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Yeah, I never had heard of Gormengast.
I think we are splitting hairs. I agree that opinion is context. I'm just saying that for different works, other factors (timing, originality, political context, etc.) can equal or even exceed the notability of opinion. Mostly I am just saying that it's silly for the New Yorker to talk about the merits of a mundane or face value read of Tolkien. I don't 'get' the Beatles, but I'm pretty sure that doesn't mean there isn't something to be 'gotten'. Personally, I think there's a peculiar hostility to Tolkien that kind of rubs me wrong.