Private Eye on J.R.R. Tolkien

This week's Literary Review in Private Eye contains a review of The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun J.R.R. Tolkien's translation of the Nordic poem as edited by his son, Christopher. 

The review took me aback because not only was it not negative - Private Eye's literary reviewer nearly always takes a perverse pleasure in putting down the books that he is reviewing - but makes a very useful suggestion, namely, that a life and times of J.R.R. Tolkien be published. 

As the reviewer says, although Tolkien died nearly forty years ago, there are still many people alive who knew him who could contribute to such a work. The reviewer (who is anonymous) refers to Humphrey Carpenter's biography which, though written in the late 70s is still the best on the bookshelves, but refers to the fact that Carpenter admitted it was 'derailed' by Christopher Tolkien's 'blue pencilling' of certain parts of it. I don't really understand the analogy. I assume it means that Christopher Tolkien interfered editorially with the book. The reviewer, therefore, suggests that no definitive biography will be written while Christopher is alive. 

I would hope that this is not the case because I can't imagine what the Tolkien Estate would have to lose by authorising such a biography. JRRT did not lead a controversial life. He is responsible for a fabulous corpus of literature. He knew some very important people and lived in a great period of history. Private Eye have to be commended, on this occasion, for a far sighted and important suggestion.