The Origins of Tolkien's Middle-earth For Dummies [Paperback]

Greg Harvey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 10, 2003

J.R.R. Tolkien's novels of Middle-earth – The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and The Silmarillian – have become some of the most famous, and most beloved, literary works of the twentieth century. And the Lord of the Rings films by director Peter Jackson have re-ignited interest in Tolkien and his works, as well as introduced his stories to a new generation of fans.

Even if you've never read the novels and have only seen the films, you know that the world of Middle-earth is a complicated one. Tolkien took great care in representing this world, from creating new languages to including very particular cultural details that add to the richness of the world's fabric. Many other books have been written about Tolkien and his works, but none have come close to providing the kind of reference needed to comprehend the world of Middle-earth. That's what veteran Dummies author and unabashed Tolkien fan Greg Harvey attempts to do in The Origins of Tolkien's Middle-earth For Dummies.

As the author says in his introduction to the book, this is not an encyclopedia or quick guide to all the diverse beings, languages, and history that make up Tolkien's Middle-earth. Nor is it a set of plot outlines for the novels. Rather, what you'll find in The Origins of Tolkien's Middle-earth For Dummies is a basic guide to some of the possible linguistic and mythological origins of Middle-earth, plus a rudimentary analysis of its many themes and lessons for our world. This book can help enrich your reading (or re-reading) of Tolkien's novels, and it will challenge you to think about the themes inherent in Tolkien's Middle-earth and their implications in your own life.

Here's just a sampling of the topics you'll find covered in The Origins of Tolkien's Middle-earth For Dummies:

• Exploring the main themes in Tolkien's works, including immortality and death; the heroic quest; love; fate and free will; and faith and redemption
• Investigating the diverse lands of Middle-earth – including the Shire, Gondor, and Mordor – and their significance
• Examining the different cultures of Middle-earth, such as Hobbits, Elves, Men, and those wily Wizards
• Touring the history of Middle-earth
• Understanding Tolkien's creation of new languages to enrich the story of Middle-earth
• Top Ten lists on the battles in the War of the Ring, online resources, and the ways the films differ from the novels

So, whether you're reading Tolkien's novels or watching the films for the first time, or you've been a fan for many years and are looking for a new take on Tolkien's works, The Origins of Tolkien's Middle-earth For Dummies can help you enhance your reading or viewing experience for years to come.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a great book...helps readers make sense of the creatures, language, geography and richly-detailed history of Middle earth..." (Shields Gazette, Dec 03)

"...a mine of information?a must-have for anyone interested in exploring the epic tales of the four ages of Middle earth..." (Dundee Evening Telegraph and Post, Dec 03)

From the Back Cover

Demystifies key players, their relationships, and their motivations

Understand the mythology, characters, and themes of Middle-earth

Don’t know Gollum from Gandalf? This plain-English guide helps you make sense of the creatures, language, geography, and richly detailed history of the fascinating world of Middle-earth. From the Shire to Mount Doom, from the hobbits to the Ringwraiths, you’ll discover the varied sources and inspirations behind Tolkien’s stories and comprehend the meanings that lie beneath the surface.

Discover:

• The differences between the books and the movies
• The historical background of Middle-earth
• The origins of Tolkien’s mythology in European folklore
• Middle-earth’s diverse languages
• Why the Elves were Tolkien’s favorites

The Dummies Way

• Explanations in plain English
• "Get in, get out" information
• Icons and other navigational aids
• Tear-out cheat sheet
• Top ten lists
• A dash of humor and fun

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Wiley Publishing; 1 edition (October 10, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764541862
• ISBN-13: 978-0764541865
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #260,822 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #28 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > History & Criticism

More About the Author

Greg Harvey has authored tons of computer books, the most recent being Excel Timesaving Techniques For Dummies and Roxio Easy Media Creator For Dummies, and the most popular being Excel 2003 For Dummies and Excel 2003 All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies. He started out training business users on how to use IBM personal computers and their attendant computer software in the rough and tumble days of DOS, WordStar, and Lotus 1-2-3 in the mid-80s of the last century. After working for a number of independent training firms, he went on to teach semester-long courses in spreadsheet and database management software at Golden Gate University in San Francisco.
His love of teaching has translated into an equal love of writing. For Dummies books are, of course, his all-time favorites to write because they enable him to write to his favorite audience, the beginner. They also enable him to use humor (a key element to success in the training room) and, most delightful of all, to express an opinion or two about the subject matter at hand.
Greg received his doctorate degree in Humanities in Philosophy and Religion with a concentration in Asian Studies and Comparative Religion last May. Everyone is glad that Greg was finally able to get out of school before he retired.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic !!!, October 9, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Origins of Tolkien's Middle-earth For Dummies (Paperback)

Having read many books about Tolkien and the themes he so richly presents in "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings", I have been eagerly awaiting the release of this book for several months. I was not disappointed ! Greg Harvey has taken a very complex trilogy, and along with "The Hobbit", managed to put together an enjoyable and easily readable book which explores all the many facets of Tolkien's world and the characters in it. In the humorous and entertaining style of all the "Dummies" books, we are treated to detailed explanations of the places, beings, and beasts which inhabit the very imaginative mind of the greatest author of the 20th century. If this wasn't enough, Mr. Harvey goes into great detail about the underlying themes in the books, the motivations of the characters, and how the story is relative to our modern world. Touching on philosophy and religion, themes of friendship, good vs. evil, love and loyalty, human frailty, lust for greed and power --- it's all here, and in an intelligent, unbiased presentation. Not too hard to understand or follow, and not "dumbed down" for the lowest common denominator. A superb book that will entertain and provoke you to think. Not at all for dummies ! You'll be glad you bought a copy --- you won't be disappointed. Money well spent for the Tolkien fan !!!

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Bloodless, but knowledgeable, December 20, 2003

By 

David Bratman (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Origins of Tolkien's Middle-earth For Dummies (Paperback)

The well-established Dummies format, with its lists and charts and boxed tips, is fine for negotiating your way around a computer program, but to treat Tolkien this way makes his work as bloodless as a computer program. It also falsifies Tolkien's subcreation to treat it so dogmatically. This book, like Michael Perry's "Untangling Tolkien" and Michael Stanton's "Hobbits, Elves and Wizards" before it, is all "Lord of the Rings" and a little "Silmarillion"; it doesn't engage with "The History of Middle-earth" at all. The obligatory cartoons by Rich Tennant are amusing, though Patrick Wynne could have done much better, both in art and humor.

Fortunately Harvey has a better grip on the internal facts of Middle-earth than either Perry or Stanton, his speculations though somewhat wayward are less voluminous than Perry's, and he's also by far the best writer of the three. So this book will do the reader very little harm, especially as nobody to whom its facts would be plot spoilers could possibly get through its doggedness. Harvey does shine in his final chapter, where he lists ten differences between the book and the first two Jackson films, astutely noting how these affect characterization and plot emphasis.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A useful resource for beginners, December 31, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Origins of Tolkien's Middle-earth For Dummies (Paperback)

If you have read and thoroughly understood *The Lord of the Rings* and *The Silmarillion* and have already delved into the origins of Tolkien's world, then you probably won't find this book very helpful. However, if you are fairly new to Tolkien's world and are looking to get deeper into the mythology of Middle-earth, this is a great place to begin. Greg Harvey brings his own background as a scholar of language and myth to provide the reader with a solid (if somewhat sketchy) look at how Middle-earth came into being as well as a handy guide to places, characters, races, and events.

I did find a few errors along the way, and some of the author's interpretations may surprise you as they conflict with what other Tolkien scholars have written over the years. At any rate, contrary to what some might feel, there is a lot to know about Tolkien's creation that can't be gleaned from "just reading the books." A basic grasp of the story's real-world mythological and historical roots is endlessly valuable if you want to increase your enjoyment of the novels.

Buy this book if A) you loved the movies and are getting ready to read the novels, B) you've read the books and were confused by some of Tolkien's literary and mythological allusions, or C) you own a copy of *The Silmarillion* and couldn't get past the first twenty or so pages.