J. R. R. Tolkien's THE LORD OF THE RINGS consistently tops polls as the best-loved literary work of all time. Now medieval scholar and Tolkien expert Christopher Snyder presents the most in-depth exploration yet of Tolkien's source materials for Middle-earth-from the languages, poetry, and mythology of medieval Europe and ancient Greece to the halls of Oxford and the battlefields of World War I. Fueled by the author's passion for all things Tolkien, this richly illustrated book also reveals the surprisingly pervasive influence of Tolkien's timeless fantasies on modern culture.
J. R. R. Tolkien's THE LORD OF THE RINGS consistently tops polls as the best-loved literary work of all time. Now medieval scholar and Tolkien expert Christopher Snyder presents the most in-depth exploration yet of Tolkien's source materials for Middle-earth-from the languages, poetry, and mythology of medieval Europe and ancient Greece to the halls of Oxford and the battlefields of World War I. Fueled by the author's passion for all things Tolkien, this richly illustrated book also reveals the surprisingly pervasive influence of Tolkien's timeless fantasies on modern culture.
Tolkien expert Christopher Snyder presents the most in-depth exploration yet of Tolkien's source materials for Middle-earth-from the languages, poetry, and mythology of medieval Europe and ancient Greece to the halls of Oxford and the battlefields of World War I. This richly illustrated book also reveals the pervasive influence of Tolkien's timeless fantasies on modern culture.
“"This informational book deals with Tolkien's scholarly and writing life, the mythical and medieval influences on his works, and his legacy. . .”
. The book itself is a visual delight, from its medieval-door-photo endpapers to its textured sepia pages, several laced with lined designs on the wide margins.. . . Several framed sidebars provide fun facts. Most of the double-page layouts include an image (all of which are captioned and cited at the end of the book). . . . this volume gives readers plenty of interesting details and fills a nice niche by combining author, source, and literary discussions without being neither too scholarly or too commercial." --Booklist "As Christopher Snyder's 'The Making of Middle-earth: A New Look Inside the World of J.R.R. Tolkien' makes clear, Tolkien cleverly adapted ideas, characters, and themes from myriad source materials. . . . [I]n Snyder's readable study we see how Tolkien was changed by his literary forebears, which inspired him to create his own 'legendarium.' . . . [Snyder] adds an important voice to the growing body of Tolkien scholarship for laypeople and provides a lightning quick overview of Tolkien's life, academic trajectory, and literary interests in a highly readable style. Colorful sidebars and archival illustrations bring the history alive, and the look and feel are appropriately medieval. . . . Comprehensive footnotes, appendices, and other resources are there for more in-depth exploration." --Boston Globe
Christopher Snyder is Chair of the Department of History and Politics at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. His books include An Age of Tyrants and The World of King Arthur.
Tolkien expert Christopher Snyder presents the most in-depth exploration yet of Tolkien's source materials for Middle-earth--from the languages, poetry, and mythology of medieval Europe and ancient Greece to the halls of Oxford and the battlefields of World War I. This richly illustrated book also reveals the pervasive influence of Tolkien's timeless fantasies on modern culture.
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