The Adventures of ‘Smith of Wootton Major’

"Landscape With Beech Tree," 1845, by Asher Brown Durand. Oil on canvas. New York Historical, New York. PD-US

J.R.R. Tolkien’s magical story reminds us that life is the greatest gift of all.

If you know J.R.R. Tolkien, chances are you’re familiar with “The Lord of the Rings.” Tolkien aficionados may name “The Hobbit” and “The Silmarillion” as the South African-born British author’s greatest accomplishments. For lovers of Christmas tales, Tolkien is the mind behind the playful and heartwarming “Letters from Father Christmas,” which never fail to adorn the winter season.

Hidden in a long list of generation-defining books is the little-known “Smith of Wootton Major,” an enchanting journey into a fairy world that reflects the magic of Christmas just as much as Tolkien’s more famous works. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or a new reader of Tolkien, this charming tale is the perfect addition to your holiday reading list.

J.R.R. Tolkien, circa 1925. Public Domain

‘Smith of Wootton Major’

“Smith of Wootton Major” was Tolkien’s last major work before his death in 1973. In the United States, it was first published in the Christmas edition of the literary magazine “Redbook” in 1967. It was meant to serve as a preface to George MacDonald’s 1887 fairytale “The Golden Key,” but it quickly became a story in its own right.

Although it’s not directly related to Tolkien’s Middle-Earth, “Smith of Wootton Major” tells the story of a traveler’s journey through a fantastic world that lies beyond mortals’ reach. The quiet village of Wootton Major, England was renowned for its annual festivals. People often gathered in its cozy streets to dance to sweet songs, compete in friendly games, and relish countless culinary delights. The biggest festival of all was The Feast of Good Children. It was celebrated once every 24 years, when 24 children were invited to a giant party.

The celebration’s centerpiece was the Great Cake, a career-defining milestone by which the town’s Master Cook was judged. The Master Cook we meet at the beginning of the story is Nokes, who had landed the prestigious position without particular merit. He was skilled, but he relegated most of the hard work to his creative apprentice, Alf.

Before presenting the Great Cake to the townsfolk, the cooks hid 24 trinkets in the cake. One of these trinkets was a star Nokes found in an old spice box. When the children finished eating, no one could found the star.  A blacksmith’s son had accidentally swallowed it. On the morning of his 10th birthday, the star fixed itself on Smith’s forehead, becoming his entry ticket to the world of Faery. Smith grew up to be a blacksmith like his father, but in his free time he took solo trips to this magical world only he could enter. Some of his adventures were delightful, some were dangerous; but each showed Smith a precious aspect of life.

Smith, Magic, and Meaning

Smith’s openness to Faery set him apart from other people in Wootton Major. Unlike the village’s more cynical characters, Smith embraced the star’s gift and the mysterious journeys it afforded. Over the years, he became a frequent traveler to Faery, witnessing sights of extraordinary beauty.

In one of his wanderings, “he was overtaken by a grey mist and strayed long at a loss, until the mist rolled away and he found that he was in a wide plain. Far off there was a great hill of shadow, and out of that shadow, which was its root, he saw the King’s Tree springing up, tower upon tower, into the sky, and its light was like the sun at noon; and it bore at once leaves and flowers and fruits uncounted, and not one was the same as any other that grew on the Tree.”

He never saw the King’s Tree again, but he sought it often, for he didn’t want to abandon the perfect beauty he now knew possible.

Smith’s encounters with the Faery Queen and the King, his vision of the great tree, and his dance in the heart of Faery were moments of profound beauty. Once he returns to his world, he’s more attuned to its magical essence, and is able to find beauty in the mundane. Smith is better for it, as are his wife, his children, and everyone around him.

The contrast between Smith and Nokes underscores the story’s central theme. Unlike Smith, Nokes dismisses the magical as childish. He treats the star as a trivial decoration, rather than a sacred gift. His lack of imagination makes him blind to the wonders of Faery, and he becomes lonely and bitter as a result. By juxtaposing Nokes’s mundane outlook with Smith’s transcendent adventures, Tolkien suggests that faith in the magical isn’t merely an optional personal choice, but a crucial element of a beautiful, meaningful life.

Life: The Greatest Gift of All

At last, Smith meets with the King of Faery. The King tells him that the star must be passed on to someone else, for they also deserve a chance to know Faery. Smith knew that letting go of the star means abandoning that the magical world, but he also understood that it was the right thing to do. He had spent many years traveling to and from Faery under the star’s protection.

The time had now come to give another child the same gift. When another Feast came around, Smith made sure to place the star inside the Cake.

Much like the Christmas season, Tolkien’s story invites us to reflect on the mysterious connections between the everyday and the magical. It celebrates the power of wonder, which shines brightest in children’s innocent curiosity. It reminds us of the importance of sharing, and of the transformative power of silent encounters with each other. Perfect for a fireside read on a snowy December afternoon, “Smith of Wootton Major” reminds us that life is the greatest gift of all.

’Smith of Wootton Major‘  By J.R.R. Tolkien Gardiners VI Books, Jan. 1, 2015 Hardcover: 55 pages

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