h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

At the bookstore today, I just picked up a copy of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight as translated by the great JRR Tolkien himself. I'd heard mention of this before, but never bothered to track it down. Being the English Major that I am, I studied SG&tGK this semester for a class. The translation, by Marie Borrof, was good, easy to read, and fairly easy to understand. About normal for Lit. History classes. However, reading Tolkien's version is much more enjoyable. The tale is the same, but the language is different. This is a man who more fully understood the mind of the medieval writer, and could offer a better translation. (Note for the uninitiated: SG&tGK was written in Middle English around the 13th century. The language is somewhat understandable, if you fight with it, but not at all what we're used to. (And you thought Shakespeare was hard) Anyway.) If you ever get the urge to read the poem, (and I'd suggest getting that urge.) find Tolkien's version and read it. It really is better. While I'm blabbering on, why is it that few (if any) professors or teachers of English will even acknowledge the existence of Lord of the Rings? It has rich langauge, good plot structure, and many of the things that are supposed to define 'classic' literature. Maybe things are different in England where Tolkien originated, but in America, he's rarely mentioned. I stumbled across him due to a classmate who was from England suggesting him to me when I was 12.

I got a copy of SG+GK, bt couldn't force my way through it.
How about the whole History of Middleearth? Rot. And boring. But, I tried. Each book I tried. And then there were some (unfinished tales, farmer giles, etc) that were really good. Thoughts?

Yes I'm alive. Just not a regular here. =)
Anyway.
I've not read Farmer Giles, so I couldn't offer an opinion there. Of all that Tolkien wrote, the Silmarillion is my favorite. Unfinished Tales is really well done too. Aside from Lays of Beleriand, (I happen to like epic poetry), the rest of the History of Middle Earth books are only interesting to me from a scholastic purpose. I like to read them when researching things, but it's not the sort of stuff I read before bed for enjoyment. Gawain was a fun read, but I think it is largely to do with the fact that I read it shortly after reading another version by someone else (forget who, and I'm too lazy to go look now) that wasn't nearly as well done. That, and I like epic poetry. Gawain isn't exactly epic, it's too short, but it's in the same style anyway.

Inferno.

Since sixteen weeks ago I have managed to force my way through... it was mildly interesting after all.

I liked Unfinished Tales, as I said, I great deal. You really should read Farmer Giles of Ham, and Smith of Wotton Major, and Tree and Leaf. All three are fascinating (if little) stories... too bad Tolkien didn't write more.

Whose idea was it to let him die before he finished everything anyway? I mean honestly.
This thread is degenerating quickly, isn't it?

Inferno.