Farmer Giles of Ham

As far as colleges and high schools are concerned, it's mostly the "dystopian" stuff from the 20th century (and now the 21st century) that makes it's way into the "canon," the books that instructors feel every student should read and that continue the "Great Conversation."  Students read Brave New World, 1984, and Lord of the Flies, books that take a dim view of human life and human nature.  In terms of literary quality, though, there are lots of modern books equal or better to the dystopian novels and that have a more positive world view.  J.R.R. Tolkien's books especially are both wonderfully written, and, while they recognize the strength of "the dark side," they tend to end up with more positive conclusions. 

Please read Tolkien's "Farmer Giles of Ham," (pp. 121-187 of the Tolkien Reader). In your comment here, either make the case that Farmer Giles is a "must read," the kind of book that should have a place in the academic canon, or that Farmer Giles somehow comes up short.  If you want to balance the two positions, that's fine too.  You might consider the ideas/values reflected in the story, the emotional impact of the story, the literary quality of the story, or any other factor you think makes the story worthy/unworthy of a place in the canon.