Tolkien Calendar 2012 [Calendar]

J. R. R. Tolkien (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 16, 2011

The Official Tolkien Calendar has become an established publishing event, eagerly looked forward to by Tolkien fans the world over; there is much demand for the annual calendar, with Tolkien calendars from the past 30 years becoming collectors’ items. This year’s continues in that tradition and is the perfect Christmas gift for lovers of fine fantasy art.

The Tolkien Calendar 2012 features 13 paintings by the Dutch artist, Cor Blok. Cor Blok is the only artist ever to have met JRR Tolkien, and the only artist Tolkien admired enough to purchase some of his work. The paintings are inspired by Tolkien’s classic masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings and were completed during the early 1960s when the young artist was attempting to create a Bayeux tapestry approach to illustrating this monumental book. Many of this paintings included here have never been seen before.

This delightful collection of scenes takes the reader on a unique journey through the beauty and drama of Middle-earth. It represents a truly charming addition to the series of official calendars by a gifted artist, and promises to be a memorable calendar for fans.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973) was a major scholar of the English language, specializing in Old and Middle English. Twice Professor of Anglo-Saxon (Old English) at the University of Oxford, he also wrote a number of stories, including most famously The Hobbit (1937) and The Lord of the Rings (1954-1955), which are set in a pre-historic era in an invented version of the world which he called by the Middle English name of Middle-earth.

Product Details

• Calendar: 24 pages
• Publisher: It Books; Wal edition (August 16, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006208920X
• ISBN-13: 978-0062089205
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 12.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #128,379 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Calendars > Children's

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A shadow of a former self, August 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Tolkien (Calendar)

While this Tolkien Calendar is of high quality, it suffers from some design flaws enjoyed of Tolkien calendars of years past. The prints are too small and while a small inset at the bottom of each page is nice (especially since it often dipicts a different snapshot of the smae scene, enhancing the scene summary), it does not compare to the spiral bound calendars of the past with the large oversized drawings. The drawings suffer in quality, partly due to their size, partly due to their lack of creativity for the most part. But it is still a Tolkien calendar and should be enjoyed by most.

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Again?, October 24, 2011

By 

Lost Patrol (Mount Laurel, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tolkien Calendar 2012 (Calendar)

I've been buying Tolkien calendars since the 1970's and with the exception of the bros Hildebrandt '76,'77,'78 I have never seen an artist that warranted a repeat performance, let alone a back to back appearance. Cor Blok's 2011 calender was by far the worst effort to date. The artistry(?) was muddled, confused and at time indecipherable. As I write I'm looking at 2011 October with what appears to be two sock puppet's being groped by a duck. I can understand art that want's to challenge and inspire but I've already used my imagination reading, why do I have to now use it to figure out what I'm seeing? I purchased and stuck with the 2011 calendar to keep up my collection but also with the belief that 2012 would bring blessed relief in a new artist. Now I see that Blok will again afflict us with his "art" for another 12 months. Exactly what in the first offering so inspired Harper Paperbacks to bring this guy back for a second go. I can't believe that there was no one else available. If that was the case I would rather have no calendar than to have to sit through another 12 months of formless blobs.

29 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Ugh! What do people see in this artist?, October 24, 2011

By 

Guy C. Benson "Vanyar" (College Station, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tolkien Calendar 2012 (Calendar)

For the second year in a row, I will NOT be buying the Tolkien calendar - something I have been doing since the mid 70s.
Why? Two simple words - Cor Blok. I do not understand his appeal. Lord of the Rings deserves majestic images, not childish, whimsical cartoons. Give us John Howe, Ted Nasmith, Donato Giancola, Alan Lee, Michael Whelan. I will NEVER buy a Tolkien calendar by Cor Blok. Look at the 2011 and 2012 Song of Ice and Fire calendars, or almost ANY Tolkien calendar from years past. Now THAT is art worthy of Tolkien's prose.