About the Author
Ben Reinhard
Ben Reinhard is Professor of English at Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he teaches courses in medieval literature, mythology, and the Inklings. A graduate of the Medieval Institute at the University of Notre Dame, he has written articles and essays for a wide range of scholarly and popular publications, and his translation of Beowulf was published in 2022. He lives in southeast Ohio with his wife and five children, where they attempt to live a sanctified and orderly life in a chaotic and disintegrated world, fighting the long defeat.
What People Are Saying
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“The High Hallow is a thoroughly researched and well-argued exploration of Tolkien’s liturgical imagination that provides a rich and original contribution to the ‘religious turn’ in Tolkien studies. Ben Reinhard demonstrates insightfully that Tolkien’s participation in the sacraments imbued his thought and art with a sacramental shape that gave his legendarium a theodramatic quality with both eternal and timely appeal.”
Adam Schwartz
Author of The Third Spring: G. K. Chesterton, Graham Greene, Christopher Dawson, and David Jones
“Liturgy and literature are inextricably interwoven in the great works of Christendom. We think of Dante’s descent into hell on Good Friday and his emergence into the light of the sun at the foot of Mount Purgatory on Easter Sunday. We think of the connection to All Saints Day, All Souls Day, Advent, and Christmas in the quest of Sir Gawain. And we think, or we should think, of the liturgical elements of Tolkien’s epic. Ben Reinhard’s examination of Tolkien’s sacramental imagination enables us to see the world of Tolkien in this penetrating liturgical light.”
Joseph Pearce
Author of Bilbo’s Journey: Discovering the Hidden Meaning of The Hobbit
“In moving our consideration of the symbolic power of Tolkien’s work from stale discussions of allegory to the vast and underappreciated domain of typology, Reinhard enables readers to imitate what they read and become what they imitate. Reinhard demonstrates a deep knowledge of and affection for the ‘First Liturgical Movement’ of the early twentieth century, recovering the intellectual context that fed Tolkien’s piety and inspires the new liturgical movements of the present century.”
Erik Z. D. Ellis
Assistant Professor of Classical Education, University of Dallas
“Reinhard’s understanding of the role of imagination in creative writing allows him to take Tolkien’s disavowal of allegory seriously while revealing many rich connections between stories and liturgy that Tolkien himself must have enjoyed. Christian readers will realize explicitly why reading Tolkien’s works can enrich their own experience of sacred liturgy, while non-Christian readers will get a sense of the great mysteries that contribute to the power of the works they love.”
Andrew T. Seeley
President, The Boethius Institute
“In The High Hallow, Tolkien expert Ben Reinhard highlights specifically how the Catholic liturgy shaped Tolkien’s entire fantasy imagination. While some secular critics argue that The Lord of the Rings is not only non-liturgical but non-religious, Reinhard deftly shows that Tolkien’s lifelong participation in the Catholic liturgy was an essential component in making The Lord of the Rings one of history’s greatest works of literature.”
Eric Sammons
Editor-in-Chief, Crisis Magazine
“In The High Hallow, Dr. Ben Reinhard explores the way in which the Catholic liturgy shaped J. R. R. Tolkien’s imagination, affecting so much of his work, especially his mythology of Middle Earth. This book is full of insights and does a better job of getting inside Tolkien’s imagination and inspiration than any other work I’ve read. Clearly and masterfully written, this book is an absolute pleasure to read.”
Jeffrey L. Morrow
Professor of Theology, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Author of Seeking the Lord of Middle Earth
“The High Hallow is a thoroughly researched and well-argued exploration of Tolkien’s liturgical imagination that provides a rich and original contribution to the ‘religious turn’ in Tolkien studies. Ben Reinhard demonstrates insightfully that Tolkien’s participation in the sacraments imbued his thought and art with a sacramental shape that gave his legendarium a theodramatic quality with both eternal and timely appeal.”
Adam Schwartz
Author of The Third Spring: G. K. Chesterton, Graham Greene, Christopher Dawson, and David Jones
“Liturgy and literature are inextricably interwoven in the great works of Christendom. We think of Dante’s descent into hell on Good Friday and his emergence into the light of the sun at the foot of Mount Purgatory on Easter Sunday. We think of the connection to All Saints Day, All Souls Day, Advent, and Christmas in the quest of Sir Gawain. And we think, or we should think, of the liturgical elements of Tolkien’s epic. Ben Reinhard’s examination of Tolkien’s sacramental imagination enables us to see the world of Tolkien in this penetrating liturgical light.”
Joseph Pearce
Author of Bilbo’s Journey: Discovering the Hidden Meaning of The Hobbit
“In moving our consideration of the symbolic power of Tolkien’s work from stale discussions of allegory to the vast and underappreciated domain of typology, Reinhard enables readers to imitate what they read and become what they imitate. Reinhard demonstrates a deep knowledge of and affection for the ‘First Liturgical Movement’ of the early twentieth century, recovering the intellectual context that fed Tolkien’s piety and inspires the new liturgical movements of the present century.”
Erik Z. D. Ellis
Assistant Professor of Classical Education, University of Dallas
“Reinhard’s understanding of the role of imagination in creative writing allows him to take Tolkien’s disavowal of allegory seriously while revealing many rich connections between stories and liturgy that Tolkien himself must have enjoyed. Christian readers will realize explicitly why reading Tolkien’s works can enrich their own experience of sacred liturgy, while non-Christian readers will get a sense of the great mysteries that contribute to the power of the works they love.”
Andrew T. Seeley
President, The Boethius Institute
“In The High Hallow, Tolkien expert Ben Reinhard highlights specifically how the Catholic liturgy shaped Tolkien’s entire fantasy imagination. While some secular critics argue that The Lord of the Rings is not only non-liturgical but non-religious, Reinhard deftly shows that Tolkien’s lifelong participation in the Catholic liturgy was an essential component in making The Lord of the Rings one of history’s greatest works of literature.”
Eric Sammons
Editor-in-Chief, Crisis Magazine
“In The High Hallow, Dr. Ben Reinhard explores the way in which the Catholic liturgy shaped J. R. R. Tolkien’s imagination, affecting so much of his work, especially his mythology of Middle Earth. This book is full of insights and does a better job of getting inside Tolkien’s imagination and inspiration than any other work I’ve read. Clearly and masterfully written, this book is an absolute pleasure to read.”
Jeffrey L. Morrow
Professor of Theology, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Author of Seeking the Lord of Middle Earth
“The High Hallow is a thoroughly researched and well-argued exploration of Tolkien’s liturgical imagination that provides a rich and original contribution to the ‘religious turn’ in Tolkien studies. Ben Reinhard demonstrates insightfully that Tolkien’s participation in the sacraments imbued his thought and art with a sacramental shape that gave his legendarium a theodramatic quality with both eternal and timely appeal.”
Adam Schwartz
Author of The Third Spring: G. K. Chesterton, Graham Greene, Christopher Dawson, and David Jones
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Reviews
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Just pre-ordered. Haven't read it yet. I have a feeling it will be incredibly based.
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