There are very few better qualified to write an introductory book on J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings than Michael Stanton, a scholar who has studied and taught the trilogy for twenty-five years. He's obviously a great fan of the book (that is, he does not seem to be simply trying to cash in on the recent popularity that the movies have caused) and writes in a simple, chatty style that is easy for most non-academics to understand. For those who are more experienced in reading essays and critiques, Hobbits, Elves and Wizards may come across as either too simplistic or repetitive, and I admit that there was very little here that I hadn't already come across in more comprehensive essays on this subject.

But Stanton is well aware of this, and has no ... Read More:
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It is not at all clear to me who the target audience for this book is. It really is an extended digest of sorts, recounting the basic plot-lines of the four book (Hobbit, LOTR 1,2 3) with some discussions along the way of themes that crop up or are particularly noteworthy. It feels too in depth for an introduction for those who are considering reading the series, but not in depth enough for those who have read it already.

One particular disappointment with the book is that it states throughout how key the design and use of language is throughout Tolkien's texts, but when the section on language arrives in this book, the author does not explore it in detail. Instead, he indicates that other authors have explored Tolkien and language very thoroughly, and defers to them.

I initially had a hard time getting into the LOTR trilogy until I read this book. It broke down so much of the book and made it more accessible to me. I definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to better understand the saga. (Read it in conjunction with the trilogy).

I liked myself because of the plot and the adventures that happens throughout the book.

Zanimljiv pogled na Tolkinov svet.
Vodite raspravu sa M. N. Stantonom dok citate njegovu knjigu, jer ne verujem da cete se sloziti sa svim idejama koje on ima da iznese ovde. Upravo u tome lezi i kvalitet ove knjige. Debata je uvek dobrodosla :)

It's a very good book because of the adventures and the effects

Great overview for the casual reader of the Lord of the Rings. Helps connect some dots in an easy-to-understand manner.

A nice overview for someone just getting into Tolkien's world. If you've read more than the stories themselves it'll be rehashing information you already know but there are some gems of information present for those who have delved in before as well.

Nemůžu knize nedat jinak, než 5 hvězdiček i přesto, že to není kniha, jako kniha. Není to kniha, která by byla sama příběhem, ale kniha, která o příběhu pojednává. Kniha, kde je rozebíráno díla Pána prstenů a to tak, že jsem si až do poslední stránky uvědomovala své nedostatky v tomto díle. Pána prstenů mám opravdu moc ráda, ale zdaleka o něm toho ještě nevím tolik, jako jsem si myslela...
Hobiti, elfové a čarodějové my tak poskytli jednu z mála možností, nahlédnout za oponu tohoto epického díla a porozumět tomu, čemu jsem doposud nerozuměla nebo co jsou nevěděla...

An enjoyable book to read right after rereading LOTR to dig into the story a little more.

If you're interested in The Lord of the Rings, but don't have the time or energy to read the books themselves, this book is a good solution. Stanton effectively overviews the plot and characters of the book while at the same time analyzing the structure, underlying philosophies of the book, as well as the history of the author and his writing process. It really helped me to recognize and clarify some of the themes I'd found in the books myself, and also helped me to identify new ones, which was pleasantly surprising. A great read!

Short, readable guide to Tolkien's world, interestingly published to match the release of the first of the Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings movie series, but with a prominent back-cover disclaimer that the book has nothing to do with the movie.

Stanton focuses on the books' plot summaries, geographies, characters, and major themes. And in fact it does serve as a good companion to the movies, showing by its focus on the books how closely the movies track to the books.

I purchased this book in December 2003 at Union Station, where I went to buy a Christmas present for Vickie, to pass the time on the Metro on way back to my hotel.