Product Description
Throughout this vast and intricate mythology, says Publishers Weekly, "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." In this capstone to that creation, we find the chronology of Middle-earth's later Ages, the Hobbit genealogies, and the Western language or Common Speech. These early essays show that Tolkien's fertile imagination was at work on Middle-earth's Second and Third Ages long before he explored them in the Appendices to The Lord of the Rings . Here too are valuable writings from Tolkien's last years: " The New Shadow," in Gondor of the Fourth Age, and" Tal-elmar," the tale of the coming of the Nœmen-rean ships. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

MY REVIEW
The book arrived in excellent condition packed properly and on time.I have not started reading vol. 12 yet (i'am in the middle of vol.6)I'm sure its just as execiting and informative as the other vol's i have read so far.So for all you tolkien fans and scholars out there I RECOMMEND reading the fascinating HISTORY OF MIDDLE EARTH. Peace and Love Everybody. kmiller 59 mike out !!

The Final Details In The History Of Middle Earth
This is the 12th and last volume in The History of Middle earth series, Christopher Tolkien's exhaustive effort to publish every word his father wrote about his invented world.

None of the volumes in The History of Middle earth are suitable for those who are new to Tolkien, but those who have read and loved The Lord of the Rings will find this, the final volume, especially intriguing.Here we have material which was compiled for the Appendices at the end of The Return of the King.Much of this material expands upon and enriches the published Appendices.Most fascinating of all is the inclusion of Tolkien's planned sequel to The Lord of The Rings, The New Shadow.This was written in the late 1960s and never stretched for more than a few pages, but the fragment we have here is a treasure not to be missed.

Overview of The History of Middle-earth Series
Collections of an author's work are often confusing, particularly when what the author has created is as complexas Tolkien's writings. Here's an overview of the twelve-volume History of Middle-earth, which was edited by his son Christopher Tolkien. Hopefully, it will help you select which book or books to buy.

Keep something in mind. In the U.S. Houghton Mifflin publishes Tolkien's authorized works in hardback and trade paperback editions, while Ballantine Books publishes them as cheaper mass-market paperbacks. For some reason, Ballantine doesn't always make it clear that some of their titles are part of the same History of Middle-earth seriesas those published by Houghton Mifflin. If the title is the same, the content is the same. Which you buy depends on your taste in books and finances. I have copies of both.


GROUP ONE, VOLUMES I - V

These five volumes deal primarily Tolkien's writings before the publication of The Hobbit (1937) and The Lord of the Rings (1954-55). In them, Tolkien was struggling as a still unknown author to create his first history of Middle-earth.

Vol 1 & 2, The Book of Lost Tales Part 1 ( 1983) & 2 (1984). The Book of Lost Tales was written during the 1910s and 1920s. Wikipedia describes it this way: "The framework for the book is that a mortal Man visits the Isle of Tol Eressëa where the Elves live. In the earlier versions of the `Lost Tales' this man is named Eriol, of some vague north European origin, but in later versions he becomes Ælfwine, an Englishman of the Middle-ages."

Vol. 3, The Lays of Beleriand (1985). These are collections of poems, many of them incomplete, written between the 1920s and the late 1940s.

Vol 4, The Shaping of Middle-earth (1986). As you might guess by the title, in this book Christopher describes how his father shaped his vision of Middle-earth from the primitive The Book of Lost Tales to early versions ofThe Silmarillion. This theme is taken up again in volumes X and XI.

Vol 5. The Lost Road and Other Writings (1987). Along with other writings this volume includes Tolkien's drafts of a tale about time travel. Wikipedia describes it this way: "The Lost Road itself is a fragmentary beginning of a tale, including a rough structure and several intiguing chunks of narrative, including four entire chapters dealing with modern England and Numenor, from which the entire story as it should have been can be glimpsed. The scheme was of time-travel by means of 'vision' or being mentally inserted into what had been, so as to actually re-experience that which had happened. In this way the tale links first to Saxon England of Alfred the Great, then to the Lombard Alboin of St. Benedict's time, the Baltic Sea in Old Norse days, Ireland at the time of the Tuatha's coming (600 years after the Flood), prehistoric North in the Ice Age, a 'Galdor story' of Third-Age Middle-Earth, and finally the Fall of Gil-Galad, before recounting the prime legend of the Downfall of Numenor/Atlantis and the Bending of the World. It harps on the theme of a 'straight road' into the West, now only in memory because the world is round."


GROUP TWO, VOLUMES VI - IX

If you or the friend you're buying for is primarily interested in the LOTR, then these four volumes are the books to have. Just keep in mind that you'll find in them many unfinished plots that may or may not fit well into LOTR. Tolkien was a perfectionist, always trying to improve plots and fill in details. These are his drafts.

Vol. 6, The Return of the Shadow (The History of The Lord of the Rings v. 1, 1988). Describes the initial stages of writing LOTR and covers the first three-fourths of The Fellowship of the Ring (until the Mines of Moria).

Vol. 7, The Treason of Isengard (The History of The Lord of the Rings, v. 2, 1989).Covers from the Mines of Moria until Gandalf meets Théoden about one-fourth of the way into The Two Towers.

Vol. 8, The War of the Ring (The History of The Lord of the Rings, v. 3, 1990).Continues the tale up to the opening of the Black Gate not quite three-quarters of the way through The Two Towers.

Vol. 9, Sauron Defeated (The History of The Lord of the Rings, v. 4, 1992).Completes the tale and includes an alternate ending in which Sam answers questions from his children. There is also a much shortened version of Vol. 9 called The End of the Third Age, which leaves out material that isn't related to LOTR.


GROUP THREE, VOLUMES X - XI

Just as The Hobbit created a public demand for more tales about hobbits, The Lord of the Rings created a demand for more tales about Middle-earth. To meet that demand, Tolkien struggled to reconcile and adapt many of his earlier tales to the historical framework made well-known by his two published works. He never completed those labors, so it was left after his death to his son Christopher to do so in The Silmarillion (1977). If you or a friend is interested in knowing more about The Silmarillion, these two volumes may be of interest.

Vol 10, Morgoth's Ring (The Later Silmarillion, v. 1, 1993). Contains material from earlier (1951 and later) drafts of The Silmarillion. Wikipedia notes that: "The title of this volume comes from a statement from one of the essays: 'Just as Sauron concentrated his power in the One Ring, Morgoth dispersed his power into the very matter of Arda, thus the whole of Middle-earth was Morgoth's Ring.'"

Vol. 11, The War of the Jewels (The Later Silmarillion v. 2, 1994). Addition material about the earlier drafts of The Silmarillion. Includes information about the origin of the Ents and Great Eagles.


GROUP FOUR, VOLUME XII AND INDEX

Vol. 12, The People's of Middle-earth (1996). Contains material that did not fit into the other volumes. The most interesting include additional appendices like those at the back of LOTR, essays on the races of Middle-earth, and about 30 pages of a sequel to the LOTR called The New Shadow. It was set a century after the LOTR. Tolkien abandoned the tale as too "sinister and depressing."

The History of Middle-earth Index (2002) is an index of all twelve volumes.

******

Keep in mind that books in The History of Middle-earth are nothing like reading The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings. What J. R. R. Tolkien wrote is often fragmentary and unpolished rough drafts, while what Christopher wrote is literary scholarship, concerned more with sources and texts than plots. If you or the friend you are buying for is more interested in understanding LOTR better, you might be happier with a reference works such as:

Karen Fonstad's The Atlas of Middle-Earth (Revised Edition)

Robert Foster's The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth

Or my own detailed, day-by-day chronology Untangling Tolkien: A Chronology and Commentary for The Lord of the Rings

All three will give you a richer, deeper understanding of LOTR.

Finally, if you're interested in reading books with the same flavor as Tolkien, you might consider reading William Morris, a once well-known writer who influenced Tolkien. For tales like the warriors of Rohan, see his The House of the Wolfings and The Roots of the Mountains. For arduous quest journeys much like Frodo and Sam's quest to be rid of the Ring, read his The Wood Beyond the World and The Well at the World's End. The four tales have been collected into two inexpensive volumes:

More to William Morris: Two Books that Inspired J. R. R. Tolkien-The House of the Wolfings and The Roots of the Mountains

On the Lines of Morris' Romances: Two Books That Inspired J. R. R. Tolkien-The Wood Beyond the World and the Well at the World's End

Note too that you can save some money by buying collections of The History of Middle-earth in sets.

Excellent reading for Tolkien fanatics
I think this volume is the best in the whole History of Middle Earth series. Answers a lot of questions. Christopher Tolkien did an excellent job.

12 volumes end on a high note.
`The Peoples of Middle Earth', the twelfth and last volume of unpublished notes by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by son Christopher Tolkien, is, for me at least, a high point in this series. I have read `Lord of the Rings' at least 10 times, but I have read the appendices at the end of `The Return of The King' at least 20 times. Until the publication of `The Silmarillion', these appendices were the only tonics to cool the great interest in the history of Middle Earth and its larger context. And, it is this depth of history twinkling through crevices in the main text which makes Tolkien's two principal novels, `The Hobbit' and `The Lord of the Rings' so engaging. And, in so many of the earlier volumes, the primary subject was the history of the elves in Middle Earth and their battles with Morgoth. I confess these tales did practically nothing for me. I was much more interested in the histories of the Dwarves, Tom Bombadil, Numenor, their colonies Gondor and Arnor, the Istari (the wizards), and the Hobbits. For the Hobbits, this volume covers just about everything you would ever want to know, usually three times over, in different versions of the same texts. It also has some goodies on Numenor and as good a chronology of the first three ages as you can ask for. But still, it has scant new information on the wizards and nothing on that great deux ex machina, Tom Bombadil, who remains totally unique in the great world of Middle earth.
The best single value of this volume is for those who own only the Second Edition or later of `Lord of the Rings'. Apparently, the First Edition `Prologue' or `Preface' was removed from the `Lord of the Rings' printing, and this is a significant loss. Otherwise, those who delight in genealogies, chronologies,and linguistics, will get a new and better dose of these confections in this last and (one of the best) of this series.
As an aside, I was interested to discover that Christopher Tolkien had a deadline for this volume which, either by coincidence or by design, coincided exactly with the release of the first of Peter Jackson's three movie interpretation of `Lord of the Rings'.
... Read more

Product Description
The seven 'essays' by J.R.R. Tolkien assembled in this new paperback edition were with one exception delivered as general lectures on particular occasions; and while they mostly arose out of Tolkien's work in medieval literature, they are accessible to all. Two of them are concerned with Beowulf, including the well-known lecture whose title is taken for this book, and one with Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, given in the University of Glasgow in 1953.

Also included in this volume is the lecture English and Welsh; the Valedictory Address to the University of Oxford in 1959; and a paper on Invented Languages delivered in 1931, with exemplification from poems in the Elvish tongues. Most famous of all is On Fairy-Stories, a discussion of the nature of fairy-tales and fantasy, which gives insight into Tolkien's approach to the whole genre.

The pieces in this collection cover a period of nearly thirty years, beginning six years before the publication of The Hobbit, with a unique 'academic' lecture on his invention (calling it A Secret Vice) and concluding with his farewell to professorship, five years after the publication of The Lord of the Rings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Green suns & "star-spangled grammar"
Finding out at the age of twelve from the back covers of "The Lord of the Rings" that there were medievalists and that Tolkien was one, I vowed to study what he did. While unlike "Tollers" my doctorate did not lead me to a donnish tenure on an ivy-draped quad, I always admired the humanity and grace not only of his famed fiction but his patient letters and insistent essays. Re-reading his collected criticism twenty-five years after it first appeared, its engrossing paths through scholarly debates make occasional detours permissible and often worthwhile. As with Tolkien's "Secondary World" of Middle Earth, as a "sub-creator" not only of probably our greatest modern mythology but as a rigorous (if rambling in his donnish digressions) scholar, you find in "Monsters" much evidence that without his deep understanding of language, that he'd never have been able to convince you of the essential reality of his imagined realms.

This knack, as T.A. Shippey, his successor in his position at Oxford, has argued in "The Road to Middle Earth," depends on "asterisk reality," or what JRRT calls here more delightfully "star-spangled grammar." (237) As his son and editor Christopher explains: "the reference is to enquiry into the forms of words before the earliest records; in those studies the conventional practice is to place an asterisk before hypothetical, deduced forms." (n. 3, 240) This may seem dry to non-academics or those lacking a fascination with philology. But for Tolkien and his audience, the invention of sustainable elements of his myth depended on the languages he concocted-- and vice versa.

In his "A Secret Vice" (1931) Tolkien elaborates-- if a bit unevenly in this essay never published-- how assembling "art-language" relates to crafting mythology: "to give your language an individual flavor, it must have woven into it the threads of an individual mythology, individual while working within the scheme of natural human mythopoeia, as your word-form may be individual while working within the hackneyed limits of human, even European, phonetics. The converse indeed is true, your language construction will 'breed' a mythology." (210-11) This is why Tolkien outlasted so many of his predecessors, peers, and imitators. He knows the deep structures of the language and from the combination of creativity and limitation inherent in how what we speak conveys what we conjure, he built Middle-Earth upon this rich foundation, half-excavated, half-hidden.

This trove, as his best-known essays here on "The Monsters & the Critics" and "On Translating Beowulf" show, depended on perceiving that Old English poem as such, more than merely a word-hoard to be ransacked by historians and professors for linguistic traces of Geats and thanes. It pivots on a balance between what its Christian author could reach back from, into the recently-departed pagan past, and forward into, the fatalistic yet salvific quality of heroism infused by morality. The codes of the Saxons meshed with those of their Catholic evangelists, and Tolkien in these early critiques moved the study of the poem away from archeology into poetics.

He did the same for "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight." He corrects earlier scholars who mined the verse only for traces of earlier legends; he reminds us of its inescapably Christian morality, which (as in Beowulf) moves the reader as its maker towards a value system based on belief in the Sacraments rather than one relying only upon a code of honor or "a game with rules" such as his host expects him to play. The tension between an earthly pursuit and a heavenly mandate enters the drama. In Beowulf, the monsters occupy the center, with youth and old age, victory and defeat, on each end for the hero to face. For Gawain, the confession-- in Tolkien's perceptive reading-- turns the narrative away from pagan-pursuing or Pentagram chasing into a decision to follow a more "real and permanent" world of what's worthwhile rather than the frivolous folly of "an unreal and passing" court.

His "Valedictory Address" gently attacks the "the workings of the B.Litt. sausage-machine" at Oxford precisely fifty years ago. I'm glad he was spared what the academy's been turned into now. My dissertation chair had studied under Tolkien around the time this address was given. Tolkien had the reputation of a nearly incomprehensible lecturer, so I am unsure if his auditors learned his lesson!

Tolkien does offer advice for those of us who made it through later expansions of the slaughterhouse that is the Research University today, Oxford or its lesser factories. Perhaps we may find wry if wise counsel as independent scholars and freeway faculty who labor on with few financial or institutional rewards: "There is no need, therefore, to despise, no need even to feel pity for months or years of life sacrificed in some minimal enquiry: say, the study of some uninspired medieval text and its fumbling dialect; or of some miserable 'modern' poetaster and his life (nasty, dreary, and fortunately short)-- NOT IF the sacrifice is voluntary, and IF it is inspired by a genuine curiosity, spontaneous or personally felt." (226-27) The trouble is, then and so much more now, that so many in academia follow the leader into an 'au courant' theory, some adviser's own project, producing but the tired labor dutifully repeated.

To his credit, Tolkien convinced us in his fiction and warned us in his criticism of how language deserved respect, whether we were schooled in the Lit. or the Lang. His lecture on "English & Welsh," delivered the day after publication of "The Return of the King," also encourages us. Language, as "a natural product of our humanity," is native in a profound sense transcending the first one we learned in our cradle. "Linguistically we all wear ready-made clothes, and our native language comes seldom to expression, save perhaps by pulling at the ready-made until it sits a little easier. But though it may be buried, it is never wholly extinguished, and contact with other languages may stir it deeply." (190) Welsh, for Tolkien, did this along with Gothic, Finnish, Latin and Greek-- among others. He concludes with evoking the sheer pleasure of Welsh. Maybe dormant for many "who today live in Lloegr and speak Saesnag," yet there, as with so much he mixed from real languages into his mythological vision's purview, for us to find enchantment and satisfaction.

More than once, Tolkien offers his vision of how words can capture a deeper meaning. "You may say 'green sun' or 'dead life' and set the imagination leaping." (219) The power of the adjective to transform the noun, the freshness of nouns coupled in vivid pairs: the structure of the Old English line finds its echo eleven-hundred years later in Tolkien's inheritance, his conception of a linguistic design that, as "On Fairy-Stories" delves into-- if after many detours and asides and byways-- deepest, liberates us and even provides glimpses of the "eucatastrophe" of the Gospels, the happy ending of the Resurrection Story that men wish so much to be truly true.

Mind of the Maker
What most people do not realize when reading Tolkien is that he shaped his world with a philosophy: the same philosophy that has inspired generations of readers, including his own colleagues (i.e. Lewis, Eliot, Auden, etc., etc.)

Essential Reading for Tolkienian Linguists

I think most of the other reviews are thoughtful and well-written; like them I would recommend this book largely for those who have a special interest in Tolkien's life and work beyond his fictional world of Middle Earth.This isn't another Hobbit or Lord of the Rings, but a collection of essays written at very different times in the Professor's life, and with correspondingly varied target audiences.To give one example, the essay "On Fairy Stories" appeals to many in that it provides Tolkien's own rationale for how/why fantasy ought to be written, but again this isn't for everyone.

But I would go further than the other reviewers and say that, given the noted disparity in the selection of essays in this volume, coincidence would have it that there is at least one audience for whom this book is quite simply a must-have, as well as another for whom it is either a place to begin or an equally clear "already got it, thanks".It is to these groups that this review is addressed.

For the serious student of Tolkien's invented languages, this volume is quite simply a must-have.The essays "English and Welsh" and "A Secret Vice" contain material of direct relevance to understanding Tolkien's work as an inventor or languages, as well as much primary material of interest to the researcher.These include, in the former essay, an enlightening discussing of Welsh and its influence on Tolkien's Goldogrin/Gnomish ~ Noldorin ~ Sindarin language of the Grey-elves of his legendarium.The latter essay is even more important in that it includes a number of lengthy examples of Qenya, Quenya and Noldorin -- both in the original and in translation -- unpublished elsewhere.Most notable are three seperate versions of the Q(u)enya poem Oilima Markirya (i.e., "The Last Ark"), with Tolkien's own etymological analyses, which trace the development of this poem (and the language(s) in which it was written) over some decades of Tolkien's linguistic invention.

For Beowulf enthusiasts, the two essays "Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics" and "On Translating Beowulf" are of course justly famous, very well-known and therefore often reprinted.If you are a serious Beowulf student you undoubtedly have several copies of each article in one or more of the numerous compilations in which they appear.(If you're unsure of this, best go check your volumes before purchasing your umpteenth exemplar.)If, however, you are just discovering Beowulf criticism, then this is an excellent place to begin indeed.

Great Collection from a Great Writer
As an Early British Literature/English scholar, I must say, Tolkien is among my favorite scholars. If the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit displayed Tolkien's literary creativity and imagination, then these essays display his intelligence.While the lectures and essays are rather dull, actually something in which he took pride, if taken at face value, Tolken's sheer brilliance shines through with each new reading.Starting with Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics, which may be the most important and influential criticism on Early British literatureever, this collection certainly does not disappoint.While you won't spend time on a journey with Frodo or Bilbo, you'll be taken into the mind of Tolkien, where you'll stand in awe of his insight.A must have.

Good stuff for the serious student of Tolkien
This book is hard to find in the US, and in fact, my copy was sent from the UK.But, it was well worth it.This is a collection of Tolkien's essays and lectures on diverse topics - Beowulf; On Faerie Stories; Sir Gawain and the Green Knight; English and Welsh, and others.None of them are for the casual reader...But if you're really a serious student of Tolkien, his works, and/or philology, they're extremely interesting and thought-provoking.Definitely rewarding for those who are into the "intellectual" background of Tolkien and his writings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An epic beginning!
I'm not a die-hard fantasy fan but I truly enjoyed Fellowship of the Ring (and am currently working on The Two Towers). It is a delightful combination of poetry, lovable characters, beautiful descriptive writing, and adventure. Tolkien is an incredible wordsmith and paints beautiful (or terrifying) pictures of scenery, from the clouds in the sky to the grass on the ground. The reader can see the forests, the mountains, the rivers, even the clothing worn by the characters. The characters in this story are diverse and fascinating, coming from different races, speaking different languages, but all having a common purpose and a profound friendship. Frodo, a hobbit, the humblest of all creatures, is chosen to embark on a perilous journey to destroy the One Ring, the greatest instrument of evil known to Middle Earth. Together with eight other companions, they begin the first leg of their heroic journey to Mount Doom. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (381)

Great art?
I have read some of the other reviews here and I'm surprised how much people's reactions are spread across the board. But I suppose that is what truly great art does -- hits people in different places and gets them talking. In my opinion, I agree that at some points the story did seem to drag a little, but the adventure more than makes up for it. For me, the first half of the book was not all that interesting, being mostly battle -- however, there were some significant plot twists (such as the return of Gandalf and Pippin looking in the stone) and new characters (such as Treebeard and the ents) that made it worth reading. (For what it's worth, I absolutely LOVED the ents!!) The second half of the book is what really held my interest, being the journey of Frodo and Sam led by Gollum through the mountains. The dialogue between Smeagol and his alter-ego Gollum is most fascinating, and the character development (especially of Sam) is profound. The characters really grow and change throughout their journey, but at the core is their extremely strong friendship.

Gotta love these Charnwood books!
I'm on the plus side of 50 and I'm finding it more difficult to see the small print in some books.These Charnwood series of books are just what the doctor ordered for me and those like me.

I recommend this series to everyone that would like to continue reading after they "can't see" any longer,(j/k).

A Bridge Between the Beginning And the End
With the Fellowship broken Sam and Frodo set off to fulfill their destiny alone, following the path into the fires of Mordor while Aragon, Legolas and Gimli set out in pursuit of their captured hobbit comrades, Merry and Pippin.The novel is split into two parts consisting of the friends' separate adventures as the tale of Middle Earth continues to unfold.The world teeters toward the brink of dark destruction with its fate resting squarely on Frodo's shoulders.

Tolkien's second installment in the beloved Lord of the Rings trilogy captivates the reader with the same magical gravity and mystical allure as the Fellowship of the Ring and its predecessor, The Hobbit. However, this book did not seem to posses the same depth of substance.As a bridge between the beginning and end of the series it had more of a transient feel; a piece rather than a whole.

As always Tolkien writes lyrical flowing prose which captures the very spirit and dark majesty of Middle Earth. He paints vivid pictures of fanciful landscapes, gruesome battles and creatures both terrifying and beautiful.Though the story does tend to drag at several points it never truly grows boring; Tolkien's masterful storytelling and flowery descriptive language is enough to compensate for lags in action. In the end Tolkien leaves another nail biting cliffhanger that will have you clambering for the next part of this epic adventure!

If you are smart you bought all three volumes at once.
This book picks up where "Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings, Part I)", left off. The fellowship is dispersed. We are lucky in the fact that J. R. R. Tolkien will completely follow each path from beginning to end. All the wars are covered in detail and the progress of the ring bearer is chronicled. New creatures and old vermin reveal themselves.

As with "Ramayana" by William Buck, we find that every creature has its function and that there is no black and white in this purpose. Frodo alludes to this when he thinks of Gandalf, Aragorn, and Gollum. Even Gandalf tells not to hurt Gollum as he may play a larger role in the story that one could imagine.

Ramayana ~ by William Buck

The Book of Dreams
For I am too young to read this book, I secretly read it at my cousin's house.I understood most of the
words.At my school I am a score of 1023,which meaning I can read the Assasination of John F. Keneddy, and
Harry Potter Chamber of Secrets and I am 9 years old.I read the beggining and my cousin probaly read up
to Helm's Deep (the last part of the book) but he still said it was harder than trying to read an acient
article from 200 A.C.So I belived him for a word I do not get is Herosimiam.But it is the worlds best book. ... Read more

Product Description
His The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings remain popular with children and adults alike.

This title, J.R.R. Tolkien, part of Chelsea House Publishers’ Modern Critical Views series, examines the major works of J.R.R. Tolkien through full-length critical essays by expert literary critics. In addition, this title features a short biography on J.R.R. Tolkien, a chronology of the author’s life, and an introductory essay written by Harold Bloom, Sterling Professor of the Humanities, Yale University. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Idiotic critic
Professional critics have been the enemy of "Lord of the Rings" ever since that epic fantasy came out, decades ago. And while the old guard has passed away, many of their essays still live on. "J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings: Modern Critical Interpretations" dredges up many of their strained, sneering writings on J.R.R. Tolkien.

There are a few decent essays in here, where the writers seem to have genuine affection or appreciation for Tolkien and his works. Jane Chance Nitzche turns out a decent essay studying such aspects like Tolkien's "Christian king," and the capable Humphrey Carpenter turns out a mini-bio of Tolkien, which seems to show where his characters and invented world came from..

Unfortunately, the bad outnumber the good: We have Jared Lobdell scrabbling rather pitifully for books that bear a passing resemblance to "Lord of the Rings," as does Randel Helms as he tries frantically to find a non-original source for Tolkien's orcs. Helms also claims that "Lord of the Rings" is "a political fantasy expressed in covert sexual symbols, but gives no solid explanation beyond prim hints at "caverns" and "darkness."

The sexual preoccupation continues in the first and worst of the essays, Hugh Keenan's laughable "Appeal To Lord of the Rings." He sneers that the "Lord of the Rings" is only fit for children or the childlike, clings to increasingly absurd sexual symbols. Just wait for the part where he claims that Frodo's attachment to the Ring is not an all-consuming addiction, but a sexual symbolism. He even gets basic facts wrong -- a line of the ent Treebeard's is attributed to "Fangorn," the name of a forest.

Nor do things improve with Burton Raffel's obnoxious work. Though he claims "it would be foolish to claim that Tolkien does not write well," he then proceeds to tear apart virtually every aspect of Tolkien's writing -- insisting rather snobbily that Tolkien doesn't use enough description, and whining about his formal poetry. Evidently Raffel doesn't read enough pre-20th-century literature.

Perhaps the worst sign is the foreword, in which the editor talks about his own dislike of "Lord of the Rings" -- in only about one page, the narrow-minded Harold Bloom manages to insult Tolkien and every person who has enjoyed his work. If Mr. Bloom cannot handle "stiff," archaic style, then he should avoid most of the literature up to the last few hundred years. To paraphrase what he has said, it might be too much for his sixty-nine-year-old self to handle -- especially since he is such a "skilled and mature" reader, while "Lord of the Rings" fans, by implication, are not.

It's always a bad idea to have people write critically about something they despise; it's certain to bring out all sorts of insignificant pet peeves that nobody except the writer cares about. Certainly it doesn't help that many of these writers communicate with all the vivacity of a dead fish.

While there are a small number of good essays -- only a few, actually -- the heavy load of self-important sneering is only for people who already hated "Lord of the Rings." Not worth the time it takes to read, or the paper it's printed on.

Run away! Run away!
Don't waste your money on this one.

I happily (because I didn't waste my money) borrowed this from a local academic library. I'm glad I read it, because I learned a lot about what I don't like.

Bloom doesn't like Lord of the Rings, so why he even bothers to assemble these old, dated, and tired essays is beyond me, unless it is to make money off the LOTR craze. His one-page introduction is an insult; he doesn't ever explain why he included any of the essays in this collection nor does he contribute any insight regarding Tolkien's work (I suspect he didn't have any).

I was amused, then annoyed by what he included: outdated Jungian comparisons to the Hobbit, a poorly-written history of the publication of Lord of the Rings. The one notable exception isTom Shippey's chapter from Road to Middle Earth, but you're better off reading Shippey's book, or any of his books, than wasting your time with this one.

An edition of old (and largely oudated) criticism
Harold Bloom appears to have done little work and put very little thought into this collection of "Modern Critical Interpretations" of Tolkien. His so-called introduction is barely a page long and says nothing of the history of Tolkien criticism. He does not even explain why the included articles were chosen (and there are no introductions to individual articles either). In truth, his introduction is so short, supercilious, and devoid of substance that I do not believe it to even be a sincere scholarly effort-- it more has the character of something that was dashed off in 10-15 minutes.

Nor is a significantly greater effort evident in the selection of articles. The ten articles republished here are all 20-30 years old (written between 1968-1982) and do not reflect current (or even recent) trends in Tolkien criticism. That's not to say that they're bad or completely irrelevant, mind you. However, they are starting to show their age (especially the older ones, like Roger Sale's article and Paul Kocher's contributions, as well as the Jungian approach to ciriticism evidenced by the excerpt from Tim O'Neill's _The Individuated Hobbit_, and Anne C. Petty's application of Joseph Campbell's _Hero with the Thousand Faces_ and Vladimir Propp's _Morphology of the Folktale_ to Tolkien's fiction. Again, it's not that these are bad per se, but the kinds of approaches and methodologies they represent are pretty much passe-- both in literary criticism in general and in Tolkien studies in specific. They make some worthwhile observations, but they just seem old, tired, and a bit too well-worn. The one exception to this is an excerpt taken from Tom Shippey's excellent _The Road to Middle Earth_, one of the most recent works to be reflected here (published in 1982). In short, the essays included here have OK substance, but it's not entirely clear why Bloom chose such old ones-- or whether these were even the best old ones to choose.

All in all, there is enough substance in these old articles to interest a Tolkien fan or scholar in spite of their age-- however, don't expect a lot (or in fact, any) insight from Bloom himself on Tolkien's fiction or on the history of Tolkien criticism, because it just ain't there.

A compilation of old (and somewhat outdated) criticism
Harold Bloom's name is on the cover, but his contribution to this volume is minimal at best.This book does not actually include any articles *by* Bloom, and his exceedingly brief introduction (barely 1 page long!) says nothing of substance.It does not even explain why the selected articles were chosen for republication or try to provide any sort of context for them-- something that introductions to collections of scholarly articles (especially when they are older articles) really are supposed to do.

The ten articles republished here are all 20-30 years old (written between 1968-1982) and do not reflect current (or even recent) trends in Tolkien criticism. That's not to say that they're bad or completely irrelevant, mind you. However, they are starting to show their age (especially the older ones, like Roger Sale's article, the contributions by Paul Kocher, as well as the Jungian approach to ciriticism evidenced by the excerpt from Tim O'Neill's _The Individuated Hobbit_, or by Anne C. Petty's application of Joseph Campbell's _Hero with the Thousand Faces_ and Vladimir Propp's _Morphology of the Folktale_ to Tolkien's fiction.) Again, it's not that these are bad per se, but the kinds of approaches and methodologies they are pretty much passe-- both in literary criticism in general and in Tolkien studies in specific. They make some worthwhile observations, but they just seem old, tired, and a bit too well-worn. The one exception to this is an excerpt taken from Tom Shippey's excellent _The Road to Middle Earth_, one of the most recent works to be reflected here. In short, the essays included here have decent substance, but it's not entirely clear why Bloom chose such old ones-- or whether these were even the best old ones to choose.

All in all, there is enough substance in these old articles to interest a Tolkien fan or scholar in spite of their age-- however, don't expect a lot (or in fact, any) insight from Bloom himself on Tolkien's fiction or on the history of Tolkien criticism, because it just ain't there.

In-depth analysis for students
Three new additions to Harold Bloom's 'Modern CriticalInterpretations' series will reach high school into college levels, compiling critical articles from a variety of sources and offering the in-depth analysis students will need to assist on detailed reports of an author's single work. Joseph Heller's Catch 22 (0-7910-5927-8) provides articles which examine how the sane can survive under insane wartime circumstances;Elie Wiesel's Night (5924-3) gathers critical writings on his story of life in a Nazi concentration camp, and the focus on Tolkien's Lord Of The Rings (5665-1) considers the contents and impact of the three-volume epic fantasy. All include essays by notable critics who offer different interpretations and focus perfect for classroom discussion or essay pursuit. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (26)

Father Christmas
Being a fan of the great J.R.R. Tolkien, this book is just aother reason why he is known as one of the best authors of our day. His descriptions of the story draw you right in, as is with all of his writings. A perfect book to start off your little ones Christmas tradition!

Nice edition with illustrations
This is a good, well-priced edition for the person who is interested in both reading the letters as a text and seeing Tolkien's artwork.

Its Not Middle earth, But Its Tolkien At His Best
Life in the Tolkien family in the 1920s and 1930s had its ups and downs just like any family, but the Tolkien children had one major benefit at least, a father who could tell the most thrilling tales imaginable.At Christmas the pleasure increased one hundred fold, for the Tolkiens were the only family around who actually received real letters from Father Christmas!Waiting on the mantelpiece, or handed in by the postman with a special North Pole stamp, or arriving in any number of other delightful ways, each Christmas news from the North Pole arrived and was read aloud by the children's father, J.R.R. Tolkien himself.Even better, the letters were always profusely illustrated by Father Christmas himself.

The stories told in these letters are always exciting.Father Christmas and his friend the Polar Bear had to deal with all sorts of exigencies like goblin invasions each year as they worked to get ready for their annual Christmas journey.Each letter was handwritten in a suitably shaky script by Father Christmas, and each letter included delightful color drawings illustrating the adventures it contained.

Children will love these letters because the fantasy, like everything Tolkien created, is real and engrossing.Adults will love the letters too, both for the memories of their own youthful Christmases, but also for the glimpses of Tolkien's "other" fantasies about Middle earth that may be spotted here and there in the letters.

Awaken Your Inner Child
This is a charming book, full of wonderful illustrations drawn by Tolkien himself. The cast of characters is wonderfully amusing, especially North Polar Bear, who gets into all sorts of mischief every year. There are even descriptions of wars between Father Christmas and the neighboring Goblins, reminiscent of the Goblin wars depicted in The Hobbit and The Silmarillion.

The book is also bittersweet, as it spans almost 20 years, and Tolkien begins to address his letters to fewer and fewer children, until only his youngest, his daughter Priscilla, still awaits her letter from Father Christmas. It shows how his children have grown, and Father Christmas himself seems sad as his children stop believing in Christmas magic. The last letter is especially poignant, as Father Christmas says goodbye to the children.

This is a great book to read during the holiday season, but it can really be enjoyed any time of year. It's funny, magical, and made me feel like a child again. I recommend this book not only to fans of Tolkien, but to anyone who wants to get into the Christmas spirit.

A must for anyone who still has an imagination
Tolkein wrote these letters to his own children as if they were coming from Santa Claus at the North Pole.They are sweet, funny, obviously done with great love.There are sketches to illustrate.I've had mine for many years and give them as Christmas presents often and continue to make rereading it a part of getting into the Christmas spirit. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (281)

Beautifully wrapped up
I am sorry that this beautiful story has had to come to an end! However, I am also happy to have shared in such an incredible adventure. This final book wraps up the entire story, bringing out the best in each of the characters -- even the not-so-loved ones -- and making you feel as if you are saying good-bye to old friends on the final closing of the back cover. Merry, Pippin, and Sam show their true valor as warriors; Frodo comes out heroic, passing the test of the Ring; Aragorn becomes a kind and wise King of men; and Eowyn becomes a hero in her own right, slaying the Witch King when no man can. The character development is what I love most about the Lord of the Rings trilogy. All the time, they are constantly growing, learning, changing, but what never changes is their love for each other and their purity of heart to do what is right.

My only complaint is that Tolkien can be quite wordy, as is characteristic for authors of his time, so sometimes the story seems to drag. However, if you take your time and truly savor his words, his imagery, the timelessness of the triumph of good over evil, it is well worth the read.

A Book You Can't Go Wrong Reading
A super compelling read which finishes beautifully the well reknowned series. For some slow-witted fools, this book is slow paced. This is a fast moving book, yet it still leaves in enough time for great detail and enchanting songs. If you break down the book bit by bit, and anylize it, you'll find that each chapter has a great amount of action. So to all Lord Of The Rings fans, I say HALLELUJA!

Well...
the book itself is awesome but i hate that people say the lord of the ringsis a trilogy. its six books. trilogy: tri/logy. three books. 3 does not equal 6.

Love the Charnwood edition!
I'm on the plus side of 50 and I'm finding it more difficult to see the small print in some books.These Charnwood series of books are just what the doctor ordered for me and those like me.

I recommend this series to everyone that would like to continue reading after they "can't see" any longer,(j/k).

Review of The Return of the King
Yup. Still a favorite. There are moments when I read this book where I can hear the call by Theoden as he leads Rohan to Gondors aid. I can smell the ash in Mordor as Frodo and Sam make their way across the barren lands and creep up the side of the mountain.

What is amazing to me is that, for a book that is centered so solely about the Ringbearer and his quest, there is actually not that much time devoted to Frodo and Sam. There is always so much happening, battles and the rallying taking place to get to those battles. But all the while, as I read about these huge scenes and feel the enormity of them, I also feel how closely tied everything is and how small the world is in the sense that if Frodo fails - Middle Earth fails.

I have a few favorite moments in The Return of the King. One the movie did fantastically well, the other was completely ignored by the movie.

The first is, of course, Eowyn's battle with the Lord of the Nazgul. If Middle Earth were a real place, if we were allowed to go there and to live in whichever place we choose I wouldn't choose the peaceful land of the Shire, the cold beauty of Lothlorian or the regal beauty of Minas Tirith. I'd choose Rohan. The strength of character in the men there is apparent even through the treachery of Wormtongue. (And I have to admit having a bit of a crush on Eomer - even more so than on Aragorn). Eowyn facing down the Lord of the Nazgul is such a powerful scene that even as I think back on it, my heart leaps into my throat and I feel a thrill from my head to the very tips of my toes.

And my second favorite moment in this book is the Hobbits return to the Shire. I love feeling the confidence that they themselves feel and enjoy watching them take their newfound knowledge, skill and judgment and show themselves to be the worthy Hobbits they are. And there's something just.. satisfying about seeing their enemy reduced to what he is.

I seriously could go on and on about this book and how fantastic it is. I know I've seen some comments from folks who have not read the trilogy informing me that they haven't read it because it intimidates them. Don't let these books intimidate you if you haven't read them. I envy you your chance to explore them for the first time. And if you think you know the story because you've seen the movies - let me assure you that you don't. The level of detail and back-story woven through these books is so complex that the movies, although they were beautiful and well-done, just cannot compare to the original tale put down here by Tolkien. ... Read more

Product Description
An invitation to Tolkien's world. This rich treasury includes Tolkien's most beloved short fiction plus his essay on fantasy.

FARMER GILES OF HAM. An imaginative history of the distant and marvelous past that introduces the rather unheroic Farmer Giles, whose efforts to capture a somewhat untrustworthy dragon will delight readers everywhere.

THE ADVENTURES OF TOM BOMBADIL. A collection of verse in praise of Tom Bombadil, that staunch friend of the Hobbits in THE LORD OF THE RINGS.

ON FAIRY-STORIES. Professor Tolkien's now-famous essy on the form of the fairy story and the treatment of fantasy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Good stuff, but slim pickin's
These are good stories, but the "Reader" has been improved upon. Get the new "Tales from the Perilous Realm" that was released in 2008.It has the same material here but even more, with excellent illustrations.

You can get the same material in "Tales from the Perilous Realm"
Other than the intro by another person, and Tolkien's translation of an epic poem written by someone else, all the material original to Tolkien is contained in Tales from the Perilous Realm, with the addition of two more stories and an interesting preface which outlines where these works fit into the body of his literary work. The additional stories are "Roverandom" and "Smith of Wooten Major"--both worth reading too.

Well worth the read
I disagree with the reviewer who was disappointed with this collection. These stories are a window into Tolkien as a writer, and since some predate Lord of the Rings show early elements that eventually were included in mature form in both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Take the dragon in "Farmer Giles of Ham" for instance: he lives in a cave and has a hoard of treasure like Smaug (although this one can talk). There is a sword called Tailbiter that jumps when it is near a dragon--a forshadowing of the Orc-blades in LOTR which glow blue when Orcs are near. Although it appears to be written for children, I wasn't in the least bored by it. Tolkien's characters are humorous and good sketches of humanity.Leaf by Niggle is an experiment with allegory. And Tom Bombadil is full of interesting lore that will enrich your understanding of the realm of Middle Earth. As an amateur writer myself I was interested in seeing the budding story-teller at work.

Cozy but long winded
Pros: This is more material from a beloved author, including a long essay and quite a few poems. The poems, entitled collectively "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil," are actually pretty good. I guess the early 20th century was a good time for poetry all around. Tree and Leaf, another short story included, was also good, simple but not saccharine and oddly dystopian.

Cons: As a collection, this book is disjointed. Each of the should be enjoyed individually. Also, Mr. Tolkien has a propensity to draw out things which should be short. The essay seems to promise things that it never gets around to. Farmer Giles of Ham has such a short plot that it's almost worth skipping, as most of the results are predictable and take forever to arrive. Even the collection of poems has an odd introduction talking about the fictional "real" authors that goes on for 5 pages in a way that doesn't make a whole lot of sense out of the context of the Lord of the Rings, even though the poems are great on their own.

Conclusion: This is well worth the time, though you may find yourself trying to make it go faster in places.

Leaf by Niggle - best short story ever.
This is the only book that has Leaf by Niggle, which is the best short story ever written by anyone, anywhere.

It also has some poems that are not found anywhere else, such as Errantry, Princess Mee, The Man In The Moon Stayed Up Too Late, and The Mewlips, all of which I memorized as a twelve year old, because I liked them so much.

The rest of the book is also very good if you like Tolkien's style and/or are interested in his thoughts.As a child, I also memorized his letter on page 74, which begins "Although now long estranged..." and which encompasses topics which challenge the oldest among us.

As an adult, I still find Tolkien's works and thoughts compelling, though perhaps for somewhat different reasons than those of my childhood.

The book is worth the price, if only for Leaf by Niggle and the letter on page 74. ... Read more

Product Description
After the King presents an outstanding collection of new fantasy stories by an extraordinary assemblage of some of the very best writers to ever continue the tradition Tolkien began with The Lord of the Rings.

Stephen R. Donaldson, Peter S. Beagle, Andrew Nortong, Terry Pratchett, Robert Silverberg, Judith Tarr, Gregory Benford, Jane Yolen, Poul and Karen Anderson, Mike Resnick, Emma Bull, Elizabeth Ann Scarborough, John Brunner, Harrr Turtledove, Dennis L. McKiernan, Karen Haber, Barry M. Malzberg, and Charles de Lint contribute to a dazzling anthology that captures the spirit and originality of Tolkien's great work.

The millions whose lives have been touched by J.R.R. Tolkien will find the same primal storytelling magic here, undiluted an running ever on.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

"A sense of mystery"
(This is kinda long... the short and sweet is I really enjoyed this book)
After seeing the run of negative reviews I decided to revisit 'After the King' and see if it had lost any of the charm it had the first time through... nope, it still has it.Yes it is true that some of these stories are not tales Tolkien himself would have written, yes some of them can seem out of place amidst the rest, and no they do not take place in Middle Earth, but they all are sweetly faerie and therefore I believe quite Tolkienesque.Please bear with me as I try to explain.

Tolkien was very much the grave and nostalgic author we see in the LotR but he was a lot more too.We know he was light-hearted in the 'Hobbit', but he was also silly and charming in 'Roverandom', and silly and irreverent in 'Farmer Gilies of Ham'.In 'The Smith of Wootton Major' he delighted to show us brief glimpses of a magical land while in the 'Silmarilion' he methodically, but no less wonderfully, presented the whole beautiful and tragic thing.But I think he was most like the painter in 'Leaf by Niggle' who came to find joy in his work yet at the end still yearned for more.

All of the stories in 'After the King' share some of those qualities, albeit some more than others.There are goofy tales and grave ones.Some are light-hearted and some bittersweet.Here's just a few examples: there is the hope-against-all-hope redemptive story of 'Faith', the tongue-in-cheek 'Troll Bridge' reminiscent of Tolkien's own nostalgia for bygone days, and 'Death and the Lady' which exudes that same sense of quiet determination in the presence of great loss that characterized Tolkien's epics.But when it comes to being "after the king" I think 'Gotterdammerung' speaks best for the entire collection when it opens with the following line "We are talking essentially about the need to preserve a sense of magic, of mystery."That is what Tolkien desired(don't take my word for it, read his essay 'On Fairy Stories' and see for yourself).That is what he did best.Never being too fatalistic or disingenuous, he made his worlds a little mysterious.He made them wonderful.These tales in 'After the King' have a bit of that magic in them and the best part of all is that you don't need to be some sort of LotR buff to appreciate it.

If this rambling attempt to compare a few short stories to Tolkien's body of work leaves you a bit sceptical (and my apologies for being so long winded, I felt compelled to speak out) let me encourage you to read this book if for nothing more than the introduction, or addition, to some very good authors.I had not read any of these authors beforehand (I was mostly spending my "fantasy time" rereading LotR)but after finishing many more books by McKillip, 'Fellowship of the Dragon' is still one my favorites.'Reeve the Just' me led me directly to some of Donaldson's other works, and a friends comparison between the brave apprentice in 'Up the Side of the Air' and the proud apprentice Ged of Earthsea fame introduced me to yet another great author I had never read before.So don't be discouraged because this is not some sequel to 'Return of the King'.Even years after reading these stories and authors for the first time I still feel this is a very good collection worthy of its title.

Shabby, misleading marketing, but a few good stories.
I see quite a few other readers have preceded me, but I just want to express my anger, as a life long Tolkien fan, at the ethically shabby tactic used to sell this book. If I were an author who's story was published as a part of this collection, I'd be pretty angry, too; I doubt if any of them had any idea that they were going to be associated with a shameful hustle like this. As has been pointed out: none of these stories have any thing to do with Tolkeien's world or characters, nor are they written in a style that recalls his. This is just a particularly grubby sales tactic, intended to sell books to those of us longing to revisit that world in some way. Shame on the editor or the publisher or whoever hatched this misleading title and subtitle- and thanks for the internet, where wary book buyers can be warned.

"Amused? He would have been horrified!"
In her introduction to this collection of short stories, purportedly written in honor of the late Oxford don JRR Tolkien, Jane Yolen discusses the flood of fantasy literature that has burst through the gates opened by the phenomenal success of The Lord of the Rings. She mentions the shameful use of his name and work for titles that he would not have even approved, let alone recommended, and concludes that he would have been horrified. Of course, she insists, the volume in hand is different. These stories are not imitations of the master, but rather (shifting into hair-splitting mode) they are "in honor of" him.

In reality, a good percentage of the stories in After the King are the worst sort of imitations, salads of mythic creatures from the Tolkien cupboard with nary a character who could hold his own standing across a fence discussing taters with the Gaffer. Tolkien understood that quests and elves and orcs can only be fantastic when seen with the proper perspective, balanced against the homey and the mundane.

It would be unfair to suggest that all of the stories in this collection are derivative tripe; Terry Pratchett's Troll Bridge does not fail to amuse while Poul and Karen Anderson's Faith is dark yet moving. On the whole, though, Tolkien is better honored through books that don't use his name as a cheap sales gimmick.

Tricked, oh so tricked!
Good stories, but if you expect anything that has any continuity with the Ring Mythos, look elsewhere. You will be very disappointed.

What next, "tales of the old south- a tribute to tolkien"? Or how about "a history of jet planes- stories in honor of tolkien"?

The stories, as a collection, deserve 4 stars, but this book's title and dust jacket (hardcover ed.) is so misleadingthat ol' Greenberg gets only one.

Stories In Honor of Tolkien
This was an excellent book. The variety of the stories and their settings and themes was refreshing. After reading many classic fairy tales, fantasy and science fiction stories, it was nice to read something new. Some draw you into the past, some are set in the present, while others take you to an unknown time. The characters are not your typical damsel in distress, but people (and creatures) that you can understand and maybe even relate to. One of my favorites is "The Conjure Man" by Charles de Lint. This story talks about a problem that is very close to my heart. I would recommend this book to anyone that has enjoyed fantasy, and especially Tolkien lovers. ... Read more

Product Description
About this book - The definitive collection of Tolkien's classic “fairie” tales, in the vein of The Hobbit, illustrated by Oscar winner 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. This new, definitive collection of works -- which had appeared separately, in various formats, between 1949 and 1998 -- comes with a brand-new foreword and endmatter, and with a series of detailed pencil illustrations by Alan Lee, in the style of his other award-winning Tolkien work, most recently in The Children of Húrin. The book is the perfect opportunity for fans of Middle-earth to enjoy some of Tolkien's often overlooked yet most creative ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A charming and delightful collection of stories
This excellent book is a collection of five stories written by that master of letters, J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973). Each of the stories is excellent in its own right, and together they make a great library.

The five stories are:
1) Farmer Giles of Ham tells the story of a farmer by the name of Aegidius Ahenobarbus Julius Agricola de Hammo - or in the vulgar form, Farmer Giles of Ham. A no-nonsense man was Farmer Giles, and when someone steps onto his property, he is there to meet him with his blunderbuss. However, when the next person to set foot on his property is a giant, Farmer Giles soon finds himself dealing with kings and knights and legendary swords and, worst of all, dragons!

2) Smith of Wootton Major tells the story of a little town that has a wonderful tradition where a special cake is baked every twenty four years, and eaten by twenty four good children. But, when a magical Faery star is slipped into this year's cake, it is eaten by the local smith's son. And so the life of the younger smith is changed beyond anyone's imagination - he is marked by beauty of face and voice, and (unbeknownst to anyone) he can even visit the land of Faery whenever he likes. It is a life of magic and giving.

3) Leaf by Niggle is actually my favorite, telling the story of Niggle, a man with an artist's soul, who lives in a society that does not value art. He does what he can, when he can, but soon he must go on a trip that he was not prepared for. But, on the far side of this journey is the true art and beauty that he only glimpsed before.

4) The Adventures of Tom Bombadil is an extract of the story of the hobbit's meeting with the magical Tom Bombadil and his true love, Goldberry, the Daughter of the River, taken from The Lord of the Rings.

5) And finally, Roverandom, which tells the story of a young dog named Rover, who crosses a powerful wizard from Persia. (The wizard, named Artaxerxes, had become lost and asked for directions, the misguided guide was confused and given him directions to Pershore instead!) Artaxerxes turns Rover into a toy dog, and sends him off. This is the start of an epic quest for Rover, who meets a sand-wizard, the Man-in-the-Moon, the great dragons that live on the moon, the many merfolk living at the bottom of the ocean, and a delightful little boy.

Overall, I found this to be a charming and delightful collection of stories. Do yourself a favor, and find out why Professor Tolkien is remembered as the great author that he is. I give this book my highest recommendations! ... Read more

Product Description
About this book - The definitive collection of Tolkien's classic “fairie” tales, in the vein of The Hobbit, illustrated by Oscar winner 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. This new, definitive collection of works -- which had appeared separately, in various formats, between 1949 and 1998 -- comes with a brand-new foreword and endmatter, and with a series of detailed pencil illustrations by Alan Lee, in the style of his other award-winning Tolkien work, most recently in The Children of Húrin. The book is the perfect opportunity for fans of Middle-earth to enjoy some of Tolkien's often overlooked yet most creative ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A charming and delightful collection of stories
This excellent book is a collection of five stories written by that master of letters, J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973). Each of the stories is excellent in its own right, and together they make a great library.

The five stories are:
1) Farmer Giles of Ham tells the story of a farmer by the name of Aegidius Ahenobarbus Julius Agricola de Hammo - or in the vulgar form, Farmer Giles of Ham. A no-nonsense man was Farmer Giles, and when someone steps onto his property, he is there to meet him with his blunderbuss. However, when the next person to set foot on his property is a giant, Farmer Giles soon finds himself dealing with kings and knights and legendary swords and, worst of all, dragons!

2) Smith of Wootton Major tells the story of a little town that has a wonderful tradition where a special cake is baked every twenty four years, and eaten by twenty four good children. But, when a magical Faery star is slipped into this year's cake, it is eaten by the local smith's son. And so the life of the younger smith is changed beyond anyone's imagination - he is marked by beauty of face and voice, and (unbeknownst to anyone) he can even visit the land of Faery whenever he likes. It is a life of magic and giving.

3) Leaf by Niggle is actually my favorite, telling the story of Niggle, a man with an artist's soul, who lives in a society that does not value art. He does what he can, when he can, but soon he must go on a trip that he was not prepared for. But, on the far side of this journey is the true art and beauty that he only glimpsed before.

4) The Adventures of Tom Bombadil is an extract of the story of the hobbit's meeting with the magical Tom Bombadil and his true love, Goldberry, the Daughter of the River, taken from The Lord of the Rings.

5) And finally, Roverandom, which tells the story of a young dog named Rover, who crosses a powerful wizard from Persia. (The wizard, named Artaxerxes, had become lost and asked for directions, the misguided guide was confused and given him directions to Pershore instead!) Artaxerxes turns Rover into a toy dog, and sends him off. This is the start of an epic quest for Rover, who meets a sand-wizard, the Man-in-the-Moon, the great dragons that live on the moon, the many merfolk living at the bottom of the ocean, and a delightful little boy.

Overall, I found this to be a charming and delightful collection of stories. Do yourself a favor, and find out why Professor Tolkien is remembered as the great author that he is. I give this book my highest recommendations! ... Read more

Product Description
Meet important people who have made an impact on our political and social landscape.These titles make wonderful supplemental reading for students taking U.S. or world history classes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A great biography
This slim and attractive book is a wonderful biography of John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, the author of the classic works, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Starting with his birth in South Africa in 1892, the book follows his life, focusing on the love of languages that he maintained throughout his life. Along the way, the reader is treated to many colorful pictures and informative sidebars.

Although this biography was written with the younger read (9-12) in mind, in truth it is a great biography for anyone interested in J.R.R. Tolkien. First my thirteen-year-old daughter read this book, then my wife did, and now I have; and I must say that we all enjoyed it. The book is easy to understand, but does not skimp on information. Overall, I have no hesitation in recommending this book to anyone interested in J.R.R. Tolkien. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the book on all of Tolkien's invented languages, spoken by hobbits, elves, and men of Middle-earth -- a dicitonary of fourteen languages, an English-Elvish glossary, all the runes and alphabets, and material on Tolkien the linguist. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (43)

Preciousssss and Glorious
This is the real thing: a study of languages of Middle Earth by an author was is philologically knowledgable and widely read in Tolkein and also in the great works in which his great works are deeply rooted.Highly readable, yes.Cutesy, not.Many helpful features including fine comparisons of different Eleven languages, runes, and the linguistic tree of all the languages in Tolkein's stories----fascinating to see for example the relations between Dwarfish and Sindar.

This book rewards the slow reader, one who tries the words aloud, who works on the phrasing and word order, and who has ideally some passion for languages and learning them from the skeletons out.Highly recommended as a gift for those enchanted with Middle Earth and for yourself.

Riddled with errors
I shocks me that this book is still in un-revised publication.It has been so thoroughly savaged by Tolkien scholars that the only volume with a worse reputation is the old dictionary of Elvish published in Berkeley in the '60s (which some money-grubber has also reprinted recently without revision; I won't give any more detail about it, because no one should seek and buy it, since that would monetarily reward someone for a ripoff).

Noel not only misspells, drops diacritics and assigned incorrect definitions, she even missed an entire Elvish verb tense.I still have a copy of the original hardback dating from my childhood, and it is chock-full of corrections that I made myself--at age 12 or 13.I even wrote a paper correcting the missing verb tense and other errors, for my 7th or 8th grade English literature class. This book is, very literally, so bad that a kid can proofread it.I'll second the various nominations of Ardalambion and some other online resources as far better sources of information, since they are the collaborative work of a large number of fans, many of them professional linguists with Elvish as their "guilty pleasure" hobby.

The only reason to buy this book is as a game: How many of the errors can YOU find?Get an "acceptable"-grade used copy for pennies if you want to give that a shot (and it was actually fun, back in the day).

Speak Elvish in 30 Days!
A very user-friendly book.I imagine if one spends a month sifting through its pages, he or she will learn to speak and write Elvish with ease!Delivery was prompt, the book was in mint condition and the price was fair.

One of a few books on this subject
Our son was interested in learning more about the languages that Tolkien invented, and this book serves the purpose without going into the excruciating detail of an academic tome. It's short and has a lot of information that avid readers of Tolkien will appreciate.

Languages
For the true linguistics and Tolkien fan.

A good read and reference. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

These can be skipped
If you are looking for pre-LOTR stories, this isn't it. Totally disappointed.

H

Good Read
This is a very good read. I would suggest you read it, especially if you're a fan of Tolkien.

Book Reader
This item that I purchased was "ok". It was a gift for a Lord of the Rings Fan. The case that it came in was slightly ripped, but the books in it were in good condition. I received my order in a timely manner and was overall pleased with my purchase.

The Earliest Hint of Middle earth
When The Silmarillion was published in 1977, four years after J.R.R. Tolkien's death, his son and literary executor, Christopher Tolkien, was often criticized for producing too much of a summary and not enough of the magic of his father's creation.A few years later Tolkien began to publish The History of Middle earth series in order to present the full range of his father's writings.The first five volumes in the series, which eventually reached 12, are presented here: The Book of Lost Tales Parts I and 11, The Lays of Beleriand, The Shaping of Middle Earth, and The Lost Road.

It is important to understand that these are not finished works by any means.Tolkien started and restarted his tales, not at first meaning to collect them into any kind of organized mythology, then as the tales grew and his imagination expanded they became a sort of new "mythology for England."Discerning readers who have studied The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion will recognize some elements which survived throughout Tolkien's career.Readers who are not that familiar with Tolkien should not start with this set, but should instead focus on The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings first.

My favorite volume in this set is The Lost Road, an abandoned project for a science fiction novel Tolkien wrote in the 1930s.It contains elements of the story of Numenor, Tolkien's Atlantis, and contains some of Tolkien's best writings.

The Lay of the Histories
Now before I sing the praise of this series
A warning must be given,
You may find yourself hopelessly weary
If this is your first look at J.R.R. Tolkien.

These books were compiled by that great master's son
As a glimpse into his father's deep mind.
These tales never could claim being 'done',
And thus are a motley combine.

Yet for all of you who have read that master's works
And wish that more about Middle-Earth could be,
Behold! Here it is, down to the origin of Orcs
And the singing of the Ainu in sweet melody.

The great elves in battle against Morgoth and Sauron;
Men of the West in their earliest days.
Battles with dragons--like the mighty Glaurung.
A multitude of tales told in multiple ways

Many of these tales are in a more coherent book--
The Silmarillion is its name.
Yet though it is beautiful; more fluid to look,
It does not delve as deep, page upon page.

There is the Lay of Leithian
In its poetic might,
Unlike the version in the Silmarillion,
Which does not pierce the heart with a sword so bright.

And so you come to ask me,
'Why four stars, not five?'
I must give you my answer,
And be honest--not lie.

The Histories of Middle-Earth, I must confess--
As enjoyable as they may be--
It is, for the most part, an utter mess
That often confused and baffled me.

Tales told by the old, the young, and aged scribes
Each varying by telling;
Difficult on the mind,
Sending my head spinning, like the tide swelling,
Like the Earth rending, in fire and ice.
And yet still an entertaining
Legend-revealing device.

Post Poem Script:

Forgive my poor meter--
It's so very drear.
You can watch it peter
Out there and out here.

I am no Longfellow,
Nor Edgar A. Poe
Yet rhyme is like bellows
That makes the fires go.

Once I have started
I can't even think to quit.
I feel lighthearted,
Though my poems be poorly writ.

Ryan Robledo
Author of the Aelnathan:
... Read more

Product Description
"The power of Tolkien's central characters . . . shines through." Library Journal.
A treasure trove of lore for old and new friends of Middle-earth. Enter now, reader, and learn of the hero of the Lay of Leithian. Hear as well of the early years of Turin the Tall, as he journeys through darkness on his quest to find his father. Read of his rescue by Beleg the Brave, and of the dark destiny that haunts their friendship! Only the genius of Tolkien could create a fantasy more real than reality, a reality more fantastic than fantasy!
... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Lovers of Tolkien and poetry, rejoice!
When a friend gave me the five-volume "Histories of Middle-Earth," this was the one I grabbed for right away, and I have reached for it many times since.
Although I really do prefer the "hobbitry" in Tolkien's better-known works (and this book has no hobbits), I loved this book. It contains two unfinished long poems, much in the style of "Beowulf" or "Paradise Lost," that tell the stories of Beren and Luthien and of Turin Turambar. The poems are beautifully written and shed light on themes and scenes only hinted at in the Silmarillion. As good reading as the Silmarillion is, I think this type of poetry was the ideal medium for telling these two epic tales. I wish Tolkien had finished them, but that is my only criticism of this book!
Highly recommended gift for anyone who likes Tolkien or has that rare taste for epic poetry.

This book contains beautiful poems
I haven't enjoyed reading this much since I discovered Tennyson's idylls two years ago. The editorial reviewer who says that the main interest in this book is seeing the development of Tolkien's ideas is wrong. The mythology is great and the poetry is beautiful. It is sad that the poems are only fragments, but they are both substantial fragments (so is the Faerie Queene for that matter)and the second one is really almost complete. Anyone who loves Tolkien's other books and anyone who loves poetry will love this book.

Book never received
Today is April 16, 2009 and I still have not received this book.I E-mailed Amazon.com and have received no response.
Judy Dennis

Not Free SF Reader
More dull Tolkienness. Fairly obvious attempt at publishing
commercialism. However, the author put a ton of work into his
background, history, languages, songs, poetry, and other works to do
with his books, so if any of those worlds are deserving of having their
backstory detailed in excruciating detail and 400 volumes, this is
probably one.

Not just poetry, but an epic saga
When I read LotR, or The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, Tolkien's poetry didn't seem to me good enough. That is, I liked those verses, but I thought them too plain for those from an epic saga. Now this book is quite another. The Lay of Leithian is a most romantic story of love-and-adventure (the corresponding chapter in the Silmarillion describes the same events much simpler), and in the poem about Thurin, we get to know some missing details of his story. So, if you're interested in the First Age events and personalities, this book is a very good reading for you. ... Read more

Product Description
Tolkien fans who long for more of the same delight that they get from The Lord of the Rings will find it in the writings of William Morris, for he created the literary style that J. R. R. Tolkien brought to such perfection in his tales. As a young man writing to his future wife, Tolkien mentioned the inspiration he was receiving from Morris:

"Amongst other work I am trying to turn one of the short stories [of the Finnish Kalevala] . . . into a short story somewhat on the lines of Morris' romances with chunks of poetry in between."

Forty-six years later, Tolkien still remembered what he had learned from Morris:

"The Lord of the Rings was actually begun, as a separate thing, about 1937, and had reached the inn at Bree, before the shadow of the second war. . . . The Dead Marshes and the approaches to the Morannon owe something to Northern France after the Battle of the Somme. They owe more to William Morris and his Huns and Romans, as in The House of the Wolfings or The Roots of the Mountains."

As The Lord of the Rings was being written, Tolkien's close friend, C. S. Lewis, wrote that Morris provides his readers with a "pleasure so inexhaustible that after twenty or fifty years of reading they find it worked so deeply into all their emotions as to defy analysis." In words that could apply equally well to Tolkien, he said:

"It is indeed, this matter-of-factness . . . which lends to all of Morris's stories their somber air of conviction. Other stories have only scenery; his have geography. He is not concerned with 'painting' landscapes; he tells you the lie of the land, and then you paint the landscapes for yourself. To a reader long fed on the almost botanical and entomological niceties of much modern fiction . . . the effect is at first very pale and cold, but also fresh and spacious. No mountains in literature are as far away as distant mountains in Morris. The world of his imagining is as windy, as tangible, as resonant and three dimensional, as that of Scott and Homer."

If you enjoy what Tolkien wrote about Aragorn, if you admire the bravery of the Riders of Rohan, if you long for more tales of adventure in a vast and unspoiled wilderness, and if you wish that Tolkien had more to say about the courage of women or about romances between men and women, then you will be delighted by these two marvelous tales from the pen of the gifted William Morris. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The bridge between medieval romance and Tolkien
William Morris wrote a number of early fantasy (a generation before Tolkien's Lord Of The Rings) that are characterized by a rich, archaic prose.His books are heavily influenced by medieval romances, and fall much closer to such than to the modern post-Tolkien fantasy (or the swords-and-sorcery genre that dominated the mid-20th century).The Roots of the Mountains takes place in an early north-European setting - reminiscent of Viking Scandinavia, or pre-Christian Britain or Germany.As the subtitle of this edition implies, this book kind of reminds one of the human parts of the Lord of the Rings (maybe a Rohan without elves, hobbits, or orcs involved) - indeed, Tolkien admitted Morris as an influence.
The language is a little difficult, although therein lies much of Morris's charm - unlike modern fantasy authors (and, worse, Sci-Fi channel programs), Morris does not use modern language and "feel" in his fantasy, but creates a medieval/fantasy atmosphere with his very choice of words (using many words that went out of fashion with Chaucer).
The story itself is an engaging adventure involving love, battle, and a more pastoral setting of people who live closer to the land than most of us do today.

Roots of Fantasy Fiction
This is more for those who are interested in the history and drama of the battles a lost people than magical rings or wizardry. Morris gives fantastic descriptions of his locales and the action in this novel and the prequel (The House of the Wolfings) is vibrant with energy. The two stories are basically about the cross purposes of love and loyalty. The novel can be confusing to keep track of the characters as at various points the same character will be referred to with a different name. Overall I think it is a thrilling adventure which stands on its own, not only as a foundation stone for further creations in the medium. ... Read more

Product Description
SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT, PEARL, and SIR ORFEO are masterpieces of a remote and exotic age--the age of chivalry and wizards, knights and holy quests. Yet it is only in the unique artistry and imagination of J.R.R. Tolken that the language, romance, and power of these great stories comes to life for modern readers, in this masterful and compelling new translation.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

For fans of "Beowulf" rather than "Lord of the Rings"
If you liked The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, you may not like this as much. If you actually liked "Beowulf" when you were forced to read it in school, then definitely check out these three poems translated to modern English by Tolkien. I like reading medieval material such as this, but so often the translations are not very accessible. Tolkien is one of the best.

Tolkien
Christopher doesn't quite have all that his dad did. But this is still a good read for Tolkien lovers.

More Tolkien is always better
This is a nice, reasonably priced version of the old English tale, translated by J.R.R. Tolkien, our favorite writer of hobbits, Dark Lords and perilous jewelry. My Dad was very pleased to receive it as a present, and best of all, I can borrow it from him and read it myself! ;) Love it.

Who cares about Middle English?
For anyone who cares about the subject and yet is too lazy to read the original it is always a joy to read Tolkien, a master of English. The story is not fantasy, which many mistakenly look for in Tolkien, but a classic of middle English literature. If you get hooked on this genre there are many other stories, both long and short, available, and the original language is not so different from our own.

Not Free SF Reader
Slightly more interesting piece of output, due to the theme being the
old Green Knight story. That tale is usually quite entertaining, and is
in this version, as well. The other piece is eminently forgettable,
however. I suppose you would say that it is for Tolkien completists
only.


... Read more

Product Description

A detailed work of reference and scholarship, this one volume Encyclopedia includes discussions of all the fundamental issues in Tolkien scholarship written by the leading scholars in the field.

Coverage not only presents the most recent scholarship on J.R.R. Tolkien, but also introduces and explores the author and scholar's life and work within their historical and cultural contexts. Tolkien's fiction and his sources of influence are examined along with his artistic and academic achievements – including his translations of medieval texts – teaching posts, linguistic works, and the languages he created. The 550 alphabetically arranged entries fall within the following categories of topics:

• adaptations
• art and illustrations
• characters in Tolkien's work
• critical history and scholarship
• influence of Tolkien
• languages
• biography
• literary sources
• literature
• creatures and peoples of Middle-earth
• objects in Tolkien's work
• places in Tolkien's work
• reception of Tolkien
• medieval scholars
• scholarship by Tolkien
• medieval literature
• stylistic elements
• themes in Tolkien's works
• theological/ philosophical concepts and philosophers
• Tolkien's contemporary history and culture
• works of literature

Customer Reviews (3)

A very disappointed work.
It gives an overabundance of websites as reference, which is never a good sign. Also, it gives a lots of credit to many obscure papers written by unknown young people in fanzines published in the 1970's and which no one can find in any Library. There are lots, and lots of errors, like: "Maiar, an order of semi divine spirits created to assist the Valar". The Maiar are nothing near to be semi- or half-, but are quite "fully divine". We are not in Tolkien's Secondary World in some Neo-Greek mythology. The Maiar were not created to serve, either. The Maiar writes Tolkien: "Maiar was applied to all the angelic spirits created by Eru before the making of Eä" (Words, Phrases and Passages, p. 163). These "angelic spirits" have free-will. This encyclopaedia has serious flaws: there is no entry Philology, a very bad article is to be found under "Comparative philology" under "Language, and theories of"; and nothing (or almost) is said about Guy Gavriel Kay, who helped Christopher Tolkien to edit "The Silmarillion".

A Fine Addition to the Critical Landscape
First, in the interests of full disclosure, I should say that I, too, am a contributor to the Encyclopedia. Second, let me explain my rating. I'm inclined to give this impressive reference work five stars -- but cannot quite do so, for two reasons: 1) the price is quite high, indeed in my opinion it is probably higher than necessary, and 2) it isn't quite the book it could have been, had Mike Drout's original vision been realized. For example, it was supposed to include hundreds of illustrations as well as blind entries, etc. There's a whole drama behind the publication of the Encyclopedia ... but that being said, let me focus on the task at hand: offering a capsule review of the work.

It is quite an impressive and diverse collection of entries, by an equally impressive and diverse collection of scholars. I feel quite overwhelmed and honored to be represented among them. Luminaries like Tom Shippey, Verlyn Flieger, Douglas Anderson -- and too many others to begin to name -- give the Encyclopedia tremendous depth. Also, you'll find a wealth of the latest critical approaches and ideas represented here. Mike Drout has accomplished no less than a Herculean labor here -- and it has really paid off. There's definitely plenty to interest any serious Tolkien fan.

But why not make up your own mind? The Encyclopedia has a website, including Mike Drout's introduction (or a draft of it), a list of thematic entries, the full contributor roster -- and most importantly, perhaps, for potential purchasers, seven sample entries. [...]

Marvelous for serious Tolkien Fans
For serious fans of Tolken, and particularly those who like to examine it as a work of literature, this book is a marvelous tool edited by a gifted professor and lover of Tolkien. (His blog is at: wormtalk.blogspot dot com.) And if the price is a bit much for your budget, see if your school or public library might be willing to pick up a copy. Disclaimer: I contributed several articles.

--Michael W. Perry, Untangling Tolkien: A Chronology and Commentary for The Lord of the Rings ... Read more

Product Description
Recent polls have consistently declared that J.R.R. Tolkien is "the most influential author of the century," and The Lord of the Rings is "the book of the century." In support of these claims, the prominent medievalist and scholar of fantasy Professor Tom Shippey now presents us with a fascinating companion to the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, focusing in particular on The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion. The core of the book examines The Lord of the Rings as a linguistic and cultural map and as a response to the meaning of myth. It presents a unique argument to explain the nature of evil and also gives the reader a compelling insight into the unparalleled level of skill necessary to construct such a rich and complex story. Shippey also examines The Hobbit, explaining the hobbits' anachronistic relationship to the heroic world of Middle-earth, and shows the fundamental importance of The Silmarillion to the canon of Tolkien's work. He offers as well an illuminating look at other, lesser-known works in their connection to Tolkien's life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (32)

For the philogists in the audience
Shippey is a philogist much as Tolkien was, and in fact had JRR's job once the old don retired. So he's not exactly unbiased in his appraisal. The title itself is pretty darn argumentative, but kind of silly. Reminds me of childhood arguments over who has the "best" Beatle, and who was better, the Stones or the Beatles. He cites some pretty weak reasons for his claim (a survey of ten thousand people). But then he seems to forget about it and moves on to showing how EVERY plot element was determined by ancient works and words. This is downright weird, when you think about it. You claim Tolkien is the finest author of the 20th century, and then go on to argue that the man never had an original thought? The Ents, that's right, he thought up the Ents. Otherwise, nope, all based on Nordic tales, Beowulf, that sort of thing. Tolkien was simply resurrecting Lost Tales from the ancient past, claims Shippey. Then later, he changes thesis yet again, to claim that Tolkien wrote LOTR as a story for his languages and history to live in. Now, that I can buy, and has been told elsewhere. There are some interesting nuggets here, but he spends far too much time getting into the little niggling bits of the history and heritage of words. Three pages, for instance, on the roots of the Wild Men of the Woods, who only get a brief mention in Tolkien. To be fair, there are some good arguments here for why LOTR is so special, and if you're a fan, you'll enjoy those parts. When the runic words show up, you may want to just to skip ahead. Unless Old Norse is your bailiwick.

Breathtaking insights for word-loving anglophile Tolkien fans
Almost immediately after its publication, Tolkien's Lord of the Rings suffered scathing attacks from certain critics in the academic and literary worlds.Half a century later, it remains dubious to admit to well-educated friends that Tolkien is one's favorite author.A typical response is "Oh, I don't read those kind of books," by which we are meant to understand that Tolkien wrote "escapist throwback popular trash."

To make matters worse, these days, one can form an opinion without bothering to even read "those books."A few hours spent watching Peter Jackson's screen adaptation (or even a few minutes watching their trailers) gives anyone the confidence to bespeak Tolkien's doom.

How is it that many highly intelligent and sensitive readers cherish the Lord of the Rings, while many highly intelligent and sensitive critics loathe it?Professor Shippey's work, Author of the Century, unravels this mystery.Moreover, he painstakingly details much of the origin and intricacy of Tolkien's magnum opus.

Although it differs in title, in my opinion this book is essentially a re-write of Professor Shippey's "The Road to Middle Earth".Having read them both in short order, I prefer this one, but that I ventured to read both demonstrates the quality of the author and his material.I cannot comment on the even newer "The Road to Middle Earth:Revised and Expanded Edition".

Its table of contents is somewhat misleading.Most chapters cover far more subject matter than their headings would imply.This reviewer identified several themes to which Professor Shippey consistently returns throughout the book.They are 1) Refuting Tolkien's critics.2) Tolkien's historical and philological sources.3) Literary analysis of Tolkien's major works.4) Tolkien's theodicy - his philosophy of Good and Evil.

I opened this review with a reference to the first theme, refuting Tolkien's critics, because the title of this book implies that such is its primary intent.However, Shippey's earlier work, "The Road to Middle Earth", was actually more aggressive in that regard.Perhaps Tolkien's popularity has outlived enough of his critics to warrant a relent in the counter-offensive.At any rate, there is enough material here to silence all but the most stubborn.Memorize a few paragraphs and you will lose any shame you might have felt in proclaiming the "Lord of the Rings" your favorite book.

However, the most enjoyable bits (to me) are those which shed light on the interplay between Tolkien the author, and Tolkien the Oxford professor of Old-English and philology.If you are an Anglophile and a word-lover, the kind of person who enjoys visiting England and reading the dictionary, you will thrill to all the sudden definitions, connections and insights scattered throughout.Examples...An etymology of "Halifirien" which is Old-English for "holy mountain."Tolkien's 1923 publication of an imagined Old-English reconstruction of the prototypical "egg" nursery rhyme riddle later used in the Hobbit.A beautiful story about Oxford's "Rollright Stones", a Neolithic stone circle, relating Middle-Earth to present day England.Detailed etymologies of "Woses" and "Ent", "Elf", "Emnet", and more.Numerous smatterings of Old-English wisdom, such as Beowulf's, "Æghwæþres sceal scearp scyldwiga gescad witan, worda und worca", describing the manner of a coast guard deciding to allow Beowulf to enter Denmark with his armed company, like Hama allowing Gandalf to carry his staff into Meduseld.

It is this such material that "Author of the Century" provides in greater depth and quantity than the earlier "Road to Middle-Earth".Elaborating it was a wise decision, as doing so deftly applies the deep knowledge of Professor Shippey as a fellow Old-English philologist.In fact, Shippey occupied the very position at Leeds that Tolkien helped to create.Perhaps no one else can give so many insights from this highly specialized field into its essential origins in Tolkien's creation. One envies Professor Shippey's students, as one envied Tolkien's, for surely he gives fascinating lectures.

A serious argument that Tolkien WAS the writer of the century
I really liked this book.I found it easy to read, and very interesting.It gave many biographic details on Tolkien.It was particularly good for explaining how Tolkien's academic background in philogophy made him into the writer he was.(Not a conclusion most of us would jump to!)

But I think what really stands out about this book is the dead serious argument it makes that Tolkien was the most important writer of the 20th century.As most of us know, Tolkien is not taken seriously by literary critics.The really IMPORANT writers of the 20th century are Virginia Woolf, James Joyce and the other "great" writers who no one wants to read except when under duress.We KNOW that Tolkien can not be significant in a literary sense, because ordinary people in large numbers actually like reading his stuff.Literature is like cod liver oil; it can not be good for you unless you can't stand it.

But, as the 20th century fades into the past, our perspective changes.WHY was James Joyce important?WHY was D.H. Lawrence important?

We all know the conventional answers.Joyce was important, becaus he broke the mold of the old-fashioned way of writing and showed us a radically new way of writing.Blah, blah, blah.What did Joyce SAY about human affairs that was either intrinscially important or important to the particular events of the 20th century?Same questions about Lawerence, Hemingway, Steinbeck and the rest of the usual subjects.

Again, we know the conventional answers.These writers critiqued the inadequacies of bourgeois society, and pointed the way toward the glories of the new day, whether that of radical free sex, socialism or whatever.The bottom line is that, for most of the 20th century, the intellectual class was sure that they knew the way that the future was going -- toward scientific, secular socialism, with Marx and Freud as the new gods -- and they valued the writers whose work validated this worldview.

But, as it turned out, the intellectual class' crystal ball was broken.The good guys did not win; the Soviet Union did not triumph.None of the dogmas of the century survived the century.Marx became the father of fanatic dicators.Freud became an exposed intellectual fraud.

And the events of the century were utterly different than they were supposed to be.They were supposed to be the inevitable triumph of the glorious certainties of the intellectual left.Instead, they turned out to be a desperate death struggle between the Free Nations, lead by America, and a series of crazed dictators seeking some demented satanic utopia.

Which brings us back to Tolkien.In addition to the sin of writing books which ordinary people actually want to read, he also had this gauche habit of writing about a relatively black and white struggle between good and evil.All very incorrect in a century that knows that the only sin is judging anything.

But, in retrospect, who was writing about the real issues actually presented by the 20th century?Is there anything in James Joyce that is actually engaged with the reality of the 20th century?Same queston for Virginia Woff and the rest of them?

Tolkien, however, wrote about the seductive temptations of power, and the death struggle between the little ordinary people and the overwhelming power of Mordor.He wrote about the long, slow decline of high culture of Gondor, as it fell into degeneracy, fought with itself and failed even to breed.There is nothing that he wrote about that is not taken directly from the central events of the 20th century.

Many think that Tolkien is this weird fantasist who is writing about the Middle Ages.Sorry.As Shipley correctly points out, Tolkien is writing about his own time, with insight that goes way past other writers.When the 25th century wants to understand what all of that craziness was about in the 20th century, they are not going to be reading Virginia Woolf; they are going to be reading the Lord of The Rings.

An Exhaustive, Erudite Study of Tolkien
Those of us who are hopeless Tolkienites have an insatiable curiosity about--and appetite for--the inner workings of Middle-earth, along with the man that brought that wonderful world to life.J.R.R. Tolkien was a fascinating man, and Oxford scholar Tom Shippey has forgotten more about this author than most of us will ever learn; to prove it, Shippey presents his analysis of Tolkien's work in his very readable book, J.R.R. TOLKIEN:AUTHOR OF THE CENTURY.

I was astounded to learn, via Shippey's patient presentation, that so many of the names of characters and places that appear in Middle-earth are derived from ancient Norse mythology, poetry, and literature.That Tolkien was hugely inspired by Beowulf is a given; that The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings borrow extensively and richly from this centuries' old tale is not.Shippey also describes how Tolkien, as a devout philologist, was obsessed with words--with their infinite variations, and how the author utilized this knowledge not only to create names and places in his writing, but also create extensive, intricate languages.

Regarding Tolkien's masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings, Shippey allows the reader to draw his/her own conclusions as to whether or not the novel is an allegory.Tolkien himself vigorously denied his fantasy tale was allegorical; in light of the fact LOTR is a classic tale of good vs. evil. . .a story that is a ringing indictment of modernization, industrialization, and technological destruction. . .it's almost comical how Tolkien went out of his way to deny the obvious.Shippey compares the novel to other allegories, and readily admits some of Tolkien's later short stories were indeed allegorical; thus the allegory card is played, albeit in a limited, less than satisfying way.

Shippey provides a detailed analysis not only of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings but of Tolkien's other works, including his poems and short stories, his essays, and his voluminous subject matter published posthumously (The Silmarillion and The Lost Tales, etc.).And "detailed" is the right word, as Shippey examines and magnifies information almost to exhaustion.That the scholar sees mountains where other readers see mole hills is readily apparent via the pages of this book.

J.R.R. TOLKIEN:AUTHOR OF THE CENTURY is a compelling, recommended read for those wanting to know more about the man who brought us Middle-earth.One of Shippey's observations is right on the money:The fact that England itself didn't have its own mythology turned out to be most fortunate; Tolkien went about creating one.
--D. Mikels, Author, THE RECKONING

Linguistic in Focus.
I have massive respect for Tom Shippey and his obvious knowledge and command of the English language.There are few books that you'll read which will educate the layman as much as this one will.For the Lord of the Rings fanatic, however, much of this book may not be what one expected as it points a laser into the mechanics of Tolkien linguistic universe present in LOTR, the Hobbitt and the Silmarillion.The worm's eye view can't be beat but it is still a very detailed view.The Foreward is an amazing read as it is more whollistic then the rest of the book and gives a thorough and illuminating overview of Tolkien's majestic place in the history of literature. ... Read more

Product Description
The History of Middle-earth 5
Edited by Christopher Tolkien
INKLINGS OF GREATNESS . . .
J.R.R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis were friends and fellow members of the literary circle known as The Inklings. It is hardly surprising that, at one point, these talented gentlemen embarked on a challenge: Lewis was to write on "space-travel" and Tolkien on "time-travel."
Lewis' novel, Out of the Silent Planet, became the first book of a science fiction trilogy. Tolkien's unfinished story, The Lost Road, chronicles the original destruction of Númenor, a pivotal event of the Second Age of Middle-earth.
In this fifth volume of The History of Middle-earth, Christopher Tolkien brings Middle-earth to its state at the writing of The Lord of the Rings. Entertaining and informative, THE LOST ROAD AND OTHER WRITINGS offers fresh insights into the evolution of one of the world's most enduring fantasies.
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Customer Reviews (14)

Overview of The History of Middle-earth Series
Collections of an author's work are often confusing, particularly when what the author has created is as complexas Tolkien's writings. Here's an overview of the twelve-volume History of Middle-earth, which was edited by his son Christopher Tolkien. Hopefully, it will help you select which book or books to buy.

Keep something in mind. In the U.S. Houghton Mifflin publishes Tolkien's authorized works in hardback and trade paperback editions, while Ballantine Books publishes them as cheaper mass-market paperbacks. For some reason, Ballantine doesn't always make it clear that some of their titles are part of the same History of Middle-earth seriesas those published by Houghton Mifflin. If the title is the same, the content is the same. Which you buy depends on your taste in books and finances. I have copies of both.


GROUP ONE, VOLUMES I - V, EARLY TALES

These five volumes deal primarily Tolkien's writings before the publication of The Hobbit (1937) and The Lord of the Rings (1954-55). In them, Tolkien was struggling as a still unknown author to create his first history of Middle-earth.

Vol 1 & 2, The Book of Lost Tales Part 1 ( 1983) & 2 (1984). The Book of Lost Tales was written during the 1910s and 1920s. Wikipedia describes it this way: "The framework for the book is that a mortal Man visits the Isle of Tol Eressëa where the Elves live. In the earlier versions of the `Lost Tales' this man is named Eriol, of some vague north European origin, but in later versions he becomes Ælfwine, an Englishman of the Middle-ages."

Vol. 3, The Lays of Beleriand (1985). These are collections of poems, many of them incomplete, written between the 1920s and the late 1940s.

Vol 4, The Shaping of Middle-earth (1986). As you might guess by the title, in this book Christopher describes how his father shaped his vision of Middle-earth from the primitive The Book of Lost Tales to early versions ofThe Silmarillion. This theme is taken up again in volumes X and XI.

Vol 5. The Lost Road and Other Writings (1987). Along with other writings this volume includes Tolkien's drafts of a tale about time travel. Wikipedia describes it this way: "The Lost Road itself is a fragmentary beginning of a tale, including a rough structure and several intiguing chunks of narrative, including four entire chapters dealing with modern England and Numenor, from which the entire story as it should have been can be glimpsed. The scheme was of time-travel by means of 'vision' or being mentally inserted into what had been, so as to actually re-experience that which had happened. In this way the tale links first to Saxon England of Alfred the Great, then to the Lombard Alboin of St. Benedict's time, the Baltic Sea in Old Norse days, Ireland at the time of the Tuatha's coming (600 years after the Flood), prehistoric North in the Ice Age, a 'Galdor story' of Third-Age Middle-Earth, and finally the Fall of Gil-Galad, before recounting the prime legend of the Downfall of Numenor/Atlantis and the Bending of the World. It harps on the theme of a 'straight road' into the West, now only in memory because the world is round."


GROUP TWO, VOLUMES VI - IX, LORD OF THE RINGS

If you or the friend you're buying for is primarily interested in the LOTR, then these four volumes are the books to have. Just keep in mind that you'll find in them many unfinished plots that may or may not fit well into LOTR. Tolkien was a perfectionist, always trying to improve plots and fill in details. These are his drafts.

Vol. 6, The Return of the Shadow (The History of The Lord of the Rings v. 1, 1988). Describes the initial stages of writing LOTR and covers the first three-fourths of The Fellowship of the Ring (until the Mines of Moria).

Vol. 7, The Treason of Isengard (The History of The Lord of the Rings, v. 2, 1989).Covers from the Mines of Moria until Gandalf meets Théoden about one-fourth of the way into The Two Towers.

Vol. 8, The War of the Ring (The History of The Lord of the Rings, v. 3, 1990).Continues the tale up to the opening of the Black Gate not quite three-quarters of the way through The Two Towers.

Vol. 9, Sauron Defeated (The History of The Lord of the Rings, v. 4, 1992).Completes the tale and includes an alternate ending in which Sam answers questions from his children. There is also a much shortened version of Vol. 9 called The End of the Third Age, which leaves out material that isn't related to LOTR.


GROUP THREE, VOLUMES X - XI, THE SILMARILLION

Just as The Hobbit created a public demand for more tales about hobbits, The Lord of the Rings created a demand for more tales about Middle-earth. To meet that demand, Tolkien struggled to reconcile and adapt many of his earlier tales to the historical framework made well-known by his two published works. He never completed those labors, so it was left after his death to his son Christopher to do so in The Silmarillion (1977). If you or a friend is interested in knowing more about The Silmarillion, these two volumes may be of interest.

Vol 10, Morgoth's Ring (The Later Silmarillion, v. 1, 1993). Contains material from earlier (1951 and later) drafts of The Silmarillion. Wikipedia notes that: "The title of this volume comes from a statement from one of the essays: 'Just as Sauron concentrated his power in the One Ring, Morgoth dispersed his power into the very matter of Arda, thus the whole of Middle-earth was Morgoth's Ring.'"

Vol. 11, The War of the Jewels (The Later Silmarillion v. 2, 1994). Addition material about the earlier drafts of The Silmarillion. Includes information about the origin of the Ents and Great Eagles.


GROUP FOUR, VOLUME XII AND INDEX, WRAP-UP

Vol. 12, The People's of Middle-earth (1996). Contains material that did not fit into the other volumes. The most interesting include additional appendices like those at the back of LOTR, essays on the races of Middle-earth, and about 30 pages of a sequel to the LOTR called The New Shadow. It was set a century after the LOTR. Tolkien abandoned the tale as too "sinister and depressing."

The History of Middle-earth Index (2002) is an index of all twelve volumes.

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Keep in mind that books in The History of Middle-earth are nothing like reading The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings. What J. R. R. Tolkien wrote is often fragmentary and unpolished rough drafts, while what Christopher wrote is literary scholarship, concerned more with sources and texts than plots. If you or the friend you are buying for is more interested in understanding LOTR better, you might be happier with a reference works such as:

Karen Fonstad's The Atlas of Middle-Earth (Revised Edition)

Robert Foster's The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth

Or my own detailed, day-by-day chronology Untangling Tolkien: A Chronology and Commentary for The Lord of the Rings

All three will give you a richer, deeper understanding of LOTR.

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If you're interested in reading books with the same flavor as Tolkien, you might consider reading William Morris, a once well-known writer who influenced Tolkien. For tales like the warriors of Rohan, see his The House of the Wolfings and The Roots of the Mountains. For arduous quest journeys much like Frodo and Sam's quest to be rid of the Ring, read his The Wood Beyond the World and The Well at the World's End. The four tales have been collected into two inexpensive volumes:

More to William Morris: Two Books that Inspired J. R. R. Tolkien-The House of the Wolfings and The Roots of the Mountains

On the Lines of Morris' Romances: Two Books That Inspired J. R. R. Tolkien-The Wood Beyond the World and the Well at the World's End

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I hope this helps you to select wisely based on your own interests. You can save some money by buying collections of The History of Middle-earth in multi-volume sets. You can also save by buying the Ballantine mass-market paperback instead of the Houghton Mifflin trade paperback edition, although the former may have smaller type and you may need to use both hands to keep it open while you read.

One of the Better HoME Books for Elvish Language Study

I agree with most of the reviews written below, but wanted to highlight the extreme utility of this book to the study of Tolkien's Elvish languages.This book contains "The Etymologies," which traces numerous words in these languages to their primordial roots.Written in the 1930s, some two decades before the completion of the Lord of the Rings, "The Etymologies" document the relationship between Quenya and Noldorin (among a number of other, less well attested Elvish languages), two languages which would (as later Quenya and Sindarin) reappear in a somewhat altered form in the Lord of the Rings.

So, in addition to being an integral part of the 12-volume HoME series, this book also stands out as a key reference for students of Tolkien's invented languages.

A unique contribution . . .
. . . to the continued "The History of Middle-Earth" series.

In "The Lost Road", Christopher Tolkien brings his father's mythology to the point where writing "The Lord of the Rings" became a priority.Later developments in "The Silmarillion" are published later in this series.

What makes "The Lost Road" unique is the connection between it and "Out of the Silent Planet" by CS Lewis.Tolkien and Lewis had agreed to write a pair of novels, with Tolkien exploring time travel, and Lewis exploring space travel.While Lewis completed "Out of the Silent Planet" (and two sequels), Tolkien never finished "The Lost Road".This volume gives us hints of what "might have been".

Again, thanks is due to Christopher for his labor of love, allowing the rest of us to delve more deeply into the lore of Middle-Earth.

Important Linguistic Text and Map, Numenor Story
`The Lost Road' is the fifth volume in Christopher Tolkien's editions of his father, J. R. R. Tolkien's unpublished works, dedicated mostly to the history of the three ages which preceded the events chronicled in `The Hobbit' and `The Lord of the Rings', which marked the end of the Third Age of Middle Earth. In some ways, `The Lost Road' represents a rise in the amount of `interesting' material, after the relatively dry material, especially the poetry in `The Lays of Beleriand' and `The Shaping of Middle Earth'.

This is especially true in that it wraps up the material on what I consider the most interesting events in the Middle Earth `prehistory', the story of Numenor and its fall, plus some excellent notes on the languages of Middle Earth.

We read here that the story of Numenor was, as it is probably obvious to most, a recreation of the Atlantis myth. It always struck me as odd that while Numenor was so obviously an echo of a Greek myth that the Numenorean names and language is so clearly patterned after Arabic. Note the prominence of the `Ar-` prefix, later changed to `Tar-`, so similar to the Arabic article, `Al-` seen in so many Spanish names such as the Alhambra and Alcatraz.

The story of Numenor began in an agreement with Tolkien's Oxford pal, C. S. Lewis for each to write a science fiction story. Lewis' result is his `Out of a Silent Planet' trilogy. Tolkien's effort became subsumed into his history of Middle Earth as the most important event in the First Age.

If you are an avid fan of Tolkien's linguistics, then this volume is a `must have', as it includes Tolkien's own dictionary of his various linguistic constructions. If your love of Tolkien lies more with the mythology, this book is slightly less interesting, as the central `The Lost Road' tale is actually a weak `time travel' story', since Lewis chose space travel as his theme, Tolkien was left with the other great Sci Fi theme.

Of course, if you must have every volume, you can feel satisfied that the next four volumes are probably the most interesting of all, as they represent early drafts of Tolkien's greatest work, `The Lord of the Rings'.

if you read the first four in the "history", then set your expectations higher than the last book
past reviewers keep saying these books are really hard.Now I graduated high school but have started college 3 different times and yet will have to start a 4th because certain parts of it are just too hard for me.I am actually kind of ashamed of myself because all of my friends are WAY ahead of me.


Sorry to get off topic up above there, and maybe it is my passion for these books after discovering the lord and the silmarillion, BUT THESE BOOKS ARE NOT DIFFICULT.You may have to be a big time geek like me to read every single word of this and to fully follow the evolution of these early writings.ANYBODY who was a fan of lotr, silmarillion and the first 4 of the "history", ABSOLUTELY NEEDS TO READ THIS BOOK.


The book is billed as having the lost road in it.While it does have it, it is certainly not one of tolkien's strongest works.Some info on sauron from a modern day point of view is nice to read.

The other low point of this book is the etymology stuff, but though I say a low point, there are no real low points in this book, just some parts that are lower than others.I have no desire to learn elvish languages, at least before I learn at least one other real one, but looking through the extremely short dictionarywas very interesting just for reading.


Honestly, this book did go a little bit over my head, but not too many people can actually write and speak elvish and other tolkien languages without first knowing finnish, old english, irish, etc., though the only part of the book that didn't make any sense to me, still ver neaty to look at.


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