oudaily.com - OU librarian wins prestigious writing award

oudaily.com - OU librarian wins prestigious writing award

An OU librarian received a prestigious writing award this year for a book she wrote entitled, "War and the Works of J.R.R. Tolkien."

Janet Brennan Croft, head of access services, said she was notified last spring by the Mythopoeic Society of her award, the 2005 Mythopoeic Award for Scholarship in Inklings Studies.

This week, the library has a new display up in the main hall featuring works and information about fantasy writers like Tolkien.

Croft said her book is about the famous fantasy writer's experiences during World War I when he was a signaling officer, as well as his experiences as a father with two sons active in service during World War II.

Croft said she attempted "to show how these experiences shaped [Tolkien's] writing at every level from the depiction of soldiers, strategy and leadership up to the philosophical questions of why and how war should be conducted."

The Mythopoeic Society is a non-profit international literary and educational organization for the study, discussion and enjoyment of fantastic and mythic literature, especially the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and Charles Williams, according to its Web site.

The award Croft received is the highest honor given in this country for works on J.R.R. Tolkien and the other Inklings.

"I've learned how enjoyable research can be when you find a topic you enjoy," Croft said...