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The Lord of the Rings Hardcover – January 1, 2002
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHarper Collins
- Publication dateJanuary 1, 2002
- Dimensions8.03 x 4.29 x 10.43 inches
- ISBN-100007136587
- ISBN-13978-0007136582
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Product details
- Publisher : Harper Collins; First Illustrated by Lee edition (January 1, 2002)
- Language : English
- ISBN-10 : 0007136587
- ISBN-13 : 978-0007136582
- Item Weight : 10.3 pounds
- Dimensions : 8.03 x 4.29 x 10.43 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #11,788,607 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #93,981 in Epic Fantasy (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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About the author

J.R.R. Tolkien was born on 3rd January 1892. After serving in the First World War, he became best known for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, selling 150 million copies in more than 40 languages worldwide. Awarded the CBE and an honorary Doctorate of Letters from Oxford University, he died in 1973 at the age of 81.
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Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2021
The thing that really makes this such an enduring series is the vast world Tolkien has woven. You know all those maps found at the end of each book? Those weren't just sketched idly. Rather, they're just a small part of Middle-Earth, a fictional world of massive scope. Tolkien even created individual languages for Orcs, Elves, Dwarves, Ents (the famous tree-beings) and humans of different races. He also has created history, mythology, and customs for these characters, and manages to weave them into the stories - the lengthy songs found in Fellowship of the Ring, while off-putting to some, actually add plenty of depth.
Secondly, the numerous themes Tolkien works into this book are enough for some writers' entire lives. I'm especially intrigued by the concept of duality here. Most characters have parallels here - the most obvious being the nine Fellowship members (the book's heroes) vs. the nine Nazgul (Sauron's servants). There are countless other examples, but I find that the most interesting of them is one found in an individual character: Gollum (yeah, the "My preeeecious..." guy). Thanks to years of owning the ring, he has been driven insane, and now exists in two minds: the benevolent (to a degree) Smeagol, and the murderous Gollum.
And then there are all the classic characters: Sam, Gandalf, the evil wizard Sauruman, Gollum, nature lord Tom Bombadil (who wasn't in the movie, unfortunately), kingly heir Aragorn, steward Denethor, princess Eowyn (the unofficial tenth Fellowship member), Borimir (the most intriguing character in the bunch), and so on. I actually like the versions of Borimir, King Theoden, and Denethor more here than in the books.
My only complaint, and it's a minor one, is that there's a bit of a lull in Return of the King, a couple transitional chapters that don't really offer much. But that's just one or two chapters out of around sixty, so there you go. A must-read for anyone.
Top reviews from other countries
Following up on events in "The Hobbit," "The Fellowship of the Ring" stars the quiet, good-natured hobbit Frodo Baggins, who has inherited a golden Ring that allows its user to become invisible. But his friend, Gandalf the wizard, informs Frodo that the Ring is really the Ring of Power, a tiny invulnerable token that the demonic Dark Lord Sauron has poured his essence and power into. And if Sauron can regain the Ring, he will be able to conquer Middle-Earth. Aghast, Frodo joins a fellowship of Elves, Dwarves, Hobbits, Men and a wizard, to go to the one place where the Ring can be destroyed: Mount Doom.
"The Two Towers" begins directly after "Fellowship," after Frodo Baggins flees with his friend Sam into Mordor, with no one to protect them. His cousins Merry and Pippin are kidnapped by orcs from the renegade wizard Saruman. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli begin a frenetic search for the hobbits, and receive unexpected help from unlikely allies. Meanwhile, the Ring weighs more heavily on Frodo, as he is forced to get help from one of the people he most despised: the Ring's slave Gollum.
"Return of the King" brings the trilogy to an action-packed, slam-bang and ultimately poignant finale. Sam barely rescues Frodo from Sauron's orcs, and the two resume their journey to Mount Doom, barely escaping Sauron's forces. As Aragorn leads the desperate battle against Sauron's armies at the city of Minas Tirith, Frodo falls increasingly under the seductive spell of the Ring.
"Lord of the Rings" is indeed a powerful book, speaking to virtually everyone who has read it. J.R.R. Tolkien drew from legends and myths, ranging from the ancient Norse mythology to more recent legends, mingled with his love of the British country folk and his Roman Catholic beliefs. Though there are no direct linkages or lessons in the trilogy, Tolkien probably drew on his experiences in World War I for the ravaged battlefields and breakneck action sequences. His beliefs are equally misty but present: they fueled the ethics of the good guys, the fall of formerly-good wizard Saruman, and the themes of temptation, redemption, evil and good that run through every character.
Frodo Baggins is an everyman hero, who dreams of adventure but begins to treasure the simple, boring life that he had once he is deprived of it. His deteriotation is saddening, all the more so because he is aware of it. Sam Gamgee is his loyal gardener, a shy young hobbit who grows in confidence and courage. Gandalf is the quintessential wizard -- crabby, kindly, powerful, with a hidden unique streak that elevates him over the usual. Merry and Pippin start out a bit flaky, but are matured by their harrowing experiences. Aragorn is noble, kind, kingly, and intelligent, but with darker streaks in his personality that make him ultimately human. Legolas the elf and Gimli the dwarf initially grate on each other, but overcome their prejudices to become close friends.
Tolkien's writing is evocative and descriptive, though not to extremes; Mordor, for example, is best described through the way that Sam and Frodo react to it. The dialogue can range from goofy and hilarious to solemn and archaic, or to some combination of the two. And the pacing is gradual but necessary -- readers with short attention spans won't be able to handle this story. If they can handle sprawling, epic tales, then probably they can.
It should be noted that the most convenient edition would be this seven-volume one. It contains everything that bigger editions do, but the smaller books can be tucked into a purse or a belt pack. It's also a bit easier on your wrists if you're holding it up in front of your face.
Even after all the years, J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" still rules the fantasy genre and has become an integral part of modern literature. It's an epic for all ages, and few books have even come close to equalling it.
This is a finely crafted set of hardbacks in a sturdy box. Good quality semi-gloss paper which shows off Alan Lee's illustrations perfectly. A wonderful collectors item. I bought second-hand from Money Station in very good condition. Excellent value and I recommend that seller.
As for the story - it wasn't No.1 in the BBC Big Read for nothing. Quite simply the best story ever told, that many have tried to emulate and all failed.












