Tolkien and Lewis… friends and rivals?

The Scotsman has a fascinating article on the friendship between two of Britain’s most beloved literary figures.

CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien were the closest of friends, one struggling to make his fantasy world of Middle Earth a literary reality, the other trying to convince friends his first book about Narnia deserved to be published.

But new research has revealed that their friendship was riven by the most bitter and personal of rows on everything from literature to religion and even their choice of spouse.

The fascinating revelations about their real relationship have been made by film-maker Norman Stone while researching a new drama-documentary on the life of Lewis. Stone, who made the award-winning movie about Lewis, Shadowlands, talked to mutual friends of the literary pair as well as examining documents in minute detail.

The drama-documentary is scheduled to air on the Hallmark Channel in the US this December. The BBC is hoping to air it at the same time.

EastEnder to fill McGregor’s shoes

EastEnders’ star Nigel Harman will replace Ewan McGregor in the West End production of “Guys and Dolls.”

EastEnders heartthrob Nigel Harman will swap the East End for the West End this winter and replace Ewan McGregor as gambler Sky Masterson in the hit musical Guys and Dolls.

Harman, 32, is set to film his final scenes in Albert Square in November and will make his debut at the Piccadilly Theatre on December 5.

The actor who catapulted to stardom as Dirty Den’s son Dennis Rickman is no stranger to treading the boards. He has previously appeared in the West End musicals Mamma Mia!, Damn Yankees and Tommy.

He will join former Coronation Street star Sarah Lancashire, who will play the nightclub ‘hostess’ Miss Adelaide.

Star Wars actor McGregor will be a hard act to follow. He has had warm reviews for his all-singing, all-dancing role, famously played by Marlon Brando in the 1955 film.

McGregor will be a hard act to follow, but I suspect that Harman is up to the task. Now I want to see “Guys and Dolls” again!

Open Thread: Fall Book Releases

I was at the bookstore today, and noticed two of fall’s big fantasy releases are already out: Neil Gaiman’s Anansi Boys and Robin Hobb’s Shaman’s Crossing. Coming out next Tuesday is Gregory Maguire’s Son of a Witch and the latest SW novel.

Also coming out soon is George R. R. Martin’s long-awaited A Feast for Crows, and – surprise! – yet another Wheel of Time book from Robert Jordan.

Star Wars aside, what fall releases are you most looking forward to?