Leaf by Niggle

J.R.R. Tolkien

1945 • 58 pages

Ratings13

Average rating4.2

Published for the very first time in its own volume, Tolkien's remarkable tale about a painter whose obsession with detail prevents him from finishing his great work. Niggle is a painter. Not a very successful one, partly because he has so many other things to do. For some time he has been obsessed with one particular canvas - a curious picture of a tree with a vast landscape stretching out behind it. The painting keeps getting bigger and bigger, but Niggle has a journey to make. In 1939 Tolkien was despairing of ever bringing his great work The Lord of the Rings to a conclusion. One morning he woke up with the story Leaf by Niggle complete in his mind and wrote it down. This poignant story, about an artist on a curious journey, is often seen as an allegory of the writer's own creative process and life. Published to coincide with a new touring stage production of the story, this is the first time the story has been published in its own volume, enabling readers to savour one of Tolkien's most elegant, haunting and least-known short stories.

Genres

Moods

Want to edit this book?Become a Librarian

Popular Reviews

Reviews with the most likes.

C. J. Daley

This is the fifth, and final tale in Tales from the Perilous Realm, and another reread for me. I once again feel like I grasped this more, and enjoyed it more, the second time.
This was a nice, easy read to get through, as it is a short story but published as it's own release. With that being said there is certainly a deep metaphor here to life, unexpected departure, suffering and purgatory, and the great beyond. Not much of a believer myself—and don't misunderstand, Tolkien is not giving a overhanded Christian/religious tale here—but I do really enjoy the way Tolkien conveys all that through the little things, in the littlest story. Niggle wants to finish his painted canvas before his big journey, but he can't seem to get anything done for all the needless interruptions. Kind of a silly, fun way to describe life itself. And there is of course other views on what is meant here as well...this is just the most direct take on it I feel.
I personally feel this a lot lately, so this was a timely reread. We constantly have our time planned or micromanaged, even if it's by ourselves, and it's up to us to make the most of it. Being kind throughout the hiccups and ‘interruptions' is the key.
A quick and wonderful reread, personally a 5/5*.

September 16, 2022