the book seemed to have life reminded me of the conversation that Bastián and Mr. Koreander have in the film of the Neverending Story, and that the other books compared to this one were only stories, or harmless books. After these first two chapters Blanco Albarova proceeds to shell the Christian meaning, which surrounds the work of the Lord of the Rings. It does so exegetically. First he speaks of the Chapter, then he extracts some moral teachings from them, and then he breaks down the symbolism of it. Admittedly, he spends more time on the Fellowship of the Ring than on the other two books. I was moved by several things by the influence that the Lord of the Rings had in Russia, and as a draw the censorship (he highlighted some articles of Religion in Freedom especially those of my dear Pablo J. Ginés https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...). Something that the Chronicles of Narnia did not achieve until 1985 in full Glasnot, or Perestroika. I was moved by how he associates Tolkien's work with Fathers of the Church, St. Basil, St. Efren, St. Gregory Nyssa. I did not know that previously there were nine deadly sins (drunkenness, and sorrow). That the ring did not represent power, but the temptation to want to avoid pain, and suffering. It is also very interesting that the characters are not guilty of their weakness, and that the culprit is the ring. Many times Blanco Albarova will not mention names not because they do not interest him, but so as not to confuse the reader, since it is aimed at a first-time Christian audience, which is still suspicious of works of fiction such as those written by J.R.R. Tolkien. This work has been written for first-time readers, and reluctant. Many times we can clash with their analyses. As in the case of Tom Bombadil (for Pearce an allegory of Buckinghamshire), I always believed him a revived Chesterton, even if it was inspired by a Dutch doll, which Michael tried to throw away. It is surprising that Blanco Albarova considers him as a harlequin, then the vision he gives of this character will be interesting). I think that like Hilaire Belloc (this was Maurice Baring) https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... at first you think of him that he is not right about anything, then that he is right about quite a few things, and then that he is right about everything. It is very interesting the temptations that Frodo has to face. The world, the flesh, the riches (case of the episode of the Tumulario). He will also ask that some translations be revised as all that glitters is not gold, which in his opinion looks like a scribe in the pay of the enemy. The only chapter on which he disagrees may be that of the Council. Tolkien accepted it, although he did not like the suppression of Latin from the liturgy. He was not as critical as Evelyn Waugh https://www.goodreads.com/author/show..., or Hugh Ross Williamson https://www.goodreads.com/author/show.... There were reasons to be critical of some decisions of the Second Vatican Council. Some of us understood it as a cession to the world. Neither communism, nor capitalism, nor the Sexual Revolution was condemned, the West after that Council embraced secularism, and turned its back on God, and the Church, did not like some forms of syncretism, and it was said that Satan polluted the Church, not to mention the secularization of priests who abandoned the boat of St. Peter. There are very bitter cases such as those of Belgium, Holland, Czech Republic, and what is happening in Germany. That is why I am not as enthusiastic as Don Blanco Albarova, although it is true that I do agree with the end of anti-Semitism, and the perfidious, evil Jews withdrew. But after that the work does nothing but improve 😍. Do not question a single passage of the book anymore. To see the Huargos turned into sophisms, the passage of Caradhras, to see how the dwarves despite a contrary text of Tolkien symbolize the Jews. As Moria has become a den of sins, murderers, thieves, and murderers (Jackson takes this idea for the Hobbit, so it is not unreasonable what Blanco Albarova proposes). The Marian image of Galadriel, which compares the work of Tolkien with the work of Rothfuss, https://www.goodreads.com/series/4526... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... Solace, my Neverending History https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... (if I had mentioned the Baldurs Gates II https://www.goodreads.com/series/4190... would have been yours forever In fact I already am). These passages were commented on when the hobbits were in the Inn of the Trampling Poney.
The importance of gifts in the case of the hesitant Pipin, Merry, and Boromir. The identification that makes Boromir with Judas, and St. Peter as if he were "Silence" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2.... I agree with him in his reflections on the episode of Merry's capture, and Pipin, and how society is becoming more like that of the Orcs, and he quotes a very interesting essay.
The part of Rohan (that agrees that Theoden was an exorcism), that the suspicions between the allies is the work of the devil. Saruman's evils as a Hegelian, scientist, and progressive advocate of industrialization against God's willed Natural Law. In the case of Frodo, and Sam, perhaps their analysis of Sam is more critical (since many consider Sam to be the true hero of the Lord of the Rings, and with whom the reader most identifies, while Aragorn is preferred much more Christic). Although the case of Gollum (his Catholicism) is fascinating, that sin does not destroy, but it hurts. Accept our evil nature, and that we can all be evil. Compare the book to Choose Your Own Adventure, and how boring it is that only good things happen to the characters. I love that Blanco Albarova likes role-playing games, and fantasy (and I didn't condemn them, since some Christians are in that position, and tends to blame the role for all evils. Partly because of the crimes of the role, and because of the alleged pagan background, in which they are. Which is not true, they must also be exonerated from the charge of Satanism. You can be a Christian, and a role player). Perhaps I would have liked a deeper analysis of the Return of the King, you see how Pipin is fighting, and there is no explanation, and the dialectical duels of Gandalf, and Denethor would have deserved a more than deep reflection. I was glad that he referred to the dialogue with which Gandalf disapproves of Denethor's attempt to immolate him as pagan. I knew the book was Catholic because of this particular dialogue. I would have liked him to have spoken of Forlong, Imrahil (who is only quoted when Faramir is wounded) Beregond, and Bergil, or Ioreth who indirectly is the one who reveals Aragorn's royalty, and his critical nature (I agree with Aragorn's metaphor as Christ rescuing the souls of Sheol). His reflections on the destruction of the Ring are very apt, even my father who did not like The Lord of the Rings that part if he liked it.
It is good that he comments on the sanitation of the Shire (although Jackson includes it in Isengard, without the hobbits in Isengard in the extended version), but we lose the importance of this passage which is to forgive enemies. Some tips try my friends to get the rights and translate it into English, and read it, as it will keep company with the excellent works of Joseph Pearce, Peter Kreeft https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7..., Richard L. Purtill, https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... and others. One of the best readings without a doubt. He will have his critique in Spanish, English, and Polish, and in any language that Mr. Blanco Albarova wishes. The grade of course is (5/5). I pledge to read "Once Upon a Time the Gospel in the Stories" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... . For today there will be no more criticisms, but I hope to write the ones that I have overdue.

[Gilberto Toscano García · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabuloso, simplemente estupendo, y no lo digo nada más por ser gran admirador y fan de la obra de J. R. R. Tolkien, padre de este fabuloso universo de la Tierra Media, La forma de explicar bajo el conocimiento de la obra de Tolkien cómo busca esa misión apostólica y de evangelización por medio de su literatura es fantástica. Puede por momentos ir algo lento el libro, pero es sencillo de leer y no le pierdes el paso.

[Beto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un libro que a lo mejor no te parecerá sublime, pero tampoco te parecerá un desperdicio de tu tiempo.

Es un libro bueno que te va a llevar a ver la historia del señor de los anillos desde otro ángulo que a lo mejor no te imaginabas que podría tener.

Sugiero que leas este libro después de haber leído el anillo.

[Liz Arévalo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sin duda de los mejores libros que he leído, me encantó desde el inicio y me ayudó a profundizar muchísimo en mi vocación y en mi vida de piedad.

Cada capítulo lo disfruté demasiado, ya que lo leí junto con mi novio y sin duda lo recomendamos ampliamente, yo no leí los libros del Señor de los anillos pero gracias a este libro entendí mucho mejor la historia y cómo podemos ser a lo largo de nuestra vida los diferentes personajes del libro.

Woooow, felicidades al autor por tan buen libro, me gustó como había partes del libro más densas, pero luego te explicaba poco a poco lo que significa cada personaje y todo tenía sentido.

¡Ampliamente recomendado!

[Juan Pablo del Santo Valentín-Gamazo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una lectura maravillosa tanto para los que comparten la admiración por la obra de Tolkien y la fe en Cristo, como para los que no. Impresiona ver los paralelismos que el autor ha sabido encontrar entre la historia de El Señor de los anillos y la historia personal del cristiano, y cómo estos adquieren todo el sentido. Gracias a este libro uno puede redescubrir lo que es la fe en Cristo, así como descubrir el ingenio de Tolkien para acercarnos a Él sin saberlo, algo que hace aún más grande su obra magna, y ver la profundidad de su fe. Una delicia de libro.

[Sergio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Se nota el cariño del autor a la obra del Señor de los Anillos. Es un libro muy trabajado y muy disfrutable para los fans del señor de los anillos pero más aún si eres católico. No obstante, te permite disfrutarlo aunque no lo seas. A pesar de que algunas interpretaciones no me resultaron tan evidentes o estan "cogidas con pinzas" desde un punto de vista mas escéptico, es un libro muy ameno y lleno de buenas lecciones y consejos.

[Santiago Aparicio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buen libro para conocer el cristianismo implícito en los textos de Tolkien. En algún caso el autor fuerza las semejanzas.