Books like J.R.R. Tolkien by Wayne G. Hammond

Bilbo Baggins, a humble hobbit, embarks on an unexpected adventure with a dwarf company to recover dragon‑guarded treasure, facing trolls, goblins, elves, a giant spider, and the fearsome dragon Smaug.

An epic account of Middle‑earth’s ancient past, detailing its creation, the famed Silmarils, and the rise of Morgoth and Sauron.

The Lord of the Rings follows a fellowship of diverse companions across Middle‑earth as they seek to destroy a powerful ring that threatens all life.

The Children of Húrin tells the tragic saga of Turin and Nienor, children of Húrin, set in Middle‑earth before The Lord of the Rings.

A previously unknown narrative poem by J.R.R. Tolkien that chronicles the final days of England’s legendary king, Arthur.

Tom Shippey offers a scholarly exploration of Tolkien’s world, dissecting The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion through linguistic, cultural, and mythic lenses.

A scholarly study of how Tolkien’s mythology evolved alongside his life and the cultural contexts of the 20th century, encompassing his entire legendarium beyond the well‑known works.

"J.R.R. Tolkien responded to critics who saw The Lord of the Rings as a reaction to the Second World War. Tolkien and the Great War tells for the first time the full story of how he embarked on the creation of Middle-earth in his youth as the world around him was plunged into catastrophe. This biography reveals the horror and heroism that he experienced as a signals officer in the Battle of the Somme and introduces the circle of friends who spurred his mythology into life. It shows how, after two of these brilliant young men were killed, Tolkien pursued the dream they all shared by launching his epic of good and evil." "This is the first substantially new biography of Tolkien since 1977, meticulously researched and distilled from his personal wartime papers and a multitude of other sources." "John Garth argues that the foundation of tragic experience in the First World War is the key to Middle-earth's enduring power. Tolkien used his mythic imagination not to escape from reality but to reflect and transform the cataclysm of his generation. While his contemporaries surrendered to disillusionment, he kept enchantment alive, reshaping an entire literary tradition into a form that resonates to this day."--BOOK JACKET.

"The Road to Middle-earth, Tom Shippey's classic work, now revised and expanded in paperback explores J.R.R. Tolkien's creativity and the sources of his inspiration. Shippey shows in detail how Tolkien's professional background led him to write The Hobbit and create a timeless charm for millions of readers. He argues convincingly that the source of Tolkien's inspiration lay not just in his love of fable but in his love of language. While examining the foundations and literary structures of Tolkien's most popular work, The Lord of the Rings, in rich detail, Shippey also discusses the contribution of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales to Tolkien's great myth cycle, showing how the more "difficult" books can be fully appreciated. He goes on to examine the remarkable twelve-volume History of Middle-earth, written by Tolkien's son and literary heir Christopher Tolkien, which traces the creative and technical processes by which Middle-earth evolved."--Jacket.

A biographical look at J.R.R. Tolkien, exploring how his Oxford scholarship, South African childhood, Birmingham upbringing, and World War I service shaped his legendary imagination.