The Magical Worlds of The Lord of the Rings
David Colbert
Berkely Books
Nonfiction, Media Reference
Themes: Encyclopedias, Fantasy Races
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Description
J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth, setting of the world-famous Lord of the Rings trilogy - as well as The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, and numerous other books written since the author's passing - is one of fantasy's most detailed worlds. Its stories, languages, and lore are possibly the greatest influence on fantasy writing in modern literature. But how did Tolkien do it? Where did he find his inspiration for the people, places, names and history of Middle Earth? Why are his elves so tall and serene, his dwarves so surly and metal-savvy, his wizards so inscrutable and ageless, and his hobbits so small and peaceable? David Colbert draws on Tolkien's life, letters, and various influences to answer many questions about the world the man created.
Review
Set up in a simple question-and-answer format, Colbert's book is a rather easy read. Obviously, much more could be (and has been) written on the subject, but the author does a pretty good job of distilling things down for the average reader. He includes a bibliography of books he consulted, and works Tolkien himself consulted. This is a good book for anyone who has read the stories and wants to know a little more about them, but who doesn't want to be smacked over the head with encyclopedias full of information.