SKU: 31003508376

A Secret Vice: Tolkien on Invented Languages: J.R.R. Tolkien

Sale price$16.20 Regular price$18.00
Save 10%

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 12 - Jul 17

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

A Secret Vice: Tolkien on Invented Languages: J.R.R. Tolkien*UNSIGNED* J. R. R. Tolkiens linguistic invention was a fundamental part of his artistic output, to the extent that later on in life he attributed the existence of his mythology to the desire to give his languages a home and peoples to speak them. As Tolkien puts it in A Secret Vice, the making of language and mythology are related functions. In the 1930s, Tolkien composed and delivered two lectures, in which he explored these two key elements of his

*UNSIGNED*


J.R.R. Tolkien’s linguistic invention was a fundamental part of his artistic output, to the extent that later on in life he attributed the existence of his mythology to the desire to give his languages a home and peoples to speak them. As Tolkien puts it in ‘A Secret Vice’, ‘the making of language and mythology are related functions’.

In the 1930s, Tolkien composed and delivered two lectures, in which he explored these two key elements of his sub-creative methodology. The second of these, the seminal Andrew Lang Lecture for 1938–9, ‘On Fairy-Stories’, which he delivered at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, is well known. But many years before, in 1931, Tolkien gave a talk to a literary society entitled ‘A Hobby for the Home’, where he unveiled for the first time to a listening public the art that he had both himself encountered and been involved with since his earliest childhood: ‘the construction of imaginary languages in full or outline for amusement’.

This talk would be edited by Christopher Tolkien for inclusion as ‘A Secret Vice’ in The Monsters and the Critics and Other Essays and serves as the principal exposition of Tolkien’s art of inventing languages. This new critical edition, which includes previously unpublished notes and drafts by Tolkien connected with the essay, including his ‘Essay on Phonetic Symbolism’, goes some way towards re-opening the debate on the importance of linguistic invention in Tolkien’s mythology and the role of imaginary languages in fantasy literature.

Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 31003508376

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.4 ★★★★★
Based on 899 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
J
jsnggltt
San Leandro, US
★★★★★ 3
Glitter Bomb
Color: Glint Rainbow
It gets ALL over the place and doesn’t stick all that well. Neat idea but it doesn’t work the way I would hope.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2026
M
Verified Purchase
MyHumbleOpinion
Birmingham, US
★★★★★ 5
Cute bottle, great product
Color: Sparkling Pink
My daughter has been in to all things glitter. Most recently her makeup and skin care. Shes been looking for hair glitter. While helping her search I came across this spray and thought the bottle was too cute to pass up. The quality is great, she sprays it in her hair and it lasts all day. She can also use it on her skin for added sparkle. Surprisingly for a loose glitter it sticks really well. Some specks may transfer but not much.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2026
M
Verified Purchase
Matthew 3:2
Massapequa, US
★★★★★ 5
Really lovely
Color: Glint-Rainbow
Got this for my toddler as a celebration gift for getting rid of her binky. Only big girls get to be sparkly. I also use clear coat on our nails and spray with however much glitter we feel like at the time and it's very cute. It is not adhesive, it's just loose glitter. If you want it to start on your hair I'd suggest light hairspray first immediately followed with the glitter. It's a very fun little bottle.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2026
S
Verified Purchase
Serina L Crum
Charlottesville, US
★★★★★ 5
Fairy dust!
Color: Mermaid
Gorgeous! Love the bottle, it's so cute. The glitter is bright but still has a buttery shimmer ✨ no sticky residue. Looked absolutely stunning on my collarbones 🫶
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2026
E
Verified Purchase
Erica Banks
Chelsea, US
★★★★★ 4
SO PRETTY!
Color: Glint-Rainbow
Very glittery, pretty on my skin, and good quality! 10/10 would recommend
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2026

recommand products