Magical Worlds of Lord of the Rings

by David Colbert

Paperback, 2002

Status

Available

Call number

823.912

Series

The Magical World of

Genres

Fantasy

Publication

McArthur & Company (2002), Paperback

Description

Behind the unforgettable characters, worlds, and battles of The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit lie a vast range of world myths and historical events that originally inspired J. R. R. Tolkien. From the Finnish epic poem Kalevala and the medieval Beowulf to Arthurian mythology, Shakespeare, and even World War II, Tolkien's sources are unpacked and explained for the novice and connoisseur alike. Laid out in dictionary form, this indispensable guide provides insights not only into literature's most beloved fantasy, but also into the man who brought it to life.

User reviews

LibraryThing member bardsfingertips

I learned some very interesting tidbits from this very quick read. But my brain kept screaming "Why is he writing like this?!?!" I felt like it was a book aimed at older children. After endearing this for far too many pages, I looked at the About-The-Author and saw that he wrote for the Eyewitness

Books, a series of educational (but beautifully done) picture books for older children. It all made sense. So...if you have a couple or so hours to spare, read away. I actually learned some neat things about LOTR.

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LibraryThing member linsleo

A quick read and one in which I would consider as an introduction to the "myths, legends and facts behind . . ." Tolkien's LOTR. It definitely sparks further interest and is very informative. Additional sourcing information has been provided in the bibliography to allow for a more in-depth analysis.

LibraryThing member sarahlh

A very good book on the themes and ideas of the LOTR series; draws a lot from the Silmarillion as well as Tolkien's own life to explain the different things prevalent in the books. Seems to be skewed heavily towards movie fans but a good read for book fans too.

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