Language
The most important and pervasive theme in the book is language. J.R.R. Tolkien, the subject of the book, was fascinated with language from an early age. While Tolkien's father went to work, Tolkien's mother homeschooled J.R.R. and his brother. At an early age, Tolkien's mother schooled him in language and the study of language. As a result, Tolkien became fascinated with language and spent much of his waking time studying languages (in fact, Tolkien was able to speak quite a few languages fluently and studied language in school). Tolkien's love and passion for language only grew. He used his skills with language throughout his career, utilizing them heavily for his Hobbit and Lord of the Rings novels. In fact, Tolkien created his very own language for his novels. For Tolkien and his Hobbit and Lord of the Rings novels, language is the lifeblood through which he could tell incredibly frenetic and interesting stories. They are, in other words, the glue that holds Tolkien's stories together.
Heartbreak
A sad theme in the book is heartbreak. Throughout the novel, Tolkien and his brother lose people whom they love and care about consistently. First, Tolkien and his brother lose their father in an unfortunate turn of events (he died of Typhoid fever). Then, the two lose their mother to Type I Diabetes at the young age of 34, which had no cure when they grew up. Because of this, they were forced to live with a local priest, who they liked but were not as fond of as their mother, whom they adored. Regardless, the two (but J.R.R. particularly) prospered after the death of their mother. J.R.R. went to a prestigious college and became one of the most successful authors of the 20th century. Despite dying relatively young, J.R.R.'s brother was successful as well. And despite their semi-constant heartbreak, the two young men prospered in their life — against the odds they were working with.
