The Making of Middle-Earth: A New Look Inside the World of J. R. R. Tolkien

by Christopher A. Snyder

Overview

This study “adds an important voice to the growing body of Tolkien scholarship,” covering the author’s life, influences, and original mythology (The Boston Globe).

J. R. R. Tolkien’s epic fantasy adventure, The Lord of the Rings, is universally regarded as one of history’s best-loved literary works. Now medieval scholar and Tolkien expert Christopher Snyder presents the most in-depth exploration yet of Tolkien’s source materials for Middle-earth—from the languages, poetry, and mythology of medieval Europe and ancient Greece to the halls of Oxford and the battlefields of World War I. Fueled by the author’s passion for all things Tolkien, this richly illustrated book also reveals the surprisingly pervasive influence of Tolkien’s timeless fantasies on modern culture.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781402792229
Publisher:	Union Square & Co.
Publication date:	11/22/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	505
File size:	20 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Dr. Christopher A. Snyder is professor of European History and Dean of Shackouls Honors College at Mississippi State University in Starkville. He has written numerous books, including The World of King Arthur (Thames & Hudson). His works have been featured in the Book of the Month Club and the History Book Club, and have been translated into French, Italian, Japanese, and Chinese. Dr. Snyder has been a presenter on the History Channel, the BBC, the Learning Channel, and the National Geographic Channel. He also lectures at the Smithsonian Institution, and teaches Honors seminars on J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis at the University of Oxford.

Editorial Reviews

This informational book deals with Tolkien's scholarly and writing life, the mythical and medieval influences on his works, and his legacy. . .  . The book itself is a visual delight, from its medieval-door-photo endpapers to its textured sepia pages, several laced with lined designs on the wide margins.. . . Several framed sidebars provide fun facts. Most of the double-page layouts include an image (all of which are captioned and cited at the end of the book). . . . this volume gives readers plenty of interesting details and fills a nice niche by combining author, source, and literary discussions without being neither too scholarly or too commercial.” —Booklist
 
“As Christopher Snyder's 'The Making of Middle-earth: A New Look Inside the World of J.R.R. Tolkien' makes clear, Tolkien cleverly adapted ideas, characters, and themes from myriad source materials. . . . [I]n Snyder's readable study we see how Tolkien was changed by his literary forebears, which inspired him to create his own 'legendarium.' . . . [Snyder] adds an important voice to the growing body of Tolkien scholarship for laypeople and provides a lightning quick overview of Tolkien's life, academic trajectory, and literary interests in a highly readable style. Colorful sidebars and archival illustrations bring the history alive, and the look and feel are appropriately medieval. . . . Comprehensive footnotes, appendices, and other resources are there for more in-depth exploration.” —Boston Globe

From the Publisher