The Complete Guide to Middle-earth: Tolkien's World from A to Z [Hardcover]

Robert Foster (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 2003

For the millions who have already ventured to Middle-earth, and for the countless others who have yet to embark on the journey–here is the one indispensable A-to-Z guide that brings Tolkien’s universe to life.

EVERY CHARACTER
From Adaldrida Brandybuck to Zaragamba–every Hobbit, Elf, Dwarf, Man, Orc, or other resident of Middle-earth is vividly described and accurately located in proper place and time.

EVERY PLACE
Colorfully detailed descriptions of geographical entries allow you to pick up the action anywhere in Middle-earth and follow it through all five volumes.

EVERY THING
From stars and streams to food and flora, everything found in Middle-earth is alphabetically listed and, when necessary, cross-referenced.

HERE IS TRULY A MASTER KEY
TO TOLKIEN’S MIDDLE-EARTH



From the Trade Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

For the millions who have already ventured to Middle-earth, and for the countless others who have yet to embark on the journey?here is the one indispensable A-to-Z guide that brings Tolkien?s universe to life.

EVERY CHARACTER
From Adaldrida Brandybuck to Zaragamba?every Hobbit, Elf, Dwarf, Man, Orc, or other resident of Middle-earth is vividly described and accurately located in proper place and time.

EVERY PLACE
Colorfully detailed descriptions of geographical entries allow you to pick up the action anywhere in Middle-earth and follow it through all five volumes.

EVERY THING
From stars and streams to food and flora, everything found in Middle-earth is alphabetically listed and, when necessary, cross-referenced.

HERE IS TRULY A MASTER KEY
TO TOLKIEN?S MIDDLE-EARTH



From the Trade Paperback edition.

About the Author

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born on January 3, 1892, in Bloemfontein, South Africa. After serving in the First World War, he embarked upon a distinguished academic career and was recognized as one of the finest philologists in the world. He was a professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford, a fellow of Pembroke College, and a fellow of Merton College until his retirement in 1959. He is, however, beloved throughout the world as the creator of Middle-earth and author of such classic works as The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. He died on September 2, 1973, at the age of 81.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 592 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey; 1 Sub edition (September 30, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345465296
• ISBN-13: 978-0345465290
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #930,526 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book for Tolkien fans, September 1, 2005

By 

Brian Crawmer "Darth Aragorn" (N.A.S. Lemoore CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Guide to Middle-earth: Tolkien's World from A to Z (Hardcover)

I have a book stand with all LOTR books... Out of all of them.. This ranks the best as a guide.. (Nothing beats the real books).. It has EVERYTHING of ANYTHING in ALL of Middle-Earth! Like if you were ever wondering.. Who brought the shards of Narsil back to Arnor.. But couldn't figure it out.. It's in the book! Ohtar: Dunadan of Arnor, the esquire of Isildur. He was one of the three survivors of the battle of Gladden Fields, and brought the shards of Narsil to Arnor.

So if your itching for info.. And need the right book.. I say.. Buying this book! It's worth every penny.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Geographic, character, and metaphysical names explained!, December 28, 2003

By 

Tami "ghart27" (Winnipeg Manitoba CANADA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Guide to Middle-earth: Tolkien's World from A to Z (Hardcover)

As the editorial review says, this is essentially a dictionary for The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and the Silmarillion. It does also include data from some of Tolkien's other writings. A very useful appendix explains dates given during the First Age, based upon the inclusion of events predating the Years of the Sun, such as the Spring of Arda. This book will be a valued reference for those fascinated by the events of Middle-Earth and the Changes of the World. It may leave you desiring even more information, but that is what you will find in the appendices to The Lord of the Rings, as well as in such reference material as Karen Wynn Fonstad's revised Atlas of Middle-Earth. You will surely enjoy the answers provided and the new searches begun by reading this guidebook.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful tool for the Tolkien Fan, October 24, 2008

By 

Benedictus "author of :The Portable Catholic" (London, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Guide to Middle-earth: Tolkien's World from A to Z (Hardcover)

As a Tolkien-Fan, I found this book very useful.

It gives you that kind of systematic knowledge of Tolkien's world, which is helpful if you forget something, or want to rapidly link characters to places and events.

As every A to Z, it must be understood in the frame of its somewhat limited scope.