Customer Reviews

Journeys of Frodo

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was very pleased to see this book still available.
My own copy was bought back in 1981 and I have cherished
it. Barbara Strachey obviously did an enormous amount of
careful research to produce this book and it shows. The
look and feel is also consistent with Tolkien's own maps
of Middle Earth. LOTR is a long and complex story and
these maps and chronology are a wonderful companion to
the text.

A meticulously researched collection of 50 maps following, not just Frodo's, but all the journeys accounted for in Lord of the Rings. The author even includes phases of the moon which, as any Hobbit knows, at times figure strongly in the story. Some may find it dry; however, the author doesn't pretend this book to be anything other than she claims it to be: maps. Clear, easy to follow, painstakingly detailed maps. Since I have trouble visualizing settings, this book has been a godsend! The first time I read 'Return of the King' I was lost -- so very, very lost. I couldn't figure out where anyone was! JOURNEYS OF FRODO brought all the battles to life for me.

JOF might not be for everyone, but if its description sounds as though it might be useful to you, it will be!

If anyone wants to see a real example of what is meant by a "labor of love," get this book. How this elderly Englishwoman with no cartographic training produced these excellent maps is truly a wonder. She pondered every phrase, every word that Tolkien wrote and came up with maps that fully account for all of LOTR, and she corrects some of Tolkien's inconsistencies (which were inevitable in so large a work as LOTR.) The accompanying commentary is valuable and interesting. I recommend this work with the utmost enthusiasm to all frieds of Middle Earth.

Let me first say this: I got this book from my father, about fifteen years ago. So it may have been edited and enhanced since then. But I must say that this book is a great companion while reading LOTR and travelling with The Fellowship. I really have used it a lot and enjoyed it. The author has digged deep into Tolkien's detailed descriptions and much of the geographical issues have been very much clearer to me since I consulted "The Journeys...". My edition is black and white, but that doesn't matter. What is important is the information, not the presentation. Some drawbacks though: In my edition there is no "overview" that makes it clear how the different maps fit together. This makes it a bit hard as the scale varies largely. There are no references, as is usual in ordinary road maps, how to go from one map to another, if you do not follow the story. And there is no searchable index for names of places and such. If this is added in later editions, the book deserves five stars, absolutely.

This is an atlas of 51 maps covering Frodo and friends' journey to Mordor and back and serves as an ideal geographical companion to The Lord Of The Rings. The maps are drawn in red and black at various scales, based on Tolkien's descriptions and measurements and on the original maps. On the facing page each map has extensive notes to explain special points and to provide references for the information that was used. The places where the travellers slept are also marked and the day of each day's journey provided, according to the Hobbit calendar. In addition, symbols showing the phases of the moon are provided. The frontispiece has a map of a part of north-west Middle Earth with a guide to the map symbols which are roads, path, causeway, routes off roads, routes on roads, routes on rivers, fortified hedges, hedges, marshes, beacons, woods, pine forests, buildings and contours. Isengard an the city of Minas Tirith with its seven walls are clearly drawn and the last map is of the Shire and the Grey Havens. Using this book while reading o re-reading The Lord Of The Rings will give the reader a more vivid idea of Middle Earth. I recommend this atlas to all Tolkien completists and to those who would like to know more of the epic journey while reading his masterpiece.

This is, without a doubt, the most accurate description of Frodo's travels in LOTR. A must have for all fans of the series

. . .and any Big People interested in the most famous trip by the most famous hobbit of them all, the renowned Frodo Baggins, Frodo of the Nine Fingers.

Although the author is not a professional cartographer, she has nicely detailed every aspect of Frodo's journey from Bag End to Morder and back home again. The maps are well drawn and clearly set forth and visually explain the journey. (I have it on good authority that large, framed prints of her maps can be seen in the study at Bag End.)

A wonderful resource for all hobbits. I highly recommend it.

LOTR is an epic story, but it can get rather confusing to say the least. Therefore, this is invaluable to help the reader understand just what is happening.
Unlike the Atlas of Middle Earth, this focuses only on LOTR and the travels of the companions. It does not go into detail about before or after the book.

Despite that though it is well worth the purchase. The maps are clear (if only two colours) and the notes are very handy. Overall, this is much better at charting the progress of the fellowship than the Atlas is, and therefore is a great resource to have.

A gotta have it if you are a Lord of the Rings fan. Detailed maps of all of the trails and roads used to get to Mordor. The maps are fantastic and the author has really done her research. I bought one of these for each of my gal pals who love LOTR. A sure to enjoy read.

Great companion to The Lord of The Rings. I find it handy to reference
when I want to get a geographical idea of the journeys.