J.R.R. TOLKIEN'S "THE LORD OF THE RINGS" UNOFFICIAL HOMEPAGE

Welcome to J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" Unofficial Homepage

"If you want to know the story, you can read the book."
~ Sir Ian McKellen, "The Actors Studio"

Since 1998, the simple goal for this site has been to encourage readers of all ages to take a journey to Middle-earth and experience Tolkien's peerless masterworks for themselves.

To best achieve this goal, we carefully research the currently available editions of Tolkien's works, as well as related books and other educational material, then sort what is felt (both personally, and by a majority of reviewers) to be the best into the six columns below.

We also maintain other sites associated with Tolkien's works.

THE TOLKIEN FORUM: One of the Internet's oldest message boards dedicated to discussions and deliberations of the finer (and not so fine) points of Tolkien's literary works.
TOLKIENPEDIA: Educational and other informative material, such as FAQ documents, guides, essays, as well as links to other more exhaustive Tolkien resources on the Internet.
A TOLKIENOLOGIST'S BLOG: Some flotsam and jetsam from a well-worn fellow-traveler to Tolkien’s Middle-earth.

Finally, in a desire to be not be 'with it,' we post to Twitter now and then as well.

"The Hobbit"
First published on September 21, 1937, by George Allen & Unwin.

"A finely written saga of dwarves and elves, fearsome goblins and trolls ... an exciting epic of travel and magical adventure, all working up to a devastating climax."
~ London Observer

"A flawless masterpiece."
~ The Times

Hardcover Editions

'Illustrated' Edition by Alan Lee
This Large-format edition was released to commemorate sixtieth anniversary of "The Hobbit." Features watercolor paintings and line drawings throughout by Alan Lee.

• Buy Now @ Amazon.com
· Large-Format 'Hardcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-395-87346-0

'70th Anniversary' Edition"
This new edition of "The Hobbit," features an introduction by Christopher Tolkien, reset text incorporating the most up-to-date corrections, and all of Tolkien's own drawings and color illustrations, including a rare "Mirkwood" piece.

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· Standard 'Hardcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-96863-6

'Illustrated' Edition by Michael Hague
Noted artist Michael Hague, whose work is reminiscent of illustrated books of the early 1900s, provides 48 full-color plates for this edition.

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· Large-Format 'Hardcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-395-36290-3

Deluxe 'Collector's' Edition
Boxed and bound in green leatherette, with gold and red foil rune stamping on the spine and cover. Also features full-color illustrations by Tolkien himself.

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· Boxed (Slipcased) Bindery
· ISBN: 0-395-17711-1

Houghton Mifflin's 'Young Reader' Edition
This edition of "The Hobbit" has been specially formatted for young readers. Larger print size and wider margins provide reading ease, includes interior maps and original interior illustrations by J.R.R. Tolkien. Cover art by illustrator Peter Sis.

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· Large-Format 'Hardcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-16221-6

'Classic' Edition
This is the edition that introduced most readers to Tolkien's Middle-earth. The dust-jacket features Tolkien's original design.

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· Standard 'Hardcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-395-07122-4

Softcover/Paperback Editions

'Illustrated' Edition by Michael Hague
Noted artist Michael Hague, whose work is reminiscent of illustrated books of the early 1900s, provides 48 full-color plates for this edition.

• Buy Now @ Amazon.com
· Large-Format 'Softcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-395-52021-5

'Softcover' Edition
This high quality 'trade' softcover edition is consistantly a popular gift choice—even one to yourself. Cover illustration by Alan Lee.

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· Standard 'Trade Paperback' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-00221-9

• Buy Now @ Amazon.com
· Large-Format 'Softcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-15082-X

Houghton Mifflin's 'Paperback' Edition
Houghton Mifflin's Graphia 'quality pocket-book edition. Cover illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien.

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· Standard 'Trade Paperback' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-26030-7

Ballantine 'Paperback' Edition
The always popular Random House/Ballantine pocket-book edition. Perfect for trips and vacations. Cover illustration by Ted Nasmith.

• Buy Now @ Amazon.com
· Standard 'Paperback' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-345-33968-1

Audiobook Editions

'Unabridged' 'Audiobook' Edition
Narrator Rob Inglis holds listeners (of all ages) spellbound with his skillful portrayal of hobbits, dwarves, and other characters in Tolkien's classic adventure.

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· 10 Compact Discs
· ISBN: 0-788-789821

'Abridged' 'Audiobook' Edition
Read by Martin Shaw.

• Buy Now @ Amazon.com
· 5 Compact Discs
· ISBN: 1-565-11672-0

BBC Radio 4 'Radio Play'
First broadcast by BBC Radio 4 in 1968, this radio dramatization has since become a classic, and it continues to delight to this day.

Performers include Anthony Jackson (Narrator), Paul Daneman (Bilbo Baggins), and Heron Carvic (Gandalf).

• Buy Now @ Amazon.com
· 5 Compact Discs
· ISBN: 0-553-45562-1

NPR 'Radio Play'
National Public Radio's 4 hour 'Mind's Eye' dramatization by Erik Bauersfeld.

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· 4 Compact Discs
· ISBN: 1-565-11552-X

Other Editions

"The Annotated Hobbit"
The definitive edition of this beloved children's classic, edited by Douglas A. Anderson, featuring a wealth of accompanying illustrations and notes which take the reader further into both the story, and the tale of how it was written.

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· Standard 'Hardcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-13470-0

'Comic Book' Edition
The only graphic novel version of "The Hobbit." Charles Dixon and Sean Deming adaptation of Tolkien's classic won plaudits from even purists for its majestic and evocative paintings and its crisply presented action. Illustrated by David Wenzel.

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· Standard 'trade paperback' bindery
· ISBN: 0-345-44560-0

"The Lord of the Rings"
First published on July 29, 1954 ("The Fellowship of the Ring"), November 11, 1954 ("The Two Towers"), October 20, 1955 ("The Return of the King"), by George Allen & Unwin.

"Among the greatest works of imaginative fiction in the twentieth century ... The book presents us with the richest profusion of new lands and creatures, from the beauty of Lothlórien, to the horror of Mordor, adventures to hold us spell-bound, and words of beauty and evocation to bring all vividly before us."
~ Sunday Telegraph

"A unique, wholly realized other world, evoked from deep in the well of Time, massively detailed, absorbingly entertaining, profound in meaning."
~ New York Times

Hardcover Editions

Single Volume 'Illustrated' Edition by Alan Lee
Celebrating the centenary of Tolkien's birth. Illustrated with fifty specially commissioned paintings by Alan Lee.

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· Large-Format 'Hardcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-395-59511-8

Single Volume '50th Anniversary' 'Leather Bound' Edition
Features include: Text fully corrected to Tolkien's exacting specifications, Tolkien's hand-colored leaves of the 'Book of Mazarbul,' two large-format two-color foldout maps, protective slipcase with inset panels, two color foil stamping, gilded edges, ribbon bookmark, and a two-color title page.

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· Boxed (Slipcased) Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-51765-0

Single Volume 'Hardcover' Edition
Includes the fiftieth-anniversary fully corrected text setting and, for the first time, an extensive new index.

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· Standard 'Hardcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-64561-6

Three Volume 'Illustrated' Edition by Alan Lee
The extremely popular centenary edition released in this three volume slipcased edition. Illustrated by Alan Lee.

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· Boxed (Slipcased) 'Hardcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-26058-7

Three Volume 'Hardcover' Edition
Including large format fold-out maps, and an extensive appendices. Dust-jackets and boxes are illustrated by Alan Lee.

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· Boxed (Slipcased) 'Hardcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-395-48932-6

Softcover/Paperback Editions

Four Volume 'Softcover' Edition
Box and covers illustrated by Alan Lee. Includes a copy of "The Hobbit."

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· Boxed (Slipcased) 'Softcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-00225-1

Three Volume 'Softcover' Edition
Interior design and covers by artist John Jude Palencar.

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· Boxed (Slipcased) 'Softcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-57499-9

Four Volume 'Paperback' Edition
The always popular Random House/Ballantine pocket-book editions of Tolkien's ring trilogy, as well as its enchanting prequel, "The Hobbit." Great for trips and vacations.

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· Boxed (Slipcased) 'Paperback' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-345-34042-6

Audiobook Editions

'Unabridged' 'Audiobook' Edition
Rob Inglis' superb 52 hour reading (performance really) of Tolkien's epic masterwork.

• Buy Now @ Amazon.com
· 56 Compact Discs
· ISBN: 1-402-51627-4

BBC Radio 4 'Radio Play'
First broadcast by BBC Radio 4 on March 8, 1981, this outstanding dramatization (13 hours on 13 CDs) quickly became an instant classic.

Performers include Ian Holm (Frodo), Michael Hordern (Gandalf), and Robert Stephens (Aragorn).

• Buy Now @ Amazon.com
· 13 Compact Discs
· ISBN: 1-602-83492-X

NPR 'Radio Play'
National Public Radio's 'digitally remastered' 10 hour dramatization. Read by an 'ensemble cast.'

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· 9 Compact Discs
· ISBN: 1-565-11550-3

Motion Pictures

New Line Cinema's "The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy" ('Theatrical Editions') ('Blue-ray')
Peter Jackson's epic motion pictures series based on J.R.R. Tolkien's epic masterwork, now available in this Blue-ray release. Winner of 17 Academy Awards.

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· 7 DVDs

Other Works by J.R.R. Tolkien

Editions of "The Silmarillion," "The Children of Húrin," "Unfinished Tales," "Poems from The Hobbit," "Tales from the Perilous Realm," "The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún," and "Letters from Father Christmas."

"The Silmarillion"
First published on November 19, 1977, by George Allen & Unwin.

"A grim, tragic, powerful book, shot through with heroism and hope ... its power is almost that of mysticism."
~ Toronto Globe & Mail

"How, given little over half a century of work, did one man become the creative equivalent of a people?"
~ The Guardian

"A creation of singular beauty ... magnificent in its best moments."
~ Washington Post

Hardcover Editions

'Illustrated' Edition by Ted Nasmith
Tolkien's epic History of the Elves, illustrated by artist Ted Nasmith.

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· Large-Format 'Hardcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-39111-8

'Hardcover' Edition
This 'second edition' includes a letter written by Tolkien describing his intentions for the book, which serves as a brilliant exposition of his conception of the early ages of Middle-earth.

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· Standard 'Hardcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-13504-9

Softcover/Paperback Editions

'Softcover' Edition
This 'second edition' includes a letter written by Tolkien describing his intentions for the book, which serves as a brilliant exposition of his conception of the early ages of Middle-earth.

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· Standard 'Trade Paperback' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-12698-8

'Paperback' Edition
The always popular Random House/Ballantine pocket-book edition. Perfect for trips and vacations.

• Buy Now @ Amazon.com
· Standard 'Paperback' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-345-32581-8

Audiobook Editions

'Unabridged' 'Audiobook' Edition
Read by Martin Shaw.

• Buy Now @ Amazon.com
· 13 Compact Discs
· ISBN: 0-553-45606-7

"The Children of Húrin"
First published in April 17, 2007, by Houghton Mifflin

"A superb addition to the Tolkien canon ... Stunning in its scope, writing and story-telling, it's vintage Tolkien ... A monumental achievement."
~ Chicago Sun-Times

The first complete book by J.R.R. Tolkien since the posthumous "The Silmarillion" in 1977. Presented for the first time as a fully continuous and standalone story, the epic tale of "The Children of Húrin" will reunite fans of "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" with Elves and Men, dragons and Dwarves, and the rich landscape and characters unique to Tolkien.

Hardcover Editions

'Deluxe' Hardcover Edition

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· Boxed (Slipcased) Edition
· ISBN: 0-618-90441-7

'Hardcover' Edition

• Buy Now @ Amazon.com
· Standard 'Hardcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-89464-0

Softcover/Paperback Editions

'Softcover' Edition

• Buy Now @ Amazon.com
· Standard 'Trade Paperback' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-547-08605-9

Audiobook Editions

'Unabridged' 'Audiobook' Edition
Read by Christopher Lee; Preface and Introduction read by Christopher Tolkien.

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· 8 Compact Discs
· ISBN: 0-007-26345-7

"Unfinished Tales"
First published in 1980, by George Allen & Unwin

"Another monument to the incredible imagination of J.R.R. Tolkien."
~ Sunday Telegraph

A collection of narratives ranging in from the Elder Days of Middle-earth. to the end of the War of the Ring, and other events as from "The Silmarillion," and "The Lord of the Rings."

'Hardcover' Edition

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· Standard 'Hardcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-15404-3

'Softcover' Edition

• Buy Now @ Amazon.com
· Standard 'Trade Paperback' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-15405-1

Ballantine 'Paperback' Edition
The always popular Random House/Ballantine pocket-book edition. Perfect for trips and vacations. Cover illustration by Michael Herring.

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· Standard 'Paperback' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-345-35711-6

"Poems from The Hobbit"
First published on December 13, 1999, by Houghton Mifflin

"..."
~ ...

This miniature book, illustrated with thirty of Tolkien's own paintings and drawings, contains all twelve poems found in "The Hobbit," as well as Gollum's eight riddles.

'Hardcover' Edition

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· 'Mini-Book (3''×3½'')' 'Hardcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-00934-5

"Tales from the Perilous Realm"
First published on November 17, 2008, by Houghton Mifflin

"..."
~ ...

The definitive collection of Tolkien's classic fairie tales, in the vein of "The Hobbit," illustrated by Alan Lee.

Never before published in a single volume, Tolkien's four novellas ("Farmer Giles of Ham," "Leaf by Niggle," "Smith of Wootton Major," and "Roverandom") and one book of poems ("The Adventures of Tom Bombadil") are gathered together for the first time, in a fully illustrated volume.

'Hardcover' Edition

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· Standard 'Hardcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-547-15411-9

"The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún"
First published on May 5, 2009, by Houghton Mifflin

"..."
~ ...

"The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún" is a previously unpublished work by J.R.R. Tolkien, written while Tolkien was Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford during the 1920s and '30s, before he wrote "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings." It makes available for the first time Tolkien's extensive retelling in English narrative verse of the epic Norse tales of "Sigurd the Völsung" and "The Fall of the Niflungs." It includes an introduction by J.R.R. Tolkien, drawn from one of his own lectures on Norse literature, with commentary and notes on the poems by Christopher Tolkien.

'Hardcover' Edition

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· Standard 'Hardcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-547-27342-8

"Letters from Father Christmas"
First published in 1976, by George Allen & Unwin

"Tolkien at his relaxed and ingenious best."
~ The Times of London

Every December, an envelope from the North Pole would arrive for Tolkien's children. Inside would be a letter in strange, spidery handwriting and a beautiful color drawing. The letters told wonderful tales of life at the North Pole: how all the reindeer scattered presents all over the place; how the accident-prone Polar Bear climbed the North Pole and fell through the roof of Father Christmas's house; how he broke the Moon into four pieces and made the Man in it fall into the back garden; how there were wars with a troublesome horde of goblins. Sometimes the Polar Bear would scrawl a note, adding yet more humor to the stories. No reader, young or old, can fail to be charmed by the inventiveness of Tolkien's Father Christmas Letters.

'Hardcover' Edition

• Buy Now @ Amazon.com
· Standard 'Hardcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-395-74132-7

'Softcover' Edition

• Buy Now @ Amazon.com
· Standard 'Softcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-51265-9

Atlases, Guides, Essays

Editions of "A Question of Time: J.R.R. Tolkien's Road to Faerie," "Atlas of Middle-earth, The" "Complete Guide to Middle-earth, The" "Defending Middle-Earth," "J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide, The" "J.R.R. Tolkien and His Literary Resonances," "Maps of Tolkien's Middle-Earth, The" "Tolkien's Legendarium." "Tolkien: A Celebration," and "Writers & Their Work: J.R.R. Tolkien."

TITLES ARE LISTED ALPHABETICALLY.

"A Question of Time: J.R.R. Tolkien's Road to Faerie"
By Verlyn Flieger.

J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit," "The Lord of the Rings," and "The Silmarillion," have long been recognized as among the most popular fiction of the twentieth century, and most critical analysis of Tolkien has centered on these novels. Granted access by the Tolkien estate, and the Bodleian Library in Oxford to Tolkien's unpublished writings, Verlyn Flieger uses them here to shed new light on his better known works, revealing a new dimension of his fictive vision and giving added depth of meaning to his writing. Tolkien's concern with time—past and present, real and "faerie"—captures the wonder and peril of travel into other worlds, other times, other modes of consciousness. Reading his work, we "fall wide asleep" into a dream more real than ordinary waking experience, and emerge with a new perception of the waking world. Flieger explores Tolkien's use of dream as time-travel in his unfinished stories "The Lost Road," and "The Notion Club Papers," as well as in "The Lord of the Rings," and his shorter fiction and poetry. Analyzing Tolkien's treatment of time and time-travel, Flieger shows that he was not just a myth maker and writer of escapist fantasy, but a man whose relationship to his own century was troubled and critical. He achieved in his fiction a double perspective of time that enabled him to see in the mirror of the past the clouded reflection of the present.

'Hardcover' Edition

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· Standard 'Hardcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-873-38699-X

"Atlas of Middle-earth, The"
By Karen Wynn Fonstad.

Karen Wynn Fonstad's definitive guide to the geography of Middle-earth, from its founding in the Elder Days through the Third Age, including the journeys of Bilbo, Frodo, and the Fellowship of the Ring. Authentic and updated—nearly one third of the maps are new, and the text is fully revised—the atlas illuminates the enchanted world created in "The Silmarillion," "The Hobbit," and "The Lord of the Rings."

Hundreds of two-color maps and diagrams survey the journeys of the principal characters day by day—including all the battles and key locations of the First, Second, and Third Ages. Plans and descriptions of castles, buildings, and distinctive landforms are given, along with thematic maps describing the climate, vegetation, languages, and population distribution of Middle-earth throughout its history. An extensive appendix and an index help readers correlate the maps with Tolkien's novels.

'Softcover' Edition

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· Large-Format 'Softcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-12699-6

"Complete Guide to Middle-earth, The: From 'The Hobbit' to 'The Silmarillion'"
By Robert Foster.

For the millions who have already ventured to Middle-earth, as well as the countless others who have yet to embark on the journey—here is the one indispensable A-to-Z guide that brings Tolkien's universe to life.

'Softcover' Edition

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· Standard 'Softcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-345-44976-2

"Defending Middle-Earth: Tolkien: Myth and Modernity"
By Patrick Curry.

Newly reissued with a new afterword, Patrick Curry argues, in part, that Tolkien has found a way to provide something close to spirit in a secular age. His focus is on three main aspects of Tolkien's fiction: the social and political structure of Middle-earth and how the varying cultures within it find common cause in the face of a shared threat; the nature and ecology of Middle-earth and how what we think of as the natural world joins the battle against mindless, mechanized destruction; and the spirituality and ethics of Middle-earth, for which Curry provides a particularly insightful and resonant examination that will deepen the understanding of the millions of fans who have taken "The Lord of the Rings to heart."

'Softcover' Edition

• Buy Now @ Amazon.com
· Standard 'Softcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-47885-X

"J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide, The"
By Wayne Hammond and Christina Scull.

This two volume boxed set is perhaps the most comprehensive reference ever published to Tolkien's life and works, including synopses of all his writings, a 'Tolkien A-Z,' a 'Who's Who,' and a chronology.

'Boxed' 'Hardcover' Edition

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· Boxed (Slipcased) Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-39113-4

"J.R.R. Tolkien and His Literary Resonances: Views of Middle-earth (Contributions to the Study of Science Fiction and Fantasy)"
By George Clark & Daniel Timmons (Editors).

Although Tolkien's literary works have, over the past few decades, attracted a considerable and varied body of criticism, much of this material is inaccessible, unreflective, and repetitive. Though various scholars have treated Tolkien's sources and his concept of fantasy, this study situates the author in a broad literary context that includes ancient metrical modes, medieval culture, Renaissance poetics, 19th-century social movements, and modern critical thought. Each chapter is written by an expert contributor and examines the literary resonance of Tolkien's works from a variety of informed perspectives.

'Hardcover' Edition

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· Standard 'Hardcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-313-30845-4

"Maps of Tolkien's Middle-Earth, The"
By Brian Sibley and John Howe.

Best-selling Tolkien expert Brian Sibley presents a slipcased collection of four full-color, large-format maps of Tolkien's imaginary realm illustrated by John Howe, a conceptual designer for the films directed by Peter Jackson. The set includes a hardcover book describing in detail the importance and evolution of geography within Tolkien's epic fiction and four color maps presented with minimal folds, including two (Beleriand and Númenor) never before published in this country.

'Hardcover' Edition

• Buy Now @ Amazon.com
· Large-Format 'Hardcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-39110-X

"Tolkien's Legendarium: Essays on the History of Middle-earth"
By Verlyn Flieger & Carl F. Hostetter (Editors).

When J.R.R. Tolkien passed away in 1973, he left behind a vast body of unpublished material related to the imaginary world of his fiction. Now arranged, edited, and published as "The History of Middle-earth" by his son, and literary executor, Christopher Tolkien, these 12 volumes offer an unparalleled insight into the growth of Tolkien's mythology over five decades. This book is the first comprehensive critical examination of "The History of Middle-earth." An opening easy by Rayner Unwin, Tolkien's publisher for many years, discusses the publication history of the material, while essays by expert contributors examine a broad range of topics related to the work.

'Hardcover' Edition

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· Standard 'Hardcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-313-30530-7

"Tolkien: A Celebration: Collected Writings on a Literary Legacy"
By Joseph Pearce (Editor).

Joseph Pearce begins and ends with two writers—George Sayer and Walter Hooper—who knew J.R.R. Tolkien well, offering a rare insight into the man behind the myth. Between these delightful memoirs are twelve essays that explore the threads of inspiration and purpose in his major works "The Lord of the Rings," "The Silmarillion," and "The Hobbit." The works are examined theologically, philosophically, culturally, ecologically, mystically, and historically, as the various contributors seek to understand the profundity of Tolkien's achievement. Above all, these collected essays reveal a writer of inspired creativity and profound spiritual depth.

'Softcover' Edition

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· Standard 'Softcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-898-70866-4

"Writers & Their Work: J.R.R. Tolkien"
By Charles Moseley.

Tolkien was a specialist in a recherche field. He did not, at least initially, write for a mass audience. Yet for many in the 1960s his books, particularly "The Lord of the Rings," became a political badge and an interpretative text. Widely translated, his fiction won the accolade both of parody, and of its own learned journal; and 'Tolkien'—or how he was read—demonstrably affected modern fantasy. This book explores how his work came to be so diversely received. Charles Moseley's critical discussion examines Tolkien's view of fiction as 'sub-creation', exploring his analysis of mythopoeia and of the status of art and literature in relation to his own practice. He argues that in the critical concerns of Tolkien and his circle lie the key to important issues in his fiction. His use of linguistic game and literary pastiche is explored without obscuring his emotional commitment to the making of myths that expressed some of his deepest fears about the world he experienced.

'Softcover' Edition

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· Standard 'Softcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-746-30749-7

Biographies

Editions of "J.R.R Tolkien: A Biography," "J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century," "Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, The," "Road to Middle-earth, The," and "The J.R.R. Tolkien Audio Collection."

TITLES ARE LISTED ALPHABETICALLY.

"J.R.R Tolkien: A Biography"
By Humphrey Carpenter.

The authorized biography of the creator of Middle-earth. In the decades since his death in September 1973, millions have read "The Hobbit," "The Lord of the Rings," and "The Silmarillion" and become fascinated about the very private man behind the books.

Humphrey Carpenter was given unrestricted access to all Tolkien's papers, and interviewed his friends and family. From these sources he follows the long and painful process of creation that produced "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Silmarillion" and offers a wealth of information about the life and work of the twentieth century's most cherished author.

'Softcover' Edition

• Buy Now @ Amazon.com
· Standard 'Trade Paperback' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-05702-1

"J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century"
By Tom Shippey.

Tolkien scholar, Professor Tom Shippey, presents us with a fascinating and informed companion to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien, in particular focusing on "The Hobbit," "The Lord of the Rings," and "The Silmarillion." This title reveals why all of these books will be timeless, and shows how even such complex works as "The Silmarillion" can be read enjoyably. Taking issue with the uninformed criticism that has often been leveled at Tolkien and fantasy in general, Professor Shippey offers a new approach to Tolkien, to fantasy and to the importance of language in literature, and demonstrates how his books form part of a live and continuing tradition of storytelling that can trace its roots back through Grimm's "Fairy Tales," to "The Elder Edda" and "Beowulf."

'Hardcover' Edition

• Buy Now @ Amazon.com
· Standard 'Hardcover' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-12764-X

'Softcover' Edition

• Buy Now @ Amazon.com
· Standard 'Trade Paperback' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-25759-4

"Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, The"
Edited by Humphrey Carpenter and Christopher Tolkien.

J.R.R. Tolkien, was a prolific letter writers. Over the years he wrote a mass of letters—to his publishers, his family, to friends, and to fans of his books—which record the history and composition of his works and his reaction to subsequent events.

Now expanded with a detailed index, this collection provides an invaluable record that sheds much light on Tolkien's creative genius, his thoughts and feelings about his own work, and the evolution of his grand design for the creation of a whole new world—Middle-earth.

'Softcover' Edition

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· Standard 'Trade Paperback' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-05699-8

"Road to Middle-earth, The"
By Tom Shippey.

Tom Shippey's classic work, now revised, explores Tolkien's creativity and the sources of his inspiration. Shippey shows in detail how Tolkien's professional background led him to write "The Hobbit" and how he created a timeless charm for millions of readers. Examining the foundation of Tolkien's most popular work, "The Lord of the Rings," Shippey also discusses the contribution of "The Silmarillion" and "Unfinished Tales" to Tolkien's great myth cycle, showing how Tolkien's more "difficult" books can be fully appreciated. He goes on to examine the remarkable twelve-volume "History of Middle-earth," written by Tolkien's son (and literary heir) Christopher Tolkien, which traces the creative and technical processes by which Middle-earth evolved.

'Softcover' Edition

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· Standard 'Trade Paperback' Bindery
· ISBN: 0-618-25760-8

Audiobook Editions

"J.R.R. Tolkien Audio Collection, The"
Read by J.R.R. Tolkien and Christopher Tolkien.

For generations, J.R.R. Tolkien's words have brought to thrilling life a world of hobbits, magic, and historic myth, woken from its foggy slumber within our minds. Here, he tells the tales is his own voice.

Of historic note, these selections from "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" are based on a tape recording Tolkien made in 1952, which inspired him to continue his own quest to see his vision in print. Also included is a never-published poem, "The Mirror of Galadriel," originally intended for inclusion in the trilogy, yet edited out. And, finally, Tolkien's son, Christopher, reads selections from his father's "The Silmarillion," the epic foundation upon which rests the whole of his work.

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· 1 Compact Disc
· ISBN: 0-694-52570-7

"History of Middle-earth"

Editions of "The Book of Lost Tales: Part 1," "The Book of Lost Tales: Part 2," "The Lays of Beleriand," "The Shaping of Middle-earth," "The Lost Road," "The Return of the Shadow," "The Treason of Isengard," "The War of the Ring," "Sauron Defeated," "Morgoth's Ring," "The War of the Jewels," and "The Peoples of Middle-earth."

"One marvels anew at the depth, breadth, and persistence of J.R.R. Tolkien's labor. No one sympathetic to his aims, the invention of a secondary universe, will want to miss this chance to be present at the creation."
~ Publishers Weekly

Tolkien is known the world over for his unique literary creation, exemplified in "The Hobbit," "The Lord of the Rings," and "The Silmarillion." What is less well known, is that he also produced a vast amount of further material that greatly expands upon the rich mythology, numerous stories, and stirring legends of Middle-earth, and also brings into greater detail, the long years of war between the Elves and the first Dark Lord, Morgoth, and his terrifying lieutenant, Sauron. It was to this enormous task of literary construction that Tolkien's youngest son and literary heir, Christopher, applied himself to produce the monumental and endlessly fascinating series of twelve books, known collectively as "The History of Middle-earth."

"The Book of Lost Tales (Part 1)"
First published in 1983, by George Allen & Unwin. Volume 1 of the "History of Middle-earth"