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In the House of Tom Bombadil
"Some of the best insights ever made about J.R.R. Tolkien's invented world or, frankly, about 20th-century literature.... Here is a book of intense wisdom and penetrating thought." ~Bradley J. Birzer, author of J.R.R. Tolkien's Sanctifying Understanding Middle-earth
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.
This book is published by Canon Press. At Canon Press, we’re gospel no matter who you are or what you do, you’re called to be increasing in Biblical faithfulness. That’s because Jesus’s death and resurrection changed All of Christ, for all of life, for all the world.
As the wisest man said, “Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has already accepted your works” (Eccl. 9:7).We believe reformation and revival start from faith in the Lord with joyful obedience to the Bible, and that is what makes everyday tasks significant and transforms culture. Because of these beliefs, we offer books on Christian living, encouragement, contentment, raising kids, healthy marriages, educational choices, classical education, homeschooling, politics, government, feminism, identity, manhood, womanhood, singleness, virtue, and so much more.
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.
This book is published by Canon Press. At Canon Press, we’re gospel no matter who you are or what you do, you’re called to be increasing in Biblical faithfulness. That’s because Jesus’s death and resurrection changed All of Christ, for all of life, for all the world.
As the wisest man said, “Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has already accepted your works” (Eccl. 9:7).We believe reformation and revival start from faith in the Lord with joyful obedience to the Bible, and that is what makes everyday tasks significant and transforms culture. Because of these beliefs, we offer books on Christian living, encouragement, contentment, raising kids, healthy marriages, educational choices, classical education, homeschooling, politics, government, feminism, identity, manhood, womanhood, singleness, virtue, and so much more.
112 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 14, 2021
171 people are currently reading
1495 people want to read
About the author
C.R. Wiley
6 books2 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 273 reviews
February 21, 2022
One of the best explorations of Tolkien I've ever read. I was in tears by the beauty of this book by the end.
February 26, 2022
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.
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.
February 15, 2022
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 a 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! Recommend for the Christian who enjoys the LOTR books.
December 8, 2025
I'll be reading this one again. Delightful.
November 27, 2024
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!
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!
June 13, 2025
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.
April 4, 2023
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?
December 6, 2024
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.”
“Perhaps that’s the best description of redemption—the fulfillment of a longing, long suppressed.”
March 9, 2024
Great book for any Tolkien fan, especially those seeking the deeper meanings behind his writing.
March 11, 2022
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 😍
My new life goal is to read all of Tolkiens legendarium 😍
Want to read
July 18, 2022Prufrock 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."
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."
December 29, 2021
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.
April 28, 2022
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.
*****
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.
August 8, 2022
Decent literary analysis of Tolkien with some good insights (particularly about Goldberry!). But it tends to ramble at points.
Rating: 3.5 Stars (Good).
Rating: 3.5 Stars (Good).
September 28, 2022
Cozy and magnificent.
January 14, 2023
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.
January 3, 2023
My only complaint with this book is that I wish it was longer.
July 28, 2025
Every LOTR fan should read.
November 4, 2025
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.
Full of wisdom. Full of Laughter. Full of Light. Full of Life. Full of Joy unbounded.
January 30, 2022
Delightful and Insightful. Short, but well worth it. A pleasure to read.
September 2, 2025
Brilliant and beautiful, this book blends literature and theology in the best way— laced with discovery and mystery in similar portions.
March 4, 2022
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!
November 7, 2025
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.
March 26, 2023
First, a minor quibble to get out of the way. Wiley’s writing style is mildly annoying. he’s of the school of Chatty Male Christian Authors who feels he must lead the reader by the hand with too many “I’ll explain this in a minute” type reassurances and unnecessary footnotes. I felt my intelligence was underrated. However, that peeve aside, Wiley does bring up many excellent points on Bombadil’s character and role in the story. He doesn’t make any dogmatic final conclusions, but leaves you free to explore your own ideas on Tom Bombadil.
June 25, 2022
I really enjoyed this one, more than I expected to. I don't agree with a lot of Wiley's philosophical obsessions, and I find his adoration of the classical world to be a tad unseemly, which is why I only gave this one four out of five, but he had some really good insights here, and he wisely didn't try to come down with a firm "it must be this way" interpretation of Bombadil, but instead just merrily played around with some themes. I really liked that.
Go read this book.
Go read this book.
January 29, 2022
Short review of this excellent little book at my blog.
November 24, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I didn’t know what to expect but was delighted by the meandering journey of Wiley’s musings.
Wiley shows how Tolkien uses fantasy (and particularly Bombadil) to show truth and reality more fully than we naturally see it.
I particularly liked the discussion of dominion throughout the book through comparing Bombadil, Treebeard, the Entwives, and Saruman.
Tom is Master. Though the old woods and his garden home are quite different, Tom is as much the master of the one as the other.
“Perhaps dominion should be understood to mean ordering some things for our good, and other things for the good of those things in themselves.”
In a casual footnote in the postscript (hence not a spoiler?) Wiley mentions that late in the editing process it dawned on him the Hobbits meet Bombadil when they are saved at a tree, and leave him after being saved at a tomb……
Wiley shows how Tolkien uses fantasy (and particularly Bombadil) to show truth and reality more fully than we naturally see it.
I particularly liked the discussion of dominion throughout the book through comparing Bombadil, Treebeard, the Entwives, and Saruman.
Tom is Master. Though the old woods and his garden home are quite different, Tom is as much the master of the one as the other.
“Perhaps dominion should be understood to mean ordering some things for our good, and other things for the good of those things in themselves.”
In a casual footnote in the postscript (hence not a spoiler?) Wiley mentions that late in the editing process it dawned on him the Hobbits meet Bombadil when they are saved at a tree, and leave him after being saved at a tomb……
February 7, 2022
Tom Bomadil is an enigmatic figure in "The Lord of the Rings" and Wiley undertakes to understand who Bomadil is, and why he's in the story when he doesn't seem to be a "necessary" character. While Wiley doesn't give us a concrete answer, he does help his reader understand Tom and Goldberry, and contrast Tom in particular with Saruman.
The contrasts he makes are fitting and seem appropriate. As a fan of Tolkien's Middle Earth project, I found this a really fun and interesting read. I expect any serious LOTR fan will appreciate this book as well.
The contrasts he makes are fitting and seem appropriate. As a fan of Tolkien's Middle Earth project, I found this a really fun and interesting read. I expect any serious LOTR fan will appreciate this book as well.
June 5, 2025
A lovely accompaniment to The Lord of the Rings! His thoughts on dominion, romance, redemption and rest through the story of Tom Bombadil were beautiful reminders of how God created our own world.
“Our troubles, our daily struggles with evil, amount to a better story than one in which our troubles vanish with a casual wave of the Divine Hand.”
“Our troubles, our daily struggles with evil, amount to a better story than one in which our troubles vanish with a casual wave of the Divine Hand.”
February 3, 2022
Very thoughtful considering of a mysterious character in the world created by JRR Tolkien. I love that he does not definitively define anything. Rather he asks some great questions, makes some great connections, provides some keen insight, . . . But in the end you are left with a lot of great stuff to think about and apply to your own life! I wanted to reread it as soon as I finished.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 273 reviews