Art Life

POSTCARD BIOGRAPHIES FROM THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

After the success of the first series of postcard biographies taken from the NPG's archives, this is a new series of specially commissioned 70-word biographies of and by major figures of today

Terry Pratchett on J R R Tolkien (1892-1973)

Renowned Oxford language scholar who in real life created Middle Earth, a vast fantasy world chronicled primarily, minutely and beguilingly in The Lord of the Rings. Perhaps some hippy children got christened Galadriel after his elven queen and his landscapes had as much character as his heroes - but the story enthralled. He re-created fantasy as an honourable genre and earned the devotion of a hundred million readers. He was an enchanter.

Terry Pratchett c Reserved. J R R Tolkien by John Wyatt, 1968 c Reserved. The National Portrait Gallery has produced a pack of 25 pull- out postcards to accompany this series. Now on sale (pounds 5) in the NPG shop, or by mail order (0171 306 0055, x280 / fax 0171 306 0092). Add pounds 1 p&p for up to two packs, pounds 1.50 thereafter.