[Meese]

There is a long held story in my family and as I said to my father the other day that I would find it difficult to attend my mothers 83rd birthday on Monday the 21st February as I was awaiting the delivery of a book he said ''what like in 1955?''. I said ''Yes, just like in 1955.

In September 1955 my mother was recovering from the birth of my eldest brother in a flat just off the Caledonian Road in North London. My parents had met shortly after the 2nd war at drama school and then met again a short time later in regional theatre working together in rep in the West of England. Afterwards they returned to London to wait for the next job, pregnant and married. My mother tucked into the The Fellowship of the Ring by some writer - JRR Tolkein. She finished it in a week- in her confinement - and shortly after -gave birth to my bother. Soon afterwards she feel ill - quite seriously, I think - high fevers and delirium and all. My father nursed her and his new son pretty much by himself for a few weeks until she was well enough to tackle The Two Towers. My father dragged the volume home from the lending library in Camden and my mother and now my father devoured this work in a week - passing the book between them one chapter at a time- it was the only thing that kept my mother whole - she was weak and had to wet nurse my brother and recover from her illness. Soon my father returned to the library to ask for the the final volume - '' Its only just been published and we don't have a copy'' said the librarian

My father NEEDED The Return of The King - needed it to keep my mother calm - to keep her happy - to stop my brother screaming - so that there would be peace - to stop my mother getting ill again. Dragging the heavy door open on a red phone box, he slipped half penny after half penny into the box asking library after library if they had a copy of 'The Return of the King' by JRR Tolkein. Hackney, Islington, Finsbury, Westminster, Stepney, Dalston - all -no. Finally - yes - Kensington had a copy and they would hold it for him for two hours. Three buses later he had the copy and returned to my mother book in hand.

Yup - just like 21st February 2011

[Cyphon]

Awesome story.

[Luzburg]

Cyphon88, on 11 February 2011 - 10:43 PM, said:

Awesome story.

Seconded. I have childhood memories of reading the book(s). The all-in-one book is in tatters in my wardrobe, I kept it out of nostalgia and bought me a shiny new set.