A Tolkien Compass offers surprising insights into the mind of the creator of Lord of the Rings. Tolkien's political, religious, cosmological, and psychological principles are explored by ten writers with different backgrounds and divergent approaches. As leading Tolkien authority Tom Shippey observes in his foreword, A Tolkien Compass lives up to its name by providing vital guidance to both new and seasoned travelers in Middle-earth. Book jacket.

Ten writers with different viewpoints explore the political, religious, cosmological, and psychological principles of the creator of The Lord of the Rings.

"Finally, Lobdell looks at some of the ablest heirs of the master: contemporary fantasists Ursula Le Guin, Stephen King (in the Dark Tower series), and J. K. Rowling."--BOOK JACKET.

The revised edition of England and Always: Tolkien's World of the RingsEerdmans, 1981) adds a chapter on the metaphorical significance of Tolkien'santasy stories being set in "the North-west of the old World, east of theea." Lobdell's study--which rejects the common interpretation of the cycles a medieval quest narrative---follows the threa

The second book in this spellbinding duology concludes the tale of a twilight age for magic, as one ancient mage tries to hide the secrets that might destroy the world. In his quest to destroy all magic, the last great mage, Lord Eldrich, has sent Erasmus Flattery to find and eradicate Anna, the leader of the Tellerites, a group of fanatics desperate to preserve the magic—including the key to immortality—Eldrich wants to see lost. Torn by his resentment of Eldrich's manipulations and his strange loyalty to Anna, Erasmus willl undergo a magical and spiritual journey which will cause him to question all he believes to be true...and rock the very foundations of his world.

A comprehensive study guide offering in-depth explanation, essay, and test prep for JRR Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring, the first of one of the most well-known series in the world—Lord of the Rings Trilogy. As an epic novel of the mid twentieth century, Tolkien used elements of Nordic folk, Christianity, and realism to create the Middle-earth world. Moreover, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy was written in long-hand, revised, and then the whole work was rewritten backwards due to the first-time authors lack of funds and showing the author’s skill as a writer and scholar. This Bright Notes Study Guide explores the context and history of Tokien’s classic work, helping students to thoroughly explore the reasons it has stood the literary test of time. Each Bright Notes Study Guide contains: - Introductions to the Author and the Work - Character Summaries - Plot Guides - Section and Chapter Overviews - Test Essay and Study Q&As The Bright Notes Study Guide series offers an in-depth tour of more than 275 classic works of literature, exploring characters, critical commentary, historical background, plots, and themes. This set of study guides encourages readers to dig deeper in their understanding by including essay questions and answers as well as topics for further research.