Publisher's Synopsis
Thus, in words composed by a host of nameless bards, the songs of Serbia carry on the nation's story, and every Serb feels himself an actor in a great drama that is being played out across the centuries. He continues the work of his forefathers. He avenges their sufferings. But he also works for the future. He builds the framework of an age to come. He is a living link in one great chain that stretches backward far into the past and reaches forward to the generations who shall see Serbia great and free. It is more than obvious that Sam Gamgee was thinking in much the same way, in the moment he realized that he and Frodo were in the same story as the heroes of old stories and songs. He then said: Why, to think of it, we're in the same tale still! It's going on. - Then he asked: - Don't the great tales never end? Frodo answered on his question: No, they never end as tales. But the people in them come and go when their part's ended. Our part will end later... or sooner. By writing this dialogue between Frodo and Sam, Tolkien was more than clear. In addition to the ongoing Great War of the Ring, the Hobbits consider themselves participants in the great tale that stretches far into the past, a story that is transmitted orally from generation to generation through folk legends, myths and songs, without breaking it... J.R.R. Tolkien was trying to learn Serbian language in order to read Serbian epic poems in the original. These were the poems about great heroes from the Serbian past (Czar Lazar, King Marko, Karageorge...), and great battles that changed the course of Serbian history (Kosovo battle, battle of the Misar...). There is no evidence that J.R.R. Tolkien was inspired by the heroes and battles from the Serbian history and epic poetry while writing his epic trilogy. But when you open the pages of this book you will realize they are not needed. Serbian history and epic poetry are fully within the fantasy world of "The Lord of the Rings." The Guardians of the Fallen Kingdom is not a book for blind admirers of Tolkien's Middle-earth but for an intelligent and well-read reader who is trying to penetrate to the real essence of things. Unlike most books on similar topics, this book explains which historical White City might be hiding behind Minas Tirith, whose coat of arms might be an inspiration for the Eye of Sauron, which field and flowers that grow on it might serve as inspiration for the Field of Cormallen and Culumalda trees, where could be the historical Crossroads of the Fallen King, Black Gate of Mordor and many other places from J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium.
