J.R.R. Tolkien

The definitive Tolkien companion-an indispensable guide to The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and more, from the author of The Road to Middle-earth. In a clear and accessible style, Shippey offers a new approach to Tolkien, to fantasy, and to the importance of language in literature. He breaks down The Lord of the Rings as a linguistic feast for the senses and as a response to the human instinct for myth. Elsewhere, he examines The Hobbit's counterintuitive relationship to the heroic world of Middle-earth; demonstrates the significance of The Silmarillion to Tolkien's canon; and takes an illuminating look at lesser-known works in connection with Tolkien's life. Furthermore, he ties all these strands together in a continuing tradition that traces its roots back through Grimms' Fairy Tales to Beowulf. J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century is 'a triumph' (Chicago Sun-Times) that not only gives readers a deeper understanding of Tolkien and his work, but also serves as an entertaining introduction to some of the most influential novels ever written.