For all fans of Tolkien and Peter Jackson’s movies this accessible and fascinating new biography of the creator of the Lord of the Rings and Middle Earth is a must. Orphaned, poor, this brilliant and private scholar spent 50 years creating the imaginary world that became the backdrop for his fantasy novels, which are now a global phenomenon.
Long before the successful The Lord of the Rings films, J.R.R. Tolkien's creations, imagination, and characters had captured the attention of millions of readers. But who was the man who dreamt up the intricate languages and perfectly crafted world of Middle-earth? Tolkien had a difficult life, for many years: orphaned and poor, his guardian forbad him to communicate with the woman he had fallen in love with, and he went through the horrors of the First World War. An intensely private and brilliant scholar, he spent over fifty years working on the languages, history, peoples and geography of Middle-earth, with a consistent mythology and body of legends inspired by a formidable knowledge of early northern European history and culture. J.R.R. Tolkien became a legend by creating an imaginary world that has enthralled and delighted generations. This delightful and accessible biography brings him to life.
'A graceful, sympathetic, and appealing dual biography.' -- Booklist on Tolkien and C.S. Lewis: The Gift of Friendship
Author
About Colin Duriez
Colin Duriez has appeared as a commentator on extended DVDs of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings, and BBC television's The Worlds of Fantasy. He is also the author of The InklingsHandbook (with the late David Porter), J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis: The Story of Their Friendship, and Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings, and has contributed to definitive reference works, The Tolkien Encyclopedia and a number of other tomes relating to J.R.R. Tolkien.
