Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth
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'very ambitious and impressive' - The Art Newspaper
A richly illustrated book tracing the creative process behind Tolkien's most famous works
Lavishly illustrated with over 300 images of Tolkien's manuscripts, drawings, maps and letters, the book traces the creative process behind his most famous literary works - The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion. Highlights include fan mail from Ransome, Lewis, Auden, Murdoch, Pratchett and the White House and a note from a Mr Gamgee; the painting that inspired the creation of Gandalf; the famous exercise booklet in which the Lost Tales began and snapshots of the author in his study, on the beach and snoozing in his garden. But it is the featured artwork and maps drawn and painted by Tolkien, that are the standouts.
Six introductory essays cover some of the main themes in Tolkien's life and work including the influence of northern languages and legends on the creation of his own legendarium; his concept of `Faerie' as a literary construct; the central importance of his invented languages in his fantasy writing; his visual imagination and its emergence in his artwork; and the encouragement he derived from the literary group known as the Inklings. This book brings together the largest collection of original Tolkien material ever assembled in a single volume. Drawing on the archives of the Tolkien collections at the Bodleian Libraries, Oxford, and Marquette University, Milwaukee, as well as private collections, this exquisitely produced catalogue draws together the worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien - scholarly, literary, creative and domestic - offering a rich and detailed understanding and appreciation of this extraordinary author.
Details
- Author: Catherine McIlwaine, Tolkien Archivist, The Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
- Hardcover: 416 pages | 300 colour illustrations
- Date published: June 2018
- Language: English
- ISBN: 978-1851244850
- Product Dimensions: 25.9 x 23.7 cm
Reviews
'Better than the show itself, with all the things she wanted to include in the show but couldn't' - Spectator
'I can honestly say it's not just a beautiful and important art book, but a critical biographical publication for study and research too...Don't wait to get one if you are on the fence' - @TolkienGuide
'This is a near-perfect collection and an utter delight for those who love Middle-earth' - Starburst Magazine
