An interesting academic look at Lord of the Rings and by a small extension the Hobbit. I would like to see an updated version of this with the other two films discussed.

Very good material for understanding and enjoying the Middle-Earth world of J.R.R. Tolkien.

I did not have to read this literary disassembling of Tolkien's famous books for coursework. I was inspired to reread The Hobbit, and then the Lord of the Rings books, after seeing the Desolation of Smaug film (hmmm....I don't remember some of these plotlines...). Never having read the Appendices in the back of The Return of the King, I continued on; at this rate I will actually attempt to read The Silmarillion, though, at a certain point, I really need some recreation in my reading.
I don't need the Cliff Notes qualities of this book but can truly appreciate the added perspective. I understood the mythological connections between Tolkien's work and the ancient stories of the Northern European peoples but virtually complete consistency and the depth of the world-building in Tolkien is amazing. The attention to the details of language and effects of cultural heritage on character development may not be things we notice as we enjoy the story of Middle-Earth but the books are the result of putting together a puzzle of 100,000 pieces, interlocking very precisely. You may need a book like Hobbits, Elves and Wizards to gain this appreciation.
On the one hand, I do not recommend this book for the casual reader. If you are blessed with time, retain a sense of literary curiosity from college English, and read Great Literature for fun, you will soak this book up quickly, enjoying the additional background to the story. On the other hand, if you were looking for details for your Warhammer figures you won't get past the introduction (if, indeed, you are prone to read that section at all). Yes, this short book will help you if you are tasked with writing a term paper on The Lord of the Rings but it isn't a substitute for diving in and enjoying that epic tale.

Nothing new or surprising here, but a reminder of why I love LotR.

A fantastic and informative read that I would highly recommend to any amateur Tolkien scholar such as myself. It delves into the language, the history, the development and the dubious theological tie ins that LOTR fans always talks about. My only regret is that my copy of fellowship isn't close at hand so I can't immediately dive in again with fresh insight.

I love how this book helps us see how Tolkien thought up and wrote Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit!

Místy trochu zdlouhavá, ale povětšinou fascinující kniha, která laika skvěle seznámí s pozadím Tolkienových příběhů. Je nesmírně zajímavé, jakou úlohu v nich hraje jazyk a vztah k přírodě, jako znak dobra nebo zla. Je-li někdo na straně světla, jeho jazyk je krásný a váží si přírody, temná strana má jazyk ostrý a ošklivý a přírodu ničí. Původ Gandalfa je poněkud neuvěřitelný, ale neméně úchvatný. Pokud jste dosud věřili na magii ve Středozemi, po přečtení knihy přestanete, protože onou magií není nic víc než síla slov a jejich rezonance v přírodě, která vyvolává kýženou reakci. Hodně mě to bavilo.

an inside look at middle-earth. all the way from the writing desk to the books.

A very thoughtful and helpful book that disects Lotr in a concise manner - perfect for anyone wanting to get an overview of the different plot elements, characters, and aspects of the novel. The book is also written well and gives great explanations, which generally make it a good read. A short guide through Middle-Earth and therefore a great book for any Tolkien fan or those wanting to explore his world a bit more.

I have reached the unfortunate place in my career where it is incredibly hard to find Tolkien books that A: I haven't read, and B: are remotely interesting and give information that I didn't already know.

After finishing Lord of The Rings merely five months ago, I was still enthralled by the wondrous world spanned by Tolkien's imagination. This book comes at the right time to review the characters and various plotlines, whetting the appetite for another re-read in the near future.

The author wrote in a clean, crisp style with a lot of insights to share. I did not know Gandalf is a Maia instead of human; his power and wisdom now becomes clear given his all encompassing role as the guardian and councillor for the Good.

I finished this book in one long gulp. I am confident that it would provide both insights and delights to LOTR fans.

This was a good book to read prior to reading the Lord of the Rings again. Mr. Stanton provided several short summaries of various topics (language, races, themes) that encourage me to read LOTR again paying careful attention to parts that I missed previously.