An Encyclopedia Of Tolkien: The History And Mythology That Inspired Tolkien’s World is an expansive and detailed reference guide that not only covers in great detail the characters, events and locations of Middle Earth, but provides a nuanced academic deconstruction as it explores the sources that inspired Tolkien as he created his fantasy world that has grown to become a modern myth as important and celebrated as the works it borrows from, which includes the Volsunga, the Nibelungenlied and Wagner’s Ring Cycle with detailed breakdown by scene and act where applicable of these stories, which I have not seen in any other dictionary or illustrated guide to Middle Earth. The characters and so forth from these works are included within the dictionary like portion of the book, which covers everything from The Silmarillion to The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King.
Over two hundred illustrations accompany Scholar and Author David Day’s exploration of the lands, inhabitants, languages, geography and history of Middle Earth. I also love the charts that show the corresponding cultural counterparts from the Valar and Maiar to the gods of Greco-Roman and Norse mythology. There so many charts that I can’t list them all, but with scholarly precision, events like Celebrimbor And The Forging Of The Rings Of Power, Genealogies Of Men and Elves, the bloodlines of the Dwarves and Breeds of Hobbit, Sméagol ‘s History, the dark forces of Middle Earth and a Chronology of both the Undying and Mortal Lands of Middle Earth as well as details of the major battles complete with charts detailing the placement of characters and troops.
Whether you are looking for a reference guide or want something more expansive, An Encyclopedia Of Tolkien: The History And Mythology That Inspired Tolkien’s World is a must own companion for casual and academic enthusiasts of Tolkien’s Middle Earth and is available at retailers on and offline courtesy of Canterbury Classics.
(C) Copyright 2019 By Mark A. Rivera
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