In the House of Tom Bombadil

by C.R. Wiley

What is Tom Bombadil doing in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings? His bright blue coat and yellow boots seem out-of-place with the grandeur of the rest of the narrative. In this book, C.R. Wiley shows that Tom is not an afterthought but Tolkien's way of making a profoundly important point. Tolkien once wrote, "[Tom Bombadil] represents something that I feel important, though I would not be prepared to analyze the feeling precisely. I would not, however, have left him in, if he did not have some kind of function." Tom Bombadil and his wife Goldberry are a small glimpse of the perfect beauty, harmony, and happy ending that we all yearn for in our hearts. To understand Tom Bombadil is to understand more of Tolkien and his deeply Christian vision of the world."

Genres: Fantasy, Christian, Theology, Fiction, Literature, Christianity, Philosophy

128 pages, Hardcover

Published December 14, 2021

About the author

C. R. Wiley is a Presbyterian minister living in the Pacific Northwest. He has written for Touchstone Magazine, Modern Reformation, Sacred Architecture, The Imaginative Conservative, Front Porch Republic, National Review Online, and First Things, among others. His short fiction has appeared in The Mythic Circle (published by the Mythopoeic Society) and elsewhere, and he has published young adult fiction. He is one of the hosts of The Theology Pugcast (a podcast available on iTunes and elsewhere), and he has been a commercial real estate investor and a building contractor. He also taught philosophy to undergraduates for a time. He is the Vice President of the Academy of Philosophy and Letters, and a board member of New Saint Andrews College.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Miles Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best explorations of Tolkien I've ever read. I was in tears by the beauty of this book by the end.

[Samuel G. Parkison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book is outstanding. Wiley highlights the all-important distinction between dominion and domination, mastery and ownership (contrasting Bombadil with Saruman, who “breaks things in order to understand them”). Wiley is interesting and enjoyable to read, and he brings some incredibly important lessons to bear.

He also indirectly shows why the portrayal of magic in stories like Narnia, Middle Earth, and the Wing Feather Saga is incomparably superior to the way a series like Harry Potter portrays magic. In the former worlds, magic has a nature and it should be respected and stewarded, not manipulated.

[Michael Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great little study for the Christian reader who enjoys Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. When I first read The Lord of the Rings in my 20s, I did not understand what Tolkien was doing with Tom Bombadil. When the movies left him out, I thought that was understandable since he doesn't seem to play a significant role. In relistening to the books recently with my boys, I realized a great writer like Tolkien doesn't put pointless characters and subplots in his books for nothing. And hearing the songs sung, I realized there is more here than meets the eye. So I did a little research on the theories regarding Bombadil's purpose in the book. Then a bit later, this book came out. What a surprise it was to see C.R. Wiley look at the biblical themes Tolkien was trying to get at by working Bombadil into the story. And Wiley's implied conclusion and evidence as to who or what Bombadil represents...wow, I certainly did not see that one coming. But it leaves you smiling and thinking for sure! Recommended for the Christian who enjoys the LOTR books.

[Joost Nixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll be reading this one again. Delightful.

[Abby Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

2026 reread: I just couldn't stop thinking about this book, so I read it again. It is one of the most beautifully domestic books I've ever read. I'm seeing more and more of the medieval contemplation in it. I'm going to read it again soon. It's so short and quick and so very rich.
2026: I wanted to begin this review with simply some inarticulate screams of delight. I’m so tickled with this book. But screaming isn’t going to help anyone decide if they want to read this book or help me jog my own memory years down the road. This is a short, well-written, but not high and untouchably philosophical, work. It is for the everyday reader of *Lord of the Rings*. When I first started reading *Lord of the Rings*, I found the whole Bombadil scene a bit boring though I never found Goldberry boring. I’ve loved her since day one. She’s one of my favorite women in *Lord of the Rings.* I love her in contrast with Mrs. Maggot from just a few chapters earlier. Both women show hospitality to the hobbits and feed them in wonderfully different ways. I was thrilled she got her own chapter in this book and thrilled with my deeper understanding of her. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to treasure the Bombadil section. I love its transitional value from Shire to the dangerous world. I love the calming care Tom and Goldberry shower on the hobbits. I even appreciate the nonsense of Tom. It’s a pocket of rest and whimsey before the next stage of the journey.

I appreciated Wiley’s humility in approaching this subject. I appreciated that he stated he was going at this from a perspective of applicability, not definitively answering the Bombadil question that Tolkien left largely unanswered, or at least unsatisfactorily explained. I appreciate Wiley for not going so deeply post-mil that no one else could enjoy the book. It is a Christian book, but theology isn’t his point. He stays in orthodoxy that all believers can agree on and avoids going into deeper denomination differences.

The atmosphere of this book is one of domesticity. This book is about home. I don’t know if I’ve ever read a book about a man that encouraged my homemaking heart so much. Bombadil stands as the golden mean between wilderness and suburbia, wisely ruling and understanding the wood around him. He tames parts of it and leaves others feral. He has dominion, but he doesn’t dominate. His example shows a healthy perspective of environmentalism, not breaking everything down to its baseline utility, nor removing mankind for the sake of nature. This book brought some different thoughts I’ve had growing and stewing about land use together in a way that showed me I’m on the right track. Having recently read *Planet Narnia* and currently reading *The Medieval Mind of C.S. Lewis: How Great Books Shaped a Great Mind* by Jason M. Baxter, I was delighted to see how Wiley pointed back to Medieval Philosophy without getting out into the philosophical weeds. It’s always rewarding to be able to see your self-education working. I also enjoyed seeing the Medieval Philosophy worked out in Tolkien. I’ve been steeped to the eyebrows in Lewis this year; it was nice to see another beloved author also writing from this mindset and mentality.

Wiley’s ultimate conclusion about the function of Tom Bombadil within the *Lord of the Rings* made me feel like an idiot. How had I missed this? It’s right there? I’m not going to tell you what he concluded – go read the book – but I did agree with him.

I will be adding this into my regular Tolkien reading. Its shortness makes it accessible. I can’t wait for my autumnal rereading.

[Simona Sanduleac · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fine example of how Christians should discuss books. Not with sophisticated air of a wannabe academic, using terms he doesn't really understand, and not with the pharisaic attitude that thinks that fiction is for little kids.
Here we find hopeful musings about a great, and THE great, Story.

[Shea Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully fun book. No final answers were given, but with Bombadil the joy is simply in the asking questions and playing around with it.
Will return to again, this could almost be read devotionally.

"Till the world is mended," let us all try to learn a thing or two from good ole Tom Bombadil!

[Kara Naselli · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful little book. Wiley adroitly walks the line between being preachy and saying nothing. His insights are very good, and I now appreciate Bombadil so much more. I was expecting this book to be rather niche. Instead it turned out to be wildly applicable. But it is about Tolkien, so I guess I shouldn't have been surprised.

[Amelia Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Wiley in this book is like listening to a long, roaming conversation. In it you get all the thoughts, ideas, and maybes that are never said, (because they're considered to trivial in normal conversation) but which are some of the most interesting to hear. The book still has structure and in the end leaves you wondering about all the rest of Tolkien's characters and world. Are they as interesting as you just discovered Tom Bombadil to be?

[Anna Kilpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful little book of musings on the character of Tom Bombadil and some of the themes surrounding his character. Made me want to read the books again and appreciate Master Tom Bombadil a bit more.

“Perhaps that’s the best description of redemption—the fulfillment of a longing, long suppressed.”

[Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for any Tolkien fan, especially those seeking the deeper meanings behind his writing.

[Haley Annabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like a little taste of amazing chocolate. It leaves you wanting so much more. I learned so much about Tolkien, his genius, and how significant words and music used to be.
My new life goal is to read all of Tolkiens legendarium 😍

[Jeremy]

Prufrock interview here. A brief review here. A related tweet, maybe.

Chris: "For those with eyes to see, my book on Bombadil is a refutation of modern pseudo-scientific understandings of language, and a defense of the classical understanding of the doctrine of dominion against the libels of progressive interpretation."

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lord of the Rings being my favorite story, I have often pondered the beloved character of Tom Bombadil. His place in this tale seems similar to that of Father Christmas in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe: a jolly person, appearing to the protagonists between dangers, giving them gifts of weapons, etc. Readers ask the same question of both: why does this incongruous character show up here? C. R. Wiley helps answer that question regarding Tom Bombadil, while raising several other questions that are a delight to ponder. A delightful read. My only complaint of the book was that it was too short, and much more could be said.

[ValeReads Kyriosity · Rating 4 out of 5]

April 2022 — Quick reread for book group. Feeling even more edified by the content and even more traumatized by the pronunciation.

*****

February 2022 — Very fun to get to know Tom better.

I am so glad they got the author to do the narration. He's got one of those voices I could listen to all day. BUT...somebody needs to lock him in a room with Rob Inglis's recording of LOTR and not let him out till he can say Elrond (not Elrod 🤦‍♀️), Númenórean (not Numerarian 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️), and a bunch of other painfully mispronounced Middle Earth names and words.

[Josiah DeGraaf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent literary analysis of Tolkien with some good insights (particularly about Goldberry!). But it tends to ramble at points.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Good).

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cozy and magnificent.

[Carrie Brownell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick, beautiful, encouraging read dissecting Tolkien's character of Tom Bombadil and the purpose he played in the Lord of the Rings. Highly, highly recommend.

[Calvin Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only complaint with this book is that I wish it was longer.

[Grant Hohlbein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every LOTR fan should read.

[Taylor Bredenhof · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audible - What a joy this book was because of the joy Old Tom Bombadil is. A must for anyone who loves LotR.
Full of wisdom. Full of Laughter. Full of Light. Full of Life. Full of Joy unbounded.

[Melanie Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

2026 reread: Again, just a brilliant little book! I decided to reread this before rereading LOTR and I love it more this time around than the first, and still so much to pick out from the fantastic chapters. Can't wait to read again!

From cover to cover, this was a fantastic read, and would highly recommend this to anyone who is fascinated by Bombadil or is just a Tolkien lover. Do not go into this book expecting it to tell you exactly his purpose, this book is meant more to help you understand him, and for that, it was incredible!

[Matthew Richey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful and Insightful. Short, but well worth it. A pleasure to read.

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wondered how much I would get out of this since I have not yet read any of Tolkien’s works, making Tom Bombadil sound more like a character in a Sherlock Holmes story than in a fantasy world of elves, hobbits, orcs, and dwarves. Yet there was much to glean from Tom, especially for the man in the mirror. With all the hullabaloo going on in middle earth, the in-fighting between forces of darkness and light, there was one unaffected yet supremely powerful man named Tom Bombadil. While man and beast were vying for power and control, Tom showed that he was neither compelled nor in fear of power. In fact, he was a perfect conduit for a household authority, a right and pure means of power, a rule without domination.

Tom’s house was an example of power flowing from joy, stewardship, and hard work. His authority eschewed tyranny, was not afflicted by anxiety, and did not equate mastery with possession. His form of strength is juxtaposed from worldly strength that has no boundaries or limits. There is much to emulate from a character that takes up very little pages in Tolkien’s saga, though as Wiley has pointed out - Tolkien knew and anticipated the importance of Tom even before Middle Earth’s origin. If you live in a household like Tom’s, you have much to be thankful for. And if you do not, you have much to work for.

[Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

The House of Tom Bombadil feels less like an argument and more like an invitation to linger. C.R. Wiley never fully answers the question “Who is Tom Bombadil?”, and in doing so, honors Tolkien’s own way of teaching through story and trust in the reader.

As both a Christian and an incurable nerd, I found this book a quiet joy. It gently brings together faith and imagination—two realms too often kept apart—and shows why characters like Bombadil matter. Not because they solve anything, but because they teach us how to sit with ideas, learn from others, and resist the urge to rush toward neat conclusions.

This is a thoughtful, intelligent read that reminds us not all wisdom comes in answers, some of it asks us simply to stay awhile.

[Jared Mcnabb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun exploration of some of my favorite LOTR chapters.

[Adam Bloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5? This book is hard to rate. Very good thoughts and analysis of Tom Bombadil, but still no definitive answers? (But that’s not the author’s fault)

[Collin Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good. Makes me want to read Lord of the Rings again. Felt as if it was a bit scattered, chasing rabbits to their holes way too often.

[Lori Eby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant and beautiful, this book blends literature and theology in the best way— laced with discovery and mystery in similar portions.

[Rebekah Cason · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book. Not only did it give me a new perspective on the wonderful character of Tom Bombadil (and on Tolkien), but I also found it meaningful and insightful from a biblical standpoint.