J.R.R. Tolkien's fiction, especially "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings", made him a world-renowned fantasy writer. These tales were based on Tolkien's personal mythology of a place he called Middle-Earth, but Middle-Earth was strongly influenced by the myths and legends of Dark Age Europe that Tolkien studied professionally as a professor at Oxford University. This title takes a popular - not academic - look at the mythic world and mythic themes that inspired Tolkien, not only the Germanic and Norse mythology that most experts discuss, but also Celtic and Finnish myths. It talks of the journeys and quests that inspired Tolkien, dragon myths, beliefs in supernatural, non-human races such as dwarves and elves, the role and function of the warrior, the nature of heroism and more.
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Leslie Ellen Jones is an especially well-qualified guide to Tolkien's mythological roots, holding a Ph.D. in Folklore and Mythology Studies from UCLA with a specialization in comparative and Celtic mythology. She has written extensively on modern uses of mythology in popular fiction, film, and television, teaches a course on Tolkien and his work for Barnes and Noble Online University, and is the author of a forthcoming biography of Tolkien (Greenwood Press, Summer 2002, title not finalized yet).
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Holiday winner,
By A Customer
This review is from: Myth & Middle-Earth: Exploring the Medieval Legends Behind J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings (Paperback)
"As a long-term fan of JRR Tolkien and all things Middle-earth, I was very happy to pick up this concise and readable book tracing the main mythic sources that inspired Tolkien. Most books focus on the Norse and Germanic myths to the exclusion of all else, and while Dr. Jones covers these areas, she also goes well beyond to look at the Celtic myths of Ireland and Wales to complete the picture. Put this on your holiday shopping list if you're a fan of The Lord of the Rings!"
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must read for fans,
By A Customer
This review is from: Myth & Middle-Earth: Exploring the Medieval Legends Behind J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings (Paperback)
I just finished reading this wonderful book about the Northern European myths that Tolkien borrowed and reshaped to make the lands, people, and languages of Middle-earth come alive. For the price and content, this is a great value. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Tolkien's fiction!"
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Mediocre mythic study of Tolkien,
By
This review is from: Myth & Middle-Earth: Exploring the Medieval Legends Behind J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings (Paperback)
Juggles large numbers of mythic references with some skill but not full confidence or accuracy, and doesn't really have a lot of insight. The book is also burdened with a Hildebrandt cover. I recommend David Colbert's "The Magical Worlds of The Lord of the Ring" for juvenile readers, or Anne C. Petty's "Tolkien in the Land of Heroes" for adults.
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