J.R.R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973) was an English philologist who specialized in an academic pursuit of Old English, Anglo-Saxon, Germanic, and Scandinavian criss-crossings in language — and who conquered the world of popular culture by his creation of the high-fantasy epics of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. He would be the first to agree that often the language created in his mind needed a people and their history to make the creation live, and he had the genius to become deeply interested in what happened to his language-speakers.
Tolkien was a veteran of trench warfare in WWI (reflected in his picture of Mordor). In less than six months he participated in many assaults and lost most of his close friends to the war. He was invalided out with trench fever, a wasting and potentially crippling consequence of the plague of lice in the works. He began a life in academia, eventually carving a distinguished career both for his teaching and his scholarship. His entire adult life, however, had an ever-present onging project with Middle-Earth and its peoples. He published The Hobbit in 1937 and finally finished tinkering with The Lord of the Rings after the war, publishing the three volumes in the early 1950s. The many volumes of his drafts and notes published posthumously by his son Christopher attest to his devotion to languages creating the world and fashioning its history.
It is easy to get lost with Tolkien, trying to track what he wrote when and how revising it affected his fantastic universe in a hundred different ways. It may be helpful when first reading him or even when going back to savor him once again to remember he wanted to find that pre-War England, to take journeys with friends, even if the journeys may be hazardous in a great and noble cause, and to return safely back to a comfortable shire.
The Complete Tolkien Companion
The Complete Tolkien Companion
For all those who journey to Middle Earth, here is the complete guide to its lands, legends, histories, languages, and people. The Complete Tolkien Companion explains, translates, and links every single reference—names, dates, places, facts, famous weapons, even food and drink—to be found in J. R. R. Tolkien's world, which includes not only The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings but also The Simarillion and many other posthumously published works. A detailed explanation of the various Elvish writing systems, together with maps, charts, and genealogical tables, bring the remarkable genius of Tolkien and the unforgettable world and wonder of Middle Earth to life with focus and accuracy. First published in 1976, this is an indispensable accompaniment for anyone who embarks on the reading journey of a lifetime.
“The Complete Tolkien Companion by J.E.A. Tyler offers a 712-page A-to-Z guide to Middle-earth minutiae. First published in 1976, it has, no doubt, been saddening countless parents ever since who wish their teenagers pored over their SAT study guides with the same demented fervor.” —USA Today
“If you're a fan of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, this is a great reference book, as it has entries that will probably jog the memories of even the most ardent adherent....This one has it all.” —The Kansas City Star
“A treasure of arcane information that will be helpful to the casual reader...as well as to the newly minted Niddle Earth fanatic who wants to learn everything as soon as possible.” —South Florida Sun-Sentinel
“The Complete Tolkien Companion is an excellent, proper accounting of the diversity of life in Middle-earth. I found the no-nonsense compilation (with minimal illustrations) refreshingly useful, as it concentrates on being more of a research book for invested Tolkien lovers rather than being a fancifully-illustrated coffee table version.” —Forbes.com
“Essential for a new generation of readers to fully enjoy Tolkien's version in a new century...an invaluable aid to a better understanding of Middle Earth and deserves a place on theshelf right next to The Hobbit.” —Baryon Magazine
“A resource that will bring further enjoyment to those already familiar with [The Lord of the Rings] and its associated works...A wonderful achievement for Tyler, and will make a welcom addition to the library of anyone who has come to consider Frodo and the lot as de facto members of the family.” —Scifidimensions.com
“A detailed and sweeping compendium, this book is a valuable reference to have handy when reading, re-reading, and re-re-reading Tolkien's work.” —SFRevu