J. R. R. Tolkien villain, Gilles de Retz. Incidents in both "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" are similar in narrative and style to the novel, and its overall style and imagery have been suggested as an influence on Tolkien. Tolkien was inspired by early Germanic, especially Old English, literature, poetry, and mythology, which were his chosen and much-loved areas of expertise. These sources of inspiration included Old English literature such as "Beowulf", Norse sagas such as the "Volsunga saga" and the "Hervarar saga", the "Poetic Edda", the "Prose Edda", the "Nibelungenlied", and numerous other culturally related works. Despite the similarities of
Reception of J. R. R. Tolkien Rings" followed from 1973 to 1975 ("Tiden Norsk Forlag"). Both translations were harshly criticized for errors and inconsistencies and complaints resulted in a new translation of "LotR", published in 1980/81. By the late 1980s, Tolkien's works were well known to the Norwegian public. A translation of the "Silmarillion" appeared in 1994. The unsatisfactory "Hobbit" translation was replaced only in 1997. By the mid-1990s, the popularity of Tolkien had risen to a level that made viable translations of his minor works. Arthedain - The Tolkien Society of Norway was founded in 1981. The Finnish Tolkien Society Kontu ("Suomen Tolkien-seura Kontu ry"