Most Popular Books by J. R. R. Tolkien

For the first time ever, a beautiful slipcased edition of the enchanting prelude to The Lord of the Rings, illustrated throughout with over 50 sketches, drawings, paintings, and maps by J.R.R. Tolkien himself, with the complete text printed in two colors and with many bonus features unique to this edition. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely travelling further than the pantry of his hobbit-hole in Bag End. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandalf, and a company of thirteen dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an unexpected journey "there and back again." They have a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon... Written for J.R.R. Tolkien''s own children, The Hobbit was published on 21 September 1937. With a beautiful cover design, a handful of black & white drawings and two maps by the author himself, the book became an instant success and was reprinted shortly afterwards with five color plates. Tolkien''s own selection of finished paintings and drawings have become inseparable from his text, adorning editions of The Hobbit for more than 85 years. But the published art has afforded only a glimpse of Tolkien''s creative process, and many additional sketches, colored drawings, and maps--although exhibited and published elsewhere--have never appeared within the pages of The Hobbit. In this unique enhanced edition of Tolkien''s enchanting classic tale, the full panoply of his art is reproduced for the first time, presenting more than 50 illustrations to accompany Bilbo Baggins on his adventure "there and back again." Unique to this edition are two poster-size, fold-out maps revealing all the detail of Thror''s Map and Wilderland, an illustrated 88-page booklet, and a printed art card reproducing Tolkien''s original dustjacket painting. It is additionally quarterbound in green leather, with raised ribs on the spine, stamped in three foils on black cloth boards, and housed in a custom-built clothbound slipcase. The pages are edged in gold and include a ribbon marker.

J. R. R. Tolkien’s writings on the Second Age of Middle-earth, collected for the first time in one volume complete with new illustrations in watercolor and pencil by renowned artist Alan Lee. J.R.R. Tolkien famously described the Second Age of Middle-earth as a "dark age, and not very much of its history is (or need be) told." And for many years readers would need to be content with the tantalizing glimpses of it found within the pages of The Lord of the Rings and its appendices, including the forging of the Rings of Power, the building of the Barad-dûr and the rise of Sauron. It was not until Christopher Tolkien published The Silmarillion after his father’s death that a fuller story could be told. Although much of the book’s content concerned the First Age of Middle-earth, there were at its close two key works that revealed the tumultuous events concerning the rise and fall of the island of Númenor. Raised out of the Great Sea and gifted to the Men of Middle-earth as a reward for aiding the angelic Valar and the Elves in the defeat and capture of the Dark Lord Morgoth, the kingdom became a seat of influence and wealth; but as the Númenóreans’ power increased, the seed of their downfall would inevitably be sown, culminating in the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. Even greater insight into the Second Age would be revealed in subsequent publications, first in Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth, then expanded upon in Christopher Tolkien’s magisterial twelve-volume The History of Middle-earth, in which he presented and discussed a wealth of further tales written by his father, many in draft form. Now, adhering to the timeline of "The Tale of Years" in the appendices to The Lord of the Rings, editor Brian Sibley has assembled into one comprehensive volume a new chronicle of the Second Age of Middle-earth, told substantially in the words of Tolkien from the various published texts, with new illustrations in watercolor and pencil by the doyen of Tolkien art, Alan Lee.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Peter Jackson''s award-winning film trilogy, the first part of Tolkien''s epic masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings, is reissued with an exclusive cover image from the film, the definitive text, and a detailed map of Middle-earth. Sauron, the Dark Lord, has gathered to him all the Rings of Power - the means by which he intends to rule Middle-earth. All he lacks in his plans for dominion is the One Ring - the ring that rules them all - which has fallen into the hands of the hobbit, Bilbo Baggins. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Peter Jackson''s The Lord of the Rings, this second part of epic tale of fantasy is reissued with an exclusive cover image from the award-winning trilogy.

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For the first time, a definitive collection of J.R.R. Tolkien’s poetry brings together the verse of the beloved author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. While millions have enjoyed the songs and poems embedded in his classic tales, the full scope of his poetic skill was known only to scholars—until now. This comprehensive literary history charts his lifelong journey as a poet, from his earliest work to the verses he wrote in his final years. This landmark collection gathers the full breadth of his verse, revealing the evolution of a master storyteller and the creative fires that forged Middle-earth: A Lifetime of Verse: Follow Tolkien’s poetic journey, from a limerick written at age twelve and poignant First World War poetry to the profound verses composed alongside his beloved fiction. The Songs of Middle-earth: Discover early poems that became the foundation for The Silmarillion, including the first appearance of Eärendel, alongside celebrated verses from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Echoes of Ancient Lays: Delve into Tolkien’s skillful translations of epic works like Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and see how the Finnish Kalevala and Norse sagas influenced his own mythology. From Whimsical to Epic: Experience the full range of Tolkien’s talent, from the playful rhymes of Tom Bombadil and comic bestiary poems to the mythic grandeur of The Fall of Arthur and the heartbreaking tales of his legendarium.

A revised and expanded edition of Tolkien’s own Hobbit-inspired poetry, including previously unpublished poems and notes, and beautiful illustrations by Narnia artist Pauline Baynes. One of the most intriguing characters in The Lord of the Rings, the amusing and enigmatic Tom Bombadil also appears in verses said to have been written by Hobbits and preserved in the “Red Book” with stories of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins and their friends. The Adventures of Tom Bombadil collects these and other poems, mainly concerned with legends and jests of the Shire at the end of the Third Age. This edition includes earlier versions of some of Tolkien’s poems, a fragment of a prose story with Tom Bombadil, comprehensive notes by acclaimed Tolkien scholars Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond, and stunning illustrations by Narnia artist Pauline Baynes.

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A special collectible hardcover edition of the best-selling classic, featuring the complete story with a sumptuous cover design, foil stamping, stained edges, and ribbon bookmark. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely travelling further than the pantry of his hobbit-hole in Bag End. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandalf, and a company of thirteen dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an unexpected journey "there and back again." They have a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. . . The prelude to The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit has sold many millions of copies since its publication in 1937, establishing itself as one of the most beloved and influential books of the twentieth century. This elegant hardcover - now available for the first time in the United States - is one of five Collector''s Editions of Tolkien''s most beloved works, and an essential piece of any Tolkien reader''s library.

The complete collection of Tolkien’s essays, including two on Beowulf, which span three decades beginning six years before The Hobbit to five years after The Lord of the Rings.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of first publication, a new de luxe edition of The Silmarillion, featuring the revised, reset text, a colour frontispiece illustration, bound in special materials and presented in a matching slipcase. The Silmarillion is an account of the Elder Days, of the First Age of Tolkien''s world. It is the ancient drama to which the characters in The Lord of the Rings look back, and in whose events some of them such as Elrond and Galadriel took part. The tales of The Silmarillion are set in an age when Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, dwelt in Middle-Earth, and the High Elves made war upon him for the recovery of the Silmarils, the jewels containing the pure light of Valinor. Included in the book are several shorter works. The Ainulindale is a myth of the Creation and in the Valaquenta the nature and powers of each of the gods is described. The Akallabeth recounts the downfall of the great island kingdom of Númenor at the end of the Second Age and Of the Rings of Power tells of the great events at the end of the Third Age, as narrated in The Lord of the Rings. For the first time, we are publishing a deluxe edition of this pivotal work, featuring the revised, corrected text and including, by way of an introduction, a fascinating letter written by Tolkien in 1951 in which he gives a full explanation of how he conceived the early Ages of Middle-earth. Quarter-bound, and set in a matching slipcase, this attractive edition will prove a fine addition to any Tolkien collection.

he first volume in J.R.R. Tolkien''s epic adventure THE LORD OF THE RINGS One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind themIn ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.