"You have grown, Halfling," [Saruman] said. "Yes, you have grown very much."
Showing posts with label middle earth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label middle earth. Show all posts
Monday, August 19, 2024
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Birthday Books: The Hobbit Sketchbook
My 58th birthday is fast approaching, and I am expecting some new books to celebrate the fact. The first of the batch arrived today, "The Hobbit Sketchbook" by Alan Lee.
I have been aware of Alan Lee as an artist since at least his superior illustrations in "The Golden Book of the Mysterious", which I read in high school. But his work on "Faeries" (with Brian Froud) definitely cemented his name in my brain. It came as no surprise to me that he has become known as 'the' artist of Middle-Earth, especially after his pre-production work on the Peter Jackson films. This volume includes some work from his illustrated edition of "The Hobbit" along with concept art he did for "The Hobbit" films. It has been sold as a companion volume to his "The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook" (which I also have). There are 192 pages with both pencil and watercolor illustrations, and has Lee's own notes on his processes and memories of the films' production.
Saturday, March 20, 2021
Tolkien's Ordinary Virtues
Today I determined that after about a year of staying away from our local public library I'd drop in for a quick visit, mainly to browse their little used bookstore. I've found some good things for very reasonable prices at the place.
What I found there today was what I call a 'peripheral' Middle-earth book. It is not a work by Tolkien. It does not even examine Tolkien's work for its own sake, or the literary phenomenon that Tolkien is. Instead it studies the Middle-earth stories for their spiritual themes, as if a fine loaf of bread were being examined for its vitamin and mineral content.
While such an approach is possible (and I have several other books that show it has been done), I am not sure if it something Tolkien himself would have approved of. He once called such an approach like cutting up a ball in search of its bounce. I get the feeling that this book exists for the discussion of 'ordinary virtues', and Middle-earth is the sauce that helps them go down.
However, I will never not buy a Tolkien-related book that I do not have, especially if it only costs one dollar. I have long-ago sussed out the moral (even Christian) content, and do not mind having it gone over again. “Hobbits delighted in such things, if they were accurate; they liked to have books filled with things that they already knew, set out fair and square with no contradictions.” I even have hopes that it may reveal a fact or two that I never considered before, or show a connection that I never occurred to me.
Thursday, October 8, 2020
J. R. R. Tolkien: Out and About in Middle-Earth
A Tolkien Bestiary, by David Day. (1979)
“A Bestiary of the Beasts, Monsters, Races, Deities, and
Flora.” The first book on Tolkien by David Day, the artwork from which he
recycled again and again in his subsequent books. Basically, an illustrated
guide to the living beings of Middle-earth (no places, things, or historical
events). Each in a group of artists (whom it were tedious here to recount) was
given a subject (elves, dwarves, orcs) to illustrate. Not a bad effort, but I
grew tired over the years of seeing Day exploit it again and again.
Ranking: Keeper.
File Code: Reference. Fantasy. Hardback.
The Hobbit Companion, by David Day. Illustrations by Lidia
Postma. (1997)
Recycles some of Postma’s art from ‘The Tolkien Bestiary’,
but there is quite a bit more original work. Lots of Day’s throw-it-at-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks
approach to ‘research’ and source-seeking.
Ranking: Keeper.
File Code: A Bit of Fluff. Padded Hardback.
Tolkien’s Ring, by David Day. Illustrated by Alan Lee. (1994,
2012)
“A reissue of the literary detective work examining
Tolkien's sources and inspiration, beautifully illustrated by the lead
conceptual artist for the LOTR film trilogy, of whom Peter Jackson said
"His art captured what I hoped to capture with the films." J. R.
R. Tolkien had a great knowledge of, and love for, world mythology when he
wrote his beloved trilogy of Middle Earth. This authoritative[?] work shows how
The Lord of the Rings is the result of an ancient storytelling tradition that
dates back to the dawn of western cultures, and how, by drawing upon the
world's primary myths and legends, Tolkien created his own mythology for the
20th century. In particular, the symbol of the Ring has a rich and
fascinating heritage, and just as Gandalf sets out to discover the history of
the Hobbit's Ring, so the author searches out the history and descent
of Tolkien's Ring, and how the Ring quest tradition first came into being.” –
Amazon. Lee’s work lifts up this mediocre retailing of myths and legends (some
with only the most tenuous connection to Tolkien) to where at least its nose is
out of the swamp.
Ranking: Keeper.
File Code: Literary Criticism. Hardback.
The Unofficial Hobbit Handbook, by The Shire Collective
(Peter Archer, Scott Francis, Jeff Gerke) (2012)
In anticipation of the new ‘Hobbit’ movies, there was a slew
of such books put out. Dwells on Hobbit society, what a Hobbit should know when
going on an adventure, and the people and places in Middle-Earth he is likely
to meet. And as many of these kinds of books came out, I was able to buy them at
substantial discounts later. Even if unread.
Ranking: Keeper.
File Code: Reference. Fantasy. Softcover.
A Tolkien Compass, Edited by Jared Lobdell. (1975)
“A Tolkien Compass: Fascinating Studies and Interpretations
of J.R.R. Tolkien's Most Popular Epic Fantasies is a collection of essays
on J.R.R.
Tolkien's writings,
edited by Jared
Lobdell. Most
contributors were, like Lobdell, part of the University of Wisconsin Tolkien
Society. The first
edition was published in 1975, and a second and third edition followed in 1980 and 2002. The first edition also contained Tolkien's Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings (pp. 153-201), but this has
been omitted from later editions due to complaints from the Tolkien Estate, who are the legal owners of the
text.” – Tolkien Gateway. And this – ha ha! – is the edition I have, battered
and ragged as this second- (or even third-) hand volume is. The cover, a
drawing of Smaug, is obviously based on the Rankin/Bass design.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Literary Criticism. Softcover.
Tolkien and The Silmarillion, by Clyde S. Kilby. (Third
Printing, 1977)
There was a very short time between Tolkien’s death and the
publication of ‘The Silmarillion’, but speculation was feverish in the
meanwhile. This slim little book by Kilby [he “was an American author and English professor, best known for his scholarship on
the Inklings, especially J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis. A professor at Wheaton College (Illinois) for most of his life, Dr. Kilby founded the Marion
E. Wade Center there,
making it a center for the study of the Inklings, their friends (such as Dorothy Sayers), and their influences (such
as George
MacDonald).” –
Wikipedia.] was published in 1971 and revised and released again in that time
slot. Slightly chewed.
Ranking: Keeper.
File Code: Literary Speculation. Biography. Hardback.
Tolkien and the Silmarils, by Randel Helms. (1981)
“Imagination and Myth in ‘The Silmarillion’”. An early
analysis of ‘The Silmarillion’; Helms had written the earlier book, ‘Tolkien’s
World’. By the time I got a copy of this book I had been reading ‘The
Silmarillion’ and criticism about it for at least twenty years and found little
to interest me. But it was Tolkien, and it had nostalgic connections, so into the
hoard it went.
Ranking: Keeper.
File Code: Literary Criticism. Fantasy. Hardback.
Cliff Notes on Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘The
Hobbit’, by Gene B. Hardy Ph. D. (1977)
Okay, it probably only just qualifies as a book. More of a
fat pamphlet.
Ranking: Keeper.
File Code: Study Aid. Softcover.
The Magical Worlds of ‘The Lord of the Rings’, by David
Colbert. (2002)
This quickie publication, full of glib facts and
cut-and-paste copyright free art, was obviously produced to cash in on the
popularity of the movies. I see to my dismay, though, that it looks like
something has been eating on the cover page; silverfish perhaps.
Ranking: Keeper.
File Code: Guide. Reference. Softcover.
Exploring J. R. R. Tolkien’s ‘The Hobbit’, by Corey Olsen.
(2012)
Came out, I expect, in anticipation of the Jackson movies. “Exploring
J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” is a fun, thoughtful, and insightful
companion volume designed to bring a thorough and original new reading of this
great work to a general audience. Professor Corey Olsen takes readers on an
in-depth journey through The Hobbit chapter by chapter,
revealing the stories within the story: the dark desires of dwarves and the
sublime laughter of elves, the nature of evil and its hopelessness, the mystery
of divine providence and human choice, and, most of all, the transformation
within the life of Bilbo Baggins. Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The
Hobbit” is a book that will make The Hobbit come
alive for readers as never before.” – Amazon. And Doug thinks it’s good:
"An admirable and thought-provoking consideration of the underlying themes
of The Hobbit, following the there-and-back-again progress from its famous
first line on through to Bilbo's return home at the story's end." -
Douglas A. Anderson, author of The Annotated Hobbit.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Literary Criticism. Hardback.
The History of Middle-Earth Index, J. R. R. Tolkien. Edited
by Christopher Tolkien. (2002)
“Complete integrated indices of History of Middle-earth
volumes to complement new series. For the first time every index from each of
the twelve volumes of The History Of Middle-earth has been published together
in a single volume -- to create a supreme index charting the writing of
Tolkien's masterpieces The Lord of The Rings and The Silmarillion. This
stunning work of reference complements the fascinating History of Middle-earth
series, now repackaged to complement the distinctive and classic style of the
'black cover' A-format paperbacks of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The
Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales.” - Amazon. I won’t say boring, but
oh-so-specialized reference volume that would be nearly unreadable if you
weren’t lucky to have all the volumes of ‘The History of Middle-Earth’. Such as
I do.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Reference. Softcover.
The Hobbits: The Many Lives of Bilbo, Frodo, Sam, Merry and
Pippin, by Lynette Porter. (2012)
“For generations of entranced readers, and now a new
generation of filmgoers, Tolkien is synonymous with his most famous
creation—the hobbit. The beloved characters of Bilbo, Frodo, Sam, Merry, and
Pippin have been much-adapted for radio, television, film, and stage. Lynette
Porter follows the hobbits through these many other lives, from Tolkien's
on-page revisions and John Boorman's unmade screenplays, through to Peter
Jackson's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy and its musical
counterpart. She also reviews over 50 years of "Hobbit Art",
including the work of Alan Lee, John Howe, and Ted Nasmith. Journeying through
fanzines, videogames, fanfiction, and more, Porter demonstrates how the
hobbits, their characters, and their stories continue to introduce new
audiences to Tolkien's work, in new and adapted forms.” – Amazon.
Ranking: Keeper.
File Code: Pop Culture. Softcover.
A Tolkien Compass, Edited by Jared Lobdell. (2002)
A reprint of the original, without the contested ‘Guide to
the Names in The Lord of the Rings’, Tolkien’s own glossary to aid translators
of his work. With a new Foreword by Tom Shippey.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Essays. Literary Criticism. Softcover.
The Languages of Tolkien’s Middle-Earth, by Ruth Noel. (1974,
1980).
Bought this at Hastings, well before the saga of ‘The History
of Middle-Earth’ came out, and you could have a simple look through “A complete
guide to all fourteen of the languages Tolkien invented.” Includes the Elvish
and other runes.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Imaginary Languages. Fantasy. Reference.
Softcover.
The Mythology of Middle-Earth, by Ruth Noel. (1977)
“Memo to aspiring authors: The Golden Bough is
not all of mythology, and if you're going to do a mythological study, you'll
need to read more than that. As a folklorist and a student of medieval romances
(which is what The Lord of the Rings is, even though it was
written in the twentieth century), I found this book intriguing. In concept. In
practice, it is yet another book that tries to explain Tolkien without
understanding Tolkien.” – Review by ‘waltzmn’ on Library Thing. But for a young
Tolkien nut in high school it seemed the bee’s knees. [Lacks this jacket.]
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Mythology. Literary Criticism. Hardback.
One Ring to Bind Them All: Tolkien’s Mythology, by Anne C.
Petty. (1979)
“In One Ring to Bind Them All, Anne Petty shows
that when viewed through the combined methodologies of Joseph Campbell,
Vladimir Propp, and Claude Lévi-Strauss a folkloristic/mythic structure is seen
to underlie Tolkien’s epic work. The Lord of the Rings is
20th-century mythology manifested in the familiar pattern of the three-stage
hero quest made popular by Campbell—departure, initiation, and return—and in
the elemental motifs of folktales, as discovered by Propp and expanded upon by
Lévi-Strauss. This cross-disciplinary analysis shows that Tolkien presented to
modern readers and other writers a rich array of reinvented mythic archetypes
and icons: the desperate quest (good vs. evil); a magical object that embodies
or initiates the quest (the ring); the wise wizard who oversees or aids the
quest (Gandalf); the reluctant hero, an ordinary person with untapped abilities
(Frodo); the hero’s loyal friend and supporter (Sam); the warrior king whose
true identity is hidden (Strider/Aragorn); the goddess figure (Galadriel); and
so on. Petty asserts that through The Hobbit and The
Lord of the Rings Tolkien created a fully realized world that evokes a
sense of authentic history and is imbued with clarity and a beauty of
linguistic expression, a world that continues to draw new audiences to the myth
of Middle-earth.” – GoodReads. [Not my cover, but I can't for the life of me find even a blurry picture of the plainer green cover that I have.]
[Oh, yes I can! -4/26/25]
Ranking: Keeper.
File Code: Literary Criticism. Softcover.
The People’s Guide to J. R. R. Tolkien: Essays and
Reflections on Middle-earth from TheOneRing.Net. Erica Challis, Editor in
Chief. Foreword by Tom Shippey. (2003)
For years TheOneRing.Net was where I would go for breaking
Tolkien news; since the release of the last ‘Hobbit’ movie they have slowed
down. But I would always read with interest the posts by Quickbeam, Tehanu,
Anwyn and Turgon, four superfans, and here are gathered and printed some of
their best pieces on the world of Tolkien in all its forms.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Essays. Articles. Softcover.
The Tolkien Scrapbook, Edited by Alida
Becker. Illustrations by Michael Green, Color Illustrations by Tim Kirk. (1978)
I used to have a softcover copy of this, which I either sold
or gave away. There was a period when I was quite ruthless, even to my Tolkien
books. No dustjacket and the cloth cover is rather stained. Collects Tolkien
stuff from the Groovy Ages of the fandom, the best of which is Kirk’s artwork,
articles by W. H. Auden, Colin Wilson, and even Edmund Wilson’s famously
negative review. “Includes folklore, songs, poems, and recipes of Middle Earth,
a collection of articles about Tolkien and his works, a biography, reading
list, and directory of national and international Tolkien and fantasy societies
and publications.” – Amazon.
Ranking: Essential Keeper.
File Code: Scrapbook. Fantasy. Hardback.
The Tolkien Scrapbook, Edited by Alida Becker. Illustrations
by Michael Green, Color Illustrations by Tim Kirk. (1978)
Well, this is the softcover edition I said I had ruthlessly
sold or given away. Boy, was I wrong. When it comes to Tolkien, I have a
dragon-like retentiveness. This is why this Inventory is such a good thing; it
checks my memory against reality and airs out the old hoard.
Ranking: Keeper, apparently.
J. R. R. Tolkien: Maps and Atlases
The Atlas of Middle-Earth: Revised Edition, by Karen Wynn
Fonstad. (1991)
“An updated and authentic guide to the geography of J. R. R.
Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’, ‘The Hobbit’, and ‘The Silmarillion’.” –
from the cover. I used to have the old edition, in a cheap SFBC binding. Fairly
dull in some ways, and a little of a ‘recreation’ by the cartographer in some
parts.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Atlas. Fantasy. Hardback.
The Atlas of Middle-Earth, by Karen Wynn Fonstad. (1981)
An older, plainer edition I bought, God knows when or where.
Is this the one I thought I’d sold (see elsewhere)? Anyway, I’ve got it. I
guess I never really let anything Tolkien out of my hands.
Ranking: Keeper.
File Code: Atlas. Fantasy. Hardback.
Journeys of Frodo, by Barbara Strachey. (1981)
“Journeys of Frodo is an Atlas of 51 maps
charting the epic journey that Frodo, and his companions undertake in
J.R.R.Tolkien's epic work, The Lord of the Rings. Based on clear
and detailed descriptions given in the text and on the original maps that
appear The Lord of the Rings, as well as Tolkien's own paintings
and drawings of the landscape and features of Middle-earth, this book clearly
shows Frodo's route, together with the paths taken by other principal
characters. The maps provide enough detail to help the reader envisage the
country through which the narrative moves, and each one also has extensive
notes about the journey. Having loved the volumes of The Lord of the
Rings since they first appeared, Barbara Strachey wanted fuller and
more detailed maps to go with them. Though not a professional cartographer or
artist, she finally decided to create them herself. For nearly 20 years her
efforts have provided readers of The Lord of the Rings with a
new and more vivid idea of Middle-earth and her book remains an essential look
at Tolkien's great masterpiece.” – Amazon. Had this for quite a while, but also
haven’t looked into it for quite a bit.
Ranking: Keeper.
File Code: Atlas. Cartography. Fantasy. Softcover.
The Map of Tolkien’s Middle-Earth, Text by Brian Sibley,
Images by John Howe. (1994)
Technically a fold-out map, but as it contains a booklet by
Brian Sibley on the significance on maps in Tolkien’s work and an explication
of places mentioned on the map, I include it here. And I bought it at a
bookstore.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Map. Booklet.
The Maps of Tolkien’s Middle-Earth, by Brian Sibley and John
Howe. (2003)
“Best-selling Tolkien expert Brian Sibley presents a
slipcased collection of four full-color, large-format maps of Tolkien's
imaginary realm illustrated by John Howe, a conceptual designer for the
blockbuster films directed by Peter Jackson. The set includes a Hardback book
describing in detail the importance and evolution of geography within Tolkien's
epic fiction and four painted maps presented with minimal folds, including two
(Beleriand and Númenor) never before published in this country.” – Amazon.
Ranking: Essential Keeper.
File Code: Maps. Fantasy. Hardback.
J. R. R. Tolkien: The Franchise
Middle-Earth Envisioned: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
on Screen, On Stage, and Beyond, by Paul Simpson and Brian J. Robb (2013).
Well. I forgot even that such a book existed. It just goes to
show how useful such an Inventory can be. “Middle-earth Envisioned is
the first book to explore the artistic legacy left by Tolkien’s world.
Paintings, drawings, theatrical performances, radio serials, and films inspired
by The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are
all discussed in a manner that further illuminates the brilliance of Tolkien’s
creation. Readers will discover details surrounding an attempted Beatles
live-action version (with Paul McCartney as Frodo Baggins), a nearly four-hour
Canadian musical, the West End stage production of Lord of the Rings,
and of course, the Peter Jackson films—including the Hobbit trilogy—and
much more. In this beautifully illustrated gift book, discover the richness of
Middle-earth anew, through the works of the artists inspired by it.” – Amazon.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Art. Literary History. Hardback.
The Essential J. R. R. Tolkien Sourcebook: A Fan’s Guide to
Middle-Earth and Beyond, By George Beahm (2004)
“Provides information on books, audio and video adaptations,
collectibles, Websites, art, and other products related to the works of J.R.R.
Tolkien.” – Goodreads. A large section covering the artists who have
illustrated Tolkien. Browsing and dreaming material. A good reality check if I
start feeling boastful about my Tolkien collection. B&W illustrations.
Ranking: Oddly enough, not Essential. But a Keeper.
File Code: Book and Collectible Guide. Softcover.
Treasures from the Misty Mountains: A Collector’s Guide to
Tolkien, by James H. Gillam. (2001)
Came out right at the start of the boom in Middle-Earth
started by the Jackson movies, so a little outdated, but a beautiful full color
guide to book editions, toys, calendars, recordings, and other merchandise up
to that point. It’s like gazing upon Smaug’s trove, and enough to awaken the
greediest of my desires.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Book and Collectible Guide. Softcover.
The Lord of the Rings: The Films, The Books, The Radio
Series, by Jim Smith and J. Clive Matthews. (2004)
“A detailed look at the recent trilogy, it's various
predecessors, both failed and successful - animated film, radio plays, parodies
and imitations - and the multimillion dollar industry that has sprung up around
the books in the wake of the massive critical and commercial success of Peter
Jackson's trilogy. An essential reference for all fans of The Lord of the Rings
in all its permutations.” – Amazon.
Ranking: Keeper.
File Code: Reference. Popular Culture. Softcover.
J. R. R. Tolkien: Art and Illustration
J. R. R. Tolkien: Artist & Illustrator, by Wayne G.
Hammond and Christina Scull. (1995)
“J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973) renowned author of THE HOBBIT,
THE LORD OF THE RINGS and THE SILMARILLION, was an artist in pictures as well
as in words. Though he often remarked that he had no talent for drawing, his
art has charmed his readers and has been exhibited to large and appreciative
audiences the world over. In fact, his talent was far more than he admitted,
and his sense of design was natural and keen. J.R.R. TOLKIEN: ARTIST &
ILLUSTRATOR explores Tolkien's art at length, from his childhood paintings and
drawings to his final sketches. At its heart are his illustrations for his
books, especially his tales of Middle-earth. Also examined are the pictures
Tolkien made for his children, his expressive calligraphy, his love of
decoration, and his contributions to the typography and design of his books.
With 200 reproductions, many in full colour, this lavishly-produced book offers
a perfect opportunity for anyone wishing to discover a largely unexplored
aspect of J.R.R. Tolkien's character.” Amazon. I think I remember the first
time I saw a picture by Tolkien (if you exclude the jacket cover): I opened up
‘The Hobbit’ to the picture of the Elven-King’s Gate. I have seen that picture
at least once in my dreams. Drawn in under the mountain into an enchanted realm.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Art/Illustration. Biography. Hardback.
The Art of The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, Edited by Wayne G.
Hammond and Christina Scull. (2011)
“J.R.R. Tolkien’s complete artwork for The Hobbit,
presented for the first time in this edition. When J.R.R. Tolkien wrote The
Hobbit, he was already an accomplished amateur artist, and drew
illustrations for his book while it was still in manuscript. The Hobbit as
first printed had ten black-and-white pictures, two maps, and binding and dust
jacket designs by its author. Later, Tolkien also painted five scenes for color
plates, which comprise some of his best work. His illustrations for The
Hobbit add an extra dimension to that remarkable book and have long
influenced how readers imagine Bilbo Baggins and his world. Written and edited
by leading Tolkien experts Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull, The
Art of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien showcases the complete artwork
created by the author for his story—including related pictures, more than one
hundred sketches, drawings, paintings, maps, and plans. Some of these images
are published here for the first time, others for the first time in color,
allowing Tolkien’s Hobbit pictures to be seen completely and
more vividly than ever before.” – Amazon.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Art/Illustration. Literary
History. Hardback.
The Art of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ by J. R. R. Tolkien,
edited by Wayne G. Hammond & Christina Scull. (2015)
“As he wrote The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R.
Tolkien’s mental pictures often found expression in drawing, from rough
sketches made within the manuscript to more finished illustrations. Only a few
of these were meant for publication; most were aids to help Tolkien conceive
his complex story and keep it consistent. Many do not illustrate the final
text, but represent moments of creation, illuminating Tolkien’s process of
writing and design. In addition to pictorial sketches, numerous maps follow the
development of the Shire and the larger landscape of Middle-earth, while
inscriptions in runes and Elvish script, and "facsimile" leaves from
the burned and blood-stained Book of Mazarbul, support Tolkien’s pose as an
"editor" or "translator" of ancient records. The Art of
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien collects these drawings,
inscriptions, maps, and plans in one deluxe volume. More than 180 images are
included, all of them printed in color from high-quality scans and photographs,
more than half not previously published. Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull,
two of the world’s leading Tolkien scholars, have edited the book and provide
an expert introduction and comments.” – Amazon.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Art/Illustration. Literary History. Hardback.
Pictures, by J. R. R. Tolkien. (1979)
Tolkien was a gifted artist who provided a very clear version
of his image of Middle Earth. This volume gathers together all the picture
(paintings, drawings, designs) by Tolkien which were published in a series of
six Calendars from 1973 to 1979, with a gap in 1975. Here, you'll find
Tolkien’s vision of the Hill in Hobbiton-across-the-water; the Trolls; the
three trolls turned to stone; Rivendell looking west; Rivendell looking east;
Rivendell (as it appeared in several published versions of the books); the
mountain path; the Misty Mountain looking West from the Eyrie towards Goblin
Gate; Bilbo woke with the early sun in his eyes (with the Eagles); Beorn's
Hall; the Elvenking's gate (two versions); Bilbo comes to the huts of the
Raft-elves (two versions); Lake Town; the Front Gate; Conversation with Smaug;
Smaug flies round the mountain; the death of Smaug; the Hall at Bag End,
residence of B. Baggins Esquire; Old Man Willow; Doors of Durin and Moria Gate;
Leaves from the Book of Mazarbul; Moria Gate (the steps to the East Gate); the
Forest of Lothlorien in Spring; Helm's Deep and the Hornberg; Orthanc and Minas
Tirith; Shelob's Lair; Dunharrow; Orodruin and Barad-dur; Taniquetil; Lake
Mithrim; Nargothrond (I & II); Gondolin and the Vale of Tumladen;; Tol
Sirion; Mirkwood and Beleg finds Gwindor in Taur-nu-Fuin (entitled Fangorn
Forest);; Glaurung sets forth to seek Turin; Polar Bear had fallen from top to
botton onto his nose; Three Dragons; [Three] Trees; Flowering Trees with
Friezes; Patterns (I) [on newsprint]; Patterns (II); Floral Designs; Numenorean
Tiles and Textiles; Heraldic Devices [a collection of 16); Elvish Script (3
samples).” - Amazon. After that
exhaustive catalogue, what can I say? I find that it is within this thin but
nearly 14 by 13 inch square slip-cased book (with large reproductions for
minute examination) that I have also secured the Hildebrandt poster from ‘The
Tolkien Years’ and the poster of the Rankin/Bass Bilbo from ‘The Weekly
Reader.’ John had (has?) a copy of this book too.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Art. Fantasy. Hardback.
The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook, by Alan Lee. (2005)
“Alan Lee, the Oscar-winning conceptual designer for the Lord
of the Rings movie trilogy, discusses his approach to depicting Tolkien’s
imaginary world. The book presents more than 150 of Lee’s celebrated
illustrations to show how his imagery for both the illustrated Lord of the
Rings and the films progressed from concept to finished art. In addition, the
book contains 20 full-color plates and numerous examples of the conceptual art
produced for Peter Jackson’s film adaptation.” – Amazon. There is a companion
book, The Hobbit Sketchbook, that I don’t have.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Art. Fantasy. Hardback.
A Middle-Earth Album: Paintings by Joan Wyatt (Inspired by J.
R. R. Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings). (1979)
“Introduction and Commentaries by Jessica Yates, Secretary of
The Tolkien Society in Great Britain.” A classic interpretation of Middle-Earth
from when Tolkien iconography was still a little thin on the ground. Famous for
‘the Nazgul turning into chili’ picture of the destruction at Mount Doom.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Art. Album. Middle-Earth. Softcover.
Tolkien’s World: Paintings of Middle-earth, MJF Books. (1992)
“Middle-earth, the world created by J.R.R. Tolkien in
"The Hobbit", "The Lord of the Rings" and "The
Silmarillion", has been an inspiration for generations of artists. This
book includes paintings by artists from all over the world, both famous and
unknown, including Alan Lee, John Howe, Ted Nasmith, Inger Edelfeldt, Michael
Hague and Roger Garland. Each of the pictures is accompanied by a page of text
from the relevant passage in Tolkien's fiction.” – Amazon. After the Peter
Jackson movies, illustration for Tolkien’s work proliferated exponentially,
especially on the internet. But it was, unfortunately, now inevitably tinctured
by the films’ imagery. Here are images and interpretations that are more
personal visions. Gathers quite a bit from early Tolkien calendars.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Art. Fantasy. Hardback.
Realms of Tolkien: Images of Middle-Earth, Harper Prism
(1996)
“Following the success of Tolkien's World, this
new collection of shining illustrations inspired by the work of J.R.R. Tolkien is
as beautiful and unique as its predecessor. This breathtaking four-color volume
is designed in a deluxe, oversized format, and includes paintings from a
diverse group of international artists. Each picture is accompanied by text
from the relevant passage in Tolkien's fiction as well as a personal statement
by the artist about the inspiration and influence J.R.R. Tolkien has had on
their work. Includes works by an eclectic group of artists, both famous and
up-and-coming, including Alan Lee, Ted Nasmith, John Howe, and Inger Edelfelt.”
– Amazon.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Art. Fantasy. Hardback.
Wednesday, October 7, 2020
J. R. R. Tolkien: More Primary Sources
The Silmarillion: Second Edition, by J. R. R. Tolkien. Edited
by Christopher Tolkien. (2001)
Not sure which printing. “This second edition features a
number of minor textual corrections along with a letter written by J.R.R.
Tolkien describing his intentions for the work, written more than twenty-five
years before its eventual publication. As described by Christopher Tolkien in
the preface, it serves as a brilliant exposition of his conception of the
earlier Ages of Middle-earth.” – Houghton Mifflin House. Cover by Ted Nasmith.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Fantasy. Novel. Hardback.
The Silmarillion, by J. R. R. Tolkien. Edited by Christopher
Tolkien, Illustrated by Ted Nasmith. (1992)
Nasmith’s beautiful illustrations make this a collector’s
edition to behold. His pictures remind me of Pippin’s description of a vision
in a Palantir: “It seemed very far away and long ago, yet hard and clear.”
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Fantasy. Novel. Hardback.
Poems from ‘The Hobbit’, by J. R. R. Tolkien. Illustrations
by the Author. (1999)
“J.R.R. Tolkien's THE HOBBIT is an epic tale of magical
adventure that has captivated children and adults for more than sixty years.
Its success comes from its combination of flawless storytelling and enchanting
writing, including these twelve delightful poems. This miniature book,
illustrated with thirty of Tolkien's own paintings and drawings, contains all
the poems, plus Gollum's eight famous riddles, and will be a perfect keepsake
for lovers of THE HOBBIT and Tolkien's Middle-earth.” – Amazon. Easily the smallest
of my Tolkien books; perhaps the smallest in my whole library.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Poetry. Fantasy. Hardback.
The Lord of the Rings, by J. R. R. Tolkien. (2001)
“The Complete Best-Selling Classic, Now an Epic Motion
Picture Trilogy’. Came out as a tie-in before the first Jackson movie came out,
which is why I’m assigning it as ‘2001’. Cover has a picture of a Ringwraith on
a horse on top of a hill, backlit by the moon. In almost pristine shape, as I
did not use it as a reading copy.
Ranking: It ain’t going anywhere.
File Code: Novel. Fantasy. Softcover.
The Road Goes Ever On: A Song Cycle, Music by Donald Swann,
Poetry (and Notes) by J. R. R. Tolkien. (1978 Printing)
I read the book (and listened to the record) in the college
library. “The Road Goes Ever On is a song cycle that has been published as a
book of sheet music, and as an audio recording. The
music was written by Donald Swann, and the words are taken from poems
in J. R.
R. Tolkien's Middle-earth writings, especially The Lord of the Rings. The title of this opus is taken from "The Road Goes Ever On", the first song in the collection. The songs form a song cycle, designed to fit together when
played in sequence. With Tolkien's approval, Donald Swann wrote the music for
this song cycle, and much of the music resembles English traditional music or
folk music. The sole exception is the Quenya song
"Namárië",
which was based on a tune by Tolkien himself and which has some affinities
to Gregorian
chant. This book has
been valued even by those uninterested in the music, since it helps Tolkien's
readers to better understand the cultures of the various mythological
beings presented in Middle-earth, and helps linguists analyse Tolkien's poetry. For
example, it contains one of the longest samples of the language Quenya (in
the song "Namárië"), as well as the Sindarin prayer "A Elbereth
Gilthoniel" with grammatical explanations. Also, in addition to the sheet
music, the book includes an introduction that contains additional information
about Middle-earth. Prior to the publication of The Silmarillion, this introduction was the only
publicly available source for certain information about the First Age of Middle-earth.” Wikipedia.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Music. Fantasy. Softcover.
Bilbo’s Last Song, by J. R. R. Tolkien. Illustrated by
Pauline Baynes. (1992)
This edition has Baynes’ full artwork, with the changing
pictures of the reclining Bilbo that my other copy lacks (see Elsewhere in this
Inventory).
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Poetry. Illustrated. Softcover.
Smith of Wootton Major & Farmer Giles of Ham, by J. R. R.
Tolkien. Illustrations by Pauline Baynes. Cover by Daniel R. Horne.
1984 Doubleday Book Club Edition, Nelson Doubleday, Inc. /
Science Fiction Book Club. Other than that, nothing very remarkable about this
edition.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Fantasy. Novel. Hardback.
A Tolkien Miscellany, by J. R. R. Tolkien.
“A Tolkien Miscellany includes Smith
of Wootton Major, Farmer Giles of Ham, Tree
and Leaf, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, and Sir
Gawain and the Green Knight/Pearl/Sir Orfeo.” – Power of Babel. A
Science Fiction Book Club Printing from 2002, it has the Pauline Baynes
illustrations.
Ranking: Keeper.
File Code: Omnibus. Fantasy. Hardback.
Tales from the Perilous Realm, by J. R. R. Tolkien, with
Illustrations by Alan Lee. (2008)
“This is an anthology volume of five short books by J. R. R.
Tolkien. It includes Roverandom, Farmer Giles of Ham, The
Adventures of Tom Bombadil, Smith of Wootton Major, and Leaf
by Niggle; included as an appendix is the essay On
Fairy Stories. Now, I have all these books in individual volumes, and some
in collections like The Tolkien Reader and A
Tolkien Miscellany. So for me the real buying point of this book are the
illustrations by Alan Lee, the celebrated English artist who not only produced
art for the illustrated volumes of The Lord of the Rings and The
Hobbit but was one of the main visual conceptual artists for The
Lord of the Rings movies. The pictures break down like this: on the
cover, a color painting of Farmer Giles and the dragon Chrysophylax; for Roverandom,
10 drawings; for Farmer Giles of Ham, 4 drawings; for The
Adventures of Tom Bombadil, 30 drawings; for Smith of Wootton Major,
3 drawings; and for Leaf by Niggle, 2 drawings. So altogether, 50
pieces of original art, delicate pencil sketches, some of things not often
pictured in the Tolkien canon. I particularly enjoyed the ones in The
Adventure of Tom Bombadil (a poetry collection), where there was at
least one drawing per poem. Also included are an Introduction by famed Tolkien
scholar T. A. Shippey and an Afterword by Alan Lee. The book itself is uniform
with other Houghton-Mifflin-Harcourt volumes of Tolkien works and so fits
snugly with them on a shelf. So even if you have most of the books in the Tales
of the Perilous Realm in some form or another, but are
missing at least one (I think Roverandom might not be in some
people's collection) this volume might be well worth the $28 I paid for it at
our local Hastings. Especially if you are a Tolkien nut like myself.” - Power
of Babel, 2008.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Fantasy. Omnibus. Hardback.
The Father Christmas Letters, by J. R. R. Tolkien. Edited by
Baillie Tolkien.
It was first printed in 1976, but I can’t quite figure out
which printing this is (10th?) Lacks the examples of Tolkien’s
calligraphy for the letters that is reproduced in “Letters to Father
Christmas”. Father Christmas hijinks at the North Pole with elves, goblins,
snowmen, and the North Polar Bear, written to amuse his children on Christmas
morning.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Fantasy. Letters. Christmas. Softcover.
Letters from Father Christmas, by J. R. R. Tolkien. Edited by
Baillie Tolkien. (1995)
Book containing ten facsimile letters in envelopes that you
can take out and read. It’s almost more of an artifact than a book, but it has
‘fixed’ pages with text and illustration.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Christmas. Letters. Hardback.
Letters from Father Christmas, by J. R. R. Tolkien. Pictures
by the Author.
“Includes Unpublished Letters and Drawings.” This is a
revised edition, the original was “Edited by Baillie Tolkien” (the second wife
of Christopher Tolkien). The large reproductions of Tolkien’s pictures in these
yearly letters he wrote for his children (as if from Father Christmas) really
show the detail. “By Elf Messenger!” Besides being an interesting work of
whimsey, you can sometimes see Tolkien’s Middle-Earth legendarium peeking
around the corner, like Gollum in the 1932 picture of the Goblin caves.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Fantasy. Letters. Illustration. Hardback.
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