In November 2010 there will be released a fiftieth anniversary reissue of Christopher Tolkien masterly translation of the Icelandic Heidrek Saga, including the dramatic Battle of the Goths and the Huns, the lyrical Waking of Angantyr, and the unique riddle-contest between King Heidrek and the god Odin. Christopher Tolkien originally published Saga of King Heidrek the Wise: Translated from the Icelandic with Introduction, Notes and Appendices… Read article
Some prefer to read Tolkiens books in the order they were published and others want to read the books in chronological order. This is a very difficult quest and I believe it is very hard to enjoy it since you'll have to jump from the one book to the other constantly. Here I will tell you my personal preferred reading order, which is not based on any logic; except maybe from my own taste. Read article
The usual sample book prints the half-title, title pages, copyright page and the first 32 pages of the text followed by a couple of hundred blank pages to fill out the book. This copy is different since it is completely filled with blank pages! Read article
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, by J.R.R. Tolkien. Published by Unwin Hyman in 1987, this Limited Numbered Signed Edition was published to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the original publication of The Hobbit. Bound in dark green leather, and housed in the original publishers slipcase, as issued. This copy is numbered 51 of 500, and is signed on the Limitation Notice by the Editor, Christopher Tolkien. Only the 1st 100 copies are… Read article
It is no surprise that there are many people who want to find out more about the man behind The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion. In the decades since his death in September 1973, millions have read his books and many have become fascinated about the very private man, the creator, behind these books. Here we have a look at some Tolkien biographies, some good, some better,... Read article
Today a newly released book called Wish caught my attention. It is written by the great grandson of J.R.R. Tolkien and is a children story written in verse, based on the timeless childrens story called The Rose-coloured Wish by Florence Bone. The cover is inspired on Tolkiens illustration of the fair valley Rivendell. Read article
This collection of stories drawn and blended from the fabric of Middle-earth by JRR Tolkien, written by Alex Lewis, was first issued in a series of 3 comprehensive booklets for members of the Tolkien Society in 1990. In 2005 they were expanded and beautifully illuminated by the hand of Ruth Lacon. The 2005 edition was limited to 100 copies and sold out very quickly. Most of these are in the hands of Tolkien Completist's and are very hard… Read article
Good news! The Tolkien Calendar featuring the art by Cor Blok has been released and is now shipping. All reactions I heard so far are very good and most people who sent me there comments find it just fabulous. So time to order the calendar now! Enjoy every single illustration. Read article
Yvan Strelzyk, a Tolkien collector from Thonon-les-Bains in France, specialized in Tolkien translations, French and English Hobbits and Lord of the Rings editions just send me an update of his profile. He now has over 700 volumes in his collection. All Tolkien collectors are invited to sent in their own profiles or update the ones already online. Read article
Festival in the Shire just announced the main music performance on Sunday evening will be Rick Wakeman. Guess a lot of older Tolkien fans are going to be very happy! Rick Wakeman has said of the festival in the shire: I very much look forward to being a part of the festival and learning more about the uniqueness of Tolkien and his work. I'm genuinely a big admirer of Tolkien. Read article
Since the release of Black and White Ogre Country, the Lost Tales of Hilary Tolkien we were all waiting for the bigger biography. This biography of Hilary Tolkien, brother to J.R.R. Tolkien, is now ready and will be released shortly. Sharing their formative years together and then heading into the trenches of The Great War, the book shows the correspondence between the Tolkien brothers and their wives during the war and since, with family… Read article
Peter Kenny aka Fortinbras Proudfoot, a Tolkien collector from Brisbane, which is in the far away land down under, called Oz, a long way from the ancient lands of Middle Earth across the Encircling Seas, just send me an update of his profile. He now has over 800 items in his collection. All Tolkien collectors are invited to sent in their own profiles or update the ones already online. Read article
Because it seems the week of talking about paperbacks, let us look at another one today, J. R. R. Tolkien: Author of the Century by Tom Shippey. This paperback was already released in May, but it is good to mention it now. Before I say much more I wish to say that any serious Tolkien fan or anyone who is interested in the man behind The Lord of the Rings, should read this book. Buy this paperback edition and take it along on your holiday… Read article
Yesterday we talked about the Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun paperbacks, today I wish to talk about another work by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Children of Hurin. This book has just been released in a Mass Market Paperback edition by Del Rey, and is another good candidate to take along on your next holiday. Read article
When looking for Tolkien collectables, like calendars, games, figurines, jewelery,... I go to The Tolkien Shop in Leiden, Holland; the only brick-and-mortar shop in the world entirely dedicated to J.R.R. Tolkien! Let us have a look at the signed letters and books that are available from The Tolkien Shop. Read article
Summer is coming, and it is time to go out and about, travel and read books outside! Most will know about the previously unknown work by J.R.R. Tolkien, which tells the epic story of the Norse hero, Sigurd, the dragon-slayer, the revenge of his wife, Gudrun, and the Fall of the Nibelungs, that was released in 2009. The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun is now available in Paperback from different publishers, so time to obtain a copy. Read article
Tolkien Thing is the annual convention of the German Tolkien Society and welcomes more than a hundred fellow Tolkien fans from all over Europe. This year it will be held on 15/16 until 18 July 2010 in Hersfeld. Special guests are the Danish Tolkien Society Bri, Caspar Reiff and Peter Hall from the Tolkien Ensemble and the harp virtuoso Kim Skovbye. Read article
The Quiz book was originally offered in limited release in 1979 in the US and in 1980 in the United Kingdom, and was reprinted several times (using different covers). Now The Middle-earth Quiz Book is being offered again to devoted and new fans of Tolkiens legendary works, with permission of the Tolkien Estate. Congratulations Suzanne Coon to get this book back, we are most gratefull for this! Read article
After the very successful release from Tales from the Perilous Realm by BBC Audiobooks America in 2008, the hardback and deluxe edition by HarperCollins in the same year, we had to wait until now to receive the unabridged audio edition of Tales from the Perilous Realm. Read article
Interview with Mark Faith, organizer of Festival in the Shire, that was conducted by Alex Lewis and myself, Pieter Collier, representing the Tolkien Library. It will give you more insight about the person behind this brilliant event, his passion, believes and an invitation to join and come over to celebrate your own passion for all things Tolkien together in Wales! Festival in the Shire, will be the biggest and most exciting event for Tolkien… Read article
After the Tolkien calendar for The Lord of the Rings (2007), The Children of Hurin (2008) and The Silmarillion (2009) and The Lord of the Rings (2010) we will get a very interesting new take on the Tolkien calendar 2011. The official Tolkien calendar, this year will contain 13 paintings inspired by The Lord of the Rings, and will feature many previously unseen works of art by the Dutch artist, Cor Blok. Read article
This enchanting little hardback is an essential companion for any reader journeying through The Silmarillion or The Children of Hurin. Featuring an entertaining text and detailed gazetteer by acclaimed Tolkien author Brian Sibley, this gift edition also contains a stunning fold-out poster-map of the First Age of Middle-earth. The map is based on the original map by Christopher Tolkien. Embellished with heraldic emblems and dramatic scenes… Read article
It has been a while since the First (1969) and Second (1971) Conferences on Middle-earth. But I have been informed by Thain Peregrin Took II that there will be held a 3rd Conference on Middle-earth on 26 March 2011 at the Westford Regency Inn in Westford, MA, USA. A Tolkien Compass edited by Jared Lobdell came from the first two conferences, so I'm certain this 3rd one will be very interesting to visit, follow or support! Read article
If you read and liked The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, learned more about Tolkien's mythology by reading The Silmarillion or even worked your way through the series of The History of Middle-earth. I can imagine that now you want another great reading of Tolkien fantasy? Maybe you should skip this book and go for a copy of Unfinished Tales, since The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun is something different and can bee seen as a scholarly… Read article
This book by Oliver Loo contains over 1100 words and is intended to be a quick reference guide for the reader of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, where old, uncommon and archaic words can be quickly looked up and their meaning made clear. Read article
Together with the History of Middle-earth hardback series we will see the publication of the hardback edition of the History of Middle-earth Index, the complete integrated indices of History of Middle-earth volumes. See the cover here. Read article
25 March means Tolkien Reading Day! Time to take up your books and read your favorite passages, or even better go outside and read them out loud in a public place or join a local Tolkien Reading Day event in your area! Here at Tolkienlibrary.com we very much like the Reading Event and we very much like to spread our love about Tolkien books. That is why we will have Jason Sadler from iwearyourshirt.com wear a Tolkien Library T-shirt today… Read article
Many collectors are waiting for the release of the hardback History of Middle-earth series. Originally the books were planned to be released on 4 March 2010, but this has been delayed. The republication of the History of Middle-earth series is now planned to coincide with the relaunch of the Tolkien website, www.tolkien.co.uk. So, the books will be available from 7 April. Also the publication of the limited edition poster of Oliphaunt will… Read article
I'm extremely happy to publish the following interview with the artist Cor Blok, where we talk about the art he created 50 years ago, the Tolkien Calendar 2011 and we learn some more about this very talented and interesting person. Read article
The printing of The Oliphaunt poster will be strictly limited to a run of 100 copies which are for sale worldwide. There will be no further copies produced. This letterpress poster have been printed and numbered by hand by the designer, Richard Ardagh, and Graham Bignell at New North Press. It is a truly unique item that will form an elegant part of any collection. Once framed, it will prove a talking point and treasured heirloom for many… Read article
Just as the last few years I contacted David Brawn, the publishing director of Harper Collins, to get some more information. The questions were sent before I announced the 2011 Tolkien Calendar, as well as the announcement of the reprint of The History of Middle-earth and news about the Oliphaunt poster. Here follows some more info on the new Tolkien books that will be released this year. 2010 will be very exciting for the Tolkien fans… Read article
On March 1 the author Jeremy M. Robinson released another Tolkien book, J.R.R. Tolkien: Pocket Guide, a new guide to the life and work of J.R.R. Tolkien, the premier British fantasy author of the 20th century, and his great works: The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion. Read article
Oliphaunt is a poem by J.R.R. Tolkien which was first published in The Lord of the Rings, now it has been released as a Limited Edition Poster. It was created by Richard Ardagh. Here is an image of the poster. Read article
The world first publication of a previously unknown work by J.R.R. Tolkien, which tells the epic story of the Norse hero, Sigurd, the dragon-slayer, the revenge of his wife, Gudrun, and the Fall of the Nibelungs will be released in paperback format on 1 April 2010. Read article
On March 1 the author Jeremy M. Robinson will release another Tolkien book, J.R.R. Tolkien: Pocket Guide, a new guide to the life and work of J.R.R. Tolkien, the premier British fantasy author of the 20th century, and his great works: The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion. Read article
As already announced earlier, The History of Middle-earth hardcover series will be reprinted. Today I reveal the covers that will be used. Now I am very much waiting to see the cover of the hardcover Index volume. I will add it here as soon as an image is available. Read article
A new reissue has been released of the B-format edition of JRR Tolkiens legacy of short stories which inhabit the realm of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion. It now uses a cover of Ted Nasmith. Hopefully we see an illustrated 30 Anniversary Edition released further this year! Read article
In the following interview Anke gives an account of her relationship to Tolkien and his works, her passion for art as well as the luxury edition of the Dragon Episode taken from Beowulf which is published by Walking Tree Publishers. The interview was conducted by Andre Gand and published on November 21th, 2009 at www.tolkien-buecher.de. We wish to thank him to give the kind permission to reproduce this interview here. Read article
The Festival in the Shire released there second issue of the Journal. Its contents once more reflect the sheer richness and diversity of reflection upon the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, as well as creativity inspired by it again, from an international cast! There are Interviews with front running Tolkien artists such as John Howe, Ted Nasmith, Michael Hague and Rodney Matthews. Further an interview with Tom Shippey by Corey Olsen and contributions… Read article
HarperCollins will now reprint all volumes and keep the original look and feel, so that people wishing to complete there series will be able to do so now! Also exciting is that we will see a hardcover edition of the History of Middle-earth Index released that will match the original series! Read article
HarperCollins is slowly giving more info on the rerelease of the very succesfull maps of Middle-earth. In total the series exists of three hardbacks. One has already released and two can now be pre-ordered. Each element in the three collectors packages are special: together they provide an enchanting and desirable artefact that will be a prized possession of Tolkien readers of all ages. All three new editions will be completely revised… Read article
The official Tolkien calendar, this year will contain 13 paintings inspired by The Lord of the Rings, and will feature many previously unseen works of art by the Dutch artist, Cor Blok. Cor Blok, now a retired Dutch professor in history of art, made more than 100 illustrations for The Lord of the Rings as a graduation project at his art college. This was in 1960 and 1961, so now over 50 years ago. His work is well-known in The Netherlands… Read article
Most scholarship about J.R.R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis describes their shared faith and academic interests or analyzes each writers fantasy works. War of the Fantasy Worlds: C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien on Art and Imagination is the first to focus solely on their contrasting concepts of fantasy. The authors views of art and imagination, the book shows, are not only central to understanding the themes, value, and relevance of their fantasy… Read article
Henk Brassien, the Hobbit Hunter, just send me an update of his profile. He is specialized in collecting The Hobbit. He currently owns all the Dutch imprints (73 out of 73 imprints since 1960) and at least one copy of any language in which The Hobbit ever was published. All Tolkien collectors are invited to sent in their own profiles or update the ones already online. Read article
It is my pleasure to announce the following event: The Rose on the Ash-heap, a dramatisation with harp music of Owen Barfields 1929 novella. The event will take place on thursday 25th March 2010, also Tolkien Reading Day. I am sure any Tolkien fan will enjoy both events. Read article
Oliphaunt is a poem by J.R.R. Tolkien which was first published in The Lord of the Rings, Book IV, Chapter 3, and reprinted with the title Oliphaunt in The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and Other Verses from the Red Book (1962). It is now long out of print and has now been announced to be released as a limited edition poster by Richard Ardagh and published by Harper Collins in March. Preorder a copy now, since the print run will be very limited… Read article
It is my great pleasure to announce that the new Lembas Extra, the annual magazine of the Dutch Tolkien Society Unquendor, has been released. Once again it is packed with essays on Tolkien and Middle-earth, all written in English so that all Tolkien fans across the globe can enjoy the articles. The theme of this Lembas Extra is Tolkien in Poetry and Song. There are several essays about Tolkien poetry, like Mythopoeia and The Song of Durin… Read article
The folks at the Festival in the Shire launched an online journal that includes very interesting articles, interviews, and general information related to the event and its guests. In the first issue, the editor Colin Duriez, presents a landmark 1966 interview with J.R.R. Tolkien by a former pupil of his and fan, the late Daphne Castell. This interview has not been easy to obtain for many years and so it is very nice to see it republished… Read article
J.R.R. Tolkien: The Books, The Films, The Whole Cultural Phenomenon, Including a Scene By Scene Analysis of the 2001-2003 Lord of the Rings Films by Jeremy Mark Robinson is a new critical study of J.R.R. Tolkien, creator of Middle-earth and author of The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and other books. This new book draws on contemporary cultural theory and analysis and offers a sceptical but sympathetic and illuminating account of the Tolkien… Read article
Peter Jackson has hinted that production for The Hobbit will be delayed from the original estimate of March 2010 to the middle of 2010. Speaking to German site Movie Reporter, the producer stated the production will be started after scripts for the two films are complete. Following Jacksons statement, there has been a speculation that the release dates for The Hobbit and The Hobbit 2 will also be pushed back. Read article
Born of Hope is a 70-minute independent film inspired by J.R.R. Tolkiens Lord of the Rings books. The film pre-dates Lord of the Rings and tells the story of Aragorns parents, Arathorn and Gilraen. Dailymotion will broadcast the film in HD starting today, make sure you dont miss it. Read article
The Lord of the Rings fan movie The Hunt For Gollum has now been seen by over 4 million people from all over the world. While it was only made on a very tiny budget of GBP 3000 and freely distributed through the internet it has proven to be an enormous hit. The 40 minute film, directed by the unknown Chris Bouchard, depects events leading up to the Peter Jackson trilogy, giving the Middle-earth fans some fresh material while waiting for… Read article
Full Tilt Poker has been benefitting from the extra buzz of excitement created by having a mysterious player appear out of the blue on the site one day and take on the biggest names in the business. Isildur1, the poker player, and Isildur, from Tolkiens books, seems to be kind of the same package. Read article
The Art of John Howe - Sculptures from Middle-earth is a series of sculptures from John Howes iconic representations of Tolkiens world, sculpted by Weta sculptors Daniel Cockersell, Brigitte Wuest and Eden Small under the creative guidance of John Howe and Richard Taylor. Here are the first two statues both available in bronze (20 pieces worldwide ) or in faux-bronze (300 pieces worldwide). Once more are available, I will add them to this… Read article
t took another few months, and a very long night of work, but we have finally managed to create another episode of the Middle-earth Minutes Podcast. Good thing is that we actually managed to record some other news as well, so you can expect a new episode real soon! This episode covers the news and events from the last couple of months, where Michael Kaiser and Pieter Collier (thats me) bring you up to date on specific items of interest… Read article
It is expected that in one of the following weeks the latest book by Walking Tree Publishers, Music in Middle-earth, will be released. Simultaniasly a German version will be published by Verlag der Villa Fledermaus, Musik in Mittelerde. The editors are Friedhelm Schneidewind and Heidi Steimel. Both copies will hold the same essays, which are written by authors like Bradford Lee Eden and Fabian Geier. Read article
Parma Eldalamberon, The Book of Elven-tongues, is a journal of the Elvish Linguistic Fellowship, a special interest group of the Mythopoeic Society. They have just announced the release of issue 18, which presents previously unpublished writings by J. R. R. Tolkien concerning his Elvish languages and early versions of his invented scripts. These have been edited and annotated by Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith and Patrick H. Wynne, under… Read article
As we all know J.R.R. Tolkien is best known for his The Lord of the Rings, but his work is far more immense and so multilayered that the average reader or viewer tends to easily miss his point. In the book The Lord of the Rings: Quilting an English, Pagan-Christian Mythology, the author Hosszu Csilla Timea tries to open up and clarify certain things and thus bring Tolkiens world closer to present and would-be readers. Read article
Yvan Strelzyk, a Tolkien collector from Thonon-les-Bains in France, specialized in Tolkien translations, French and English Hobbits and Lord of the Rings editions just send me an update of his profile. He now has over 670 volumes in his collection. All Tolkien collectors are invited to sent in their own profiles or update the ones already online. Read article
J.R.R. Tolkien is very famous for his The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, some even know his other book the Silmarillion and that he was professor at Oxford. He is however less well known as a sub-editor to a work at least as important and maybe more influential then The Lord of the Rings, namely the Oxford English Dictionary. This paperback edition of The Ring of Words explains all about Tolkiens link to the OED and takes us on a trip of… Read article
It is a short German biography and introduction to the works by J.R.R. Tolkien on approximately 150 pages. Above all it cites J.R.R Tolkien himself (reproductions of Tolkiens letters), making it a book where Tolkien presents himself and his ideas. In addition of a pure biography this books also tries to discuss Tolkiens books and there internal connections. Next to these book descriptions follow Tolkiens own considerations and reactions… Read article
War of the Ring Collectors Edition will release worldwide in December 2009. A second batch will be released begin 2010. This game is limited to 2000 copies worldwide (1500 English, 500 German) and will NEVER be reprinted. Dont miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance! Read article
The Etymologies is a document edited by Christopher Tolkien which appears in English in the The History of Middle-Earth: the Lost Road and Other Writings. The reader will find explanations of many Elven names and discover the starting points of many tales imagined by Tolkien. Published with the help of the Tolkien Estate and Christopher Tolkien, illustrated by Alan Lee, this work is single in its kind. It has now been released in French… Read article
For fans of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and Elvenquest (BBC Audio), this is the epic fantasy series first heard on BBC Radio 4 in 1980 that wonderfully parodies J.R.R. Tolkiens The Lord of the Rings. It contains some good ideas but the series has, these days, been largely forgotten. Here are all four episodes of the classic radio series - now available for the first time on Audio CD. Read article
A beautifully captured moment in which the Lady of Lothlorien gently bids farewell to the ring bearer, Galadriels Blessing - Framed Lithograph Fine Art Print by renowned artist Jerry Vanderstelt can now be a part of your Middle-Earth collection by placing your Pre-Order through SideshowCollectibles.com! Read article
Once in a while one finds a book that seems to be talking about the Lord of the Rings, you had not noticed it before, and when you find it you doubt if it was a good thing that it surfaced. Here is a book that is called Cinematic Scripture: The Structure and Usage of The Lord of the Rings as Equipment for Living and was published in May 2009 by VDM Verlag. Read article
It seems to become a monthly thing that Heritage Auction Galleries is selling some nice Tolkien related art. Especially the art from book covers and Tolkien calendars is coming out on the market. If only I had some very deep pockets I would have tried to buy some Tolkien art last October. Also this month one is able to place bids on a nice piece of Tolkien art, this time by Rowena. Here follows the description of that painting and the results… Read article
In the last couple of days I have been working on a major update in the Tolkien Book Shop, adding a lot of nice custom rebound editions as well as all major deluxe editions, india paper limited editions and folio society numbered editions. Some very unique pieces will be added in the next few weeks. I have acquired some signed Lord of the Rings sets and signed The Hobbit books, so keep an eye on the store or enquire about these now. Read article
HarperCollins is slowly giving more info on the rerelease of the very succesfull maps of Middle-earth. In total the series exists of three hardbacks. One has already released and two can now be pre-ordered. Read article
The days are getting shorter and over here in Belgium the first cold also arrived. I can almost smell it is that time of the year again. Christmas is coming, as is the yearly tradition of reading out loud from one particular book. My kids just love it, The Father Christmas Letters by J.R.R. Tolkien. This year I will read from the new 10th Anniversary paperback edition, that just has been released. Read article
The official Tolkien calendar 2010 and Tolkien diary 2010 each contain 16 magnificent landscape paintings by renowned artist Ted Nasmith, selected from The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, and featuring several brand new works of art. They are now available and will make a perfect present for any Tolkien lover. Read article
Having been very busy lately, Im running a bit behind on all fronts. Still in the next few weeks Ill hope to write some short articles to get back on track and talk about some interesting new releases. I am for example very excited about the new volume (No. 19) in the Cormare Series by Walking Tree Publishers. One thing is certain, whenever they release a new book it is always very interesting! This time it is a book in which we can learn… Read article
Today is a happy day, because The Hobbit has finally arrived in Frisian. Im certain many Hobbit collectors will be very excited, but the Frisians will be even more so! Now the adventurous travel of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins can be followed in the Frisian language. Frisian Anne Tjerk Popkema has released the translation of The Hobbit from J.R.R. Tolkien and was published by the Frisian publisher Elikser. Firstly published in 1937, it has… Read article
After a long summer sleep Im back with something nice - I was asked by Michael Kaiser, the creator of the lovely Middle-earth Minutes Podcast, to join in and to discuss news and views about all things Tolkien: Literature, Art, Film, Festivals and more. As of now I hope to be contributing to all the following Middle-earth Minutes, and I certainly hope that you will enjoy the news that we have brought you - some of which is being heard here… Read article
Here I announce a book that will appear at the end of the year, addressing the lack of discussion of Tolkiens style in scholarly interrogations of that writer, this book uncovers the multifaceted appeal of Tolkiens prose style. It is called The Power of Tolkiens Prose: Middle-earths Magical Style and is written by Steven C. Walker. Here follows an interview with the author Steven C. Walker about his upcoming book. Read article
The wait is over! It has been four long years since Weta last released any new collectibles from The Lord of the Rings. Their new license covers a wide range of new product categories, beginning with the following new items to be launched at San Diego Comic-Con on July 22-26, 2009. See them here: A full scale replica of Gollum, a very limited-edition of the most authentic swords from The Lord of the Rings, Miniature Shield Collectibles… Read article
This new paperback is part of a series that explores links in Tolkiens writings with the Arthurian tradition. The first book in the series has just been released and has received once again a very fabulous cover design by Ruth Lacon. I expect this book to be genuinely thought-provoking, and readers will find plenty to get their teeth into - if this books follows the same path as the previous publications. For sure I look forward to read… Read article
On one of my wanderings around the internet I stumbled upon the article Edel-Silmarillion als Diplomarbeit. As by chance I discovered the most beautiful copy of The Silmarillion I had ever seen. With a little help from the kind people of Der Herr der Ringe I got into contact with the creator of this Edel-Silmarillion, Benjamin Harff. He accepted to do an interview about his art work. I truly hope to see more Tolkien art from this upcoming… Read article
Im very happy to release an interview with the author Andrew H. Morton about his new book Tolkiens Bag End. In Tolkiens Bag End, Andrew Morton sets out to uncover the significance of the Worcestershire manor house that famously gave its name to the home of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. I hope this interview will shed light on the author and his latest Tolkien related book. Read article
Members of the famed Inklings literary circle lived in the university city of Oxford. What were the places there like where people like C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien met to talk and to share their writing? You will find the answer in this lively book, whose stunning photographs and insightful text will deepen your knowledge of Oxford and the Inklings alike. Read article
In only a few weeks time a very special meeting will take place at the beautiful medieval castle of Rieneck in Northern Bavaria. The annual convention of the German Tolkien Society, the Tolkien Thing (i.e. moot), will get together not only friends and guests from all over the continent but also one special guest we are very happy to have with us: Tom Shippey. Read article
Most of you probably remember Andrew H. Mortons book Tolkiens Gedling 1914, that talked about Tolkiens aunt Jane Neave and Tolkiens connection with Gedling. Now Andrew is back with a new book and it is called Tolkiens Bag End. Read article
The Hobbitonian Anthology: of Articles on J.R.R. Tolkien and his Legendarium by Mark T. Hooker has been published. This new book, The Hobbitonian Anthology, is the second volume of articles by Mark T. Hooker that picks up where A Tolkienian Mathomium left off. Hookers analysis is from a linguistic perspective similar to Tolkiens. Read article
Added to the Tolkien Book Store: The Hobbit, 1987 Super Deluxe Signed Limited Edition, 13 of 100 Signed Copies. A wonderful copy of an extremely collectable book. In unread condition, a must for the serious collector. Read article
Arda Reconstructed: The Creation of the Published Silmarillion by Douglas C. Kane was published in March 2009. Today Im very happy to say that a reader from TolkienLibrary.com has contributed a review of this book. I hope this review will not only provoke people to leave a comment at the bottom of the article, but also to inspire them to sent in there own reviews of Tolkien books. It would be a big honor to publish them here. Read article
Philologist, author, mythmaker and creator of Middle Earth - a biography of J.R.R Tolkien, probably one of the first articles I wrote and later published in The Art of Ruth Lacon. It gives an overview of Tolkien from the early years up to Tolkiens legacy. Read article
The Children of Hurin is now a manjor bestseller. But because not everyone will be able to read The Children of Hurin in English I thought it a good idea to create a small list of all the translations out there. Ill add any extra info as it comes in so that in the end I hope this page will give all the info about all the Children of Hurin translations. Please sent me info on your local translations! Read article
Amazons book blog Omnivoracious has got Fantasy Author China Mieville as a guest blogger this week. He has got several posts and a podcast up, but the best so far is his article: Here and Back Again: Five Reasons Tolkien Rocks. The article is not a real turn around, but Mieville is pretty famous for ripping into Tolkien. He now turns and even praises and thanks Tolkien. Here is a reproduction of the article and some more about China Mieville… Read article
At the end of this month there will be released a very interesting book about the influence of languages on Tolkien. It will shed a light on all languages that had a great impact on Tolkiens creative writing, give us a good insight in Tolkiens academic carreer and give a nice introduction to Tolkiens invented languages. The book is written by no one less then Dr Elizabeth Solopova and here is an interview with the author on her new book… Read article
An important association copy, inscribed by the author on the front flyleaf, with - To Stella Mills, from her old friend, J.R.R. Tolkien, - will be offered for auction at PBA galleries in San Francisco (USA) on the 25th of June. Stella Marie Mills was a student of E.V. Gordon and J.R.R. Tolkien at Leeds and she later edited and translated, under the guidance of Godron, The Saga of Hrolf Kraki an Icelandic or Viking epic, which was published… Read article
At the end of this month there will be released a new book about J.R.R. Tolkien, and more specific about the influence of languages on Tolkien. The book is written by no one less then Dr Elizabeth Solopova and this means that it will be very interesting! Have already added this book to my pre-order list! Languages, Myths and History: An Introduction to the Linguistic and Literary background of J. R. R. Tolkiens Fiction introduces languages… Read article
It seems in December there was released a very interesting paperback set, that only now showed up in Amazon. According to David Brawn at HarperCollins this set was produced for the export market only and there fore it is logic the sets only showed up very late on Amazon and appeared first on the German retail market. It is now better available and will also be released in Australia on 1/08/2009 and probably will be released globally very… Read article
Normally the cover art of the Tolkien Calendar and Diary are very simular, this year however both feature a unique and amazing work by the Tolkien artist Ted Nasmith. Today Im glad to reveal the cover art for the Tolkien Diary 2010. It looks absolutely stunning. Read article
We are delighted to bring you some exclusive material which inspired the new Tolkien book; including a rare extract from an original page from Tolkiens own manuscript of The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun. Also find here some illustrations used in the book. Read article
There has just been announced a fun contest by the Tolkien Team of HarperCollins. Here is your chance to win a Hobbit audio book on CD by just sending in your review of the latest Tolkien book The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun. Read article
A number of people have expressed interest in what the status of the Tolkien/New Line lawsuit is, and whether it still represents a threat to the Hobbit films. Because Douglas C. Kane had written about the subject before, I asked if he would be willing to write a brief update on the situation now. He was happy to do so. Thanks Douglas! Read article
HarperCollins has already announced it will replace the paperback version of the book, called The Map of Tolkiens Middle-earth, which sold more than 100,000 copies when published for the Tolkien Centenary in the 1990s, and out of print for more than five years. This new hardback is called the Road Goes Ever On and On. Now HarperCollins has announced they will also republish the other two paperbacks, The Map of Tolkiens Beleriand and the… Read article
It does not happen often, but sometimes it seems that Amazon only lists new Tolkien related books after they have already been published. Today I noticed a thin book of 72 pages with a very long title, Roots of Middle-Earth Seeds of Fantasy: Mythical and Literary Heritage in The Lord of the Rings, and J. R. R. Tolkiens Classic as Fantasy. This book was published in October 2008 and only now showed up on Amazon. In this work, the reader… Read article
The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun is a previously unpublished work by J.R.R. Tolkien, written while Tolkien was Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford during the 1920s and 30s, before he wrote The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. It makes available for the first time Tolkiens extensive retelling in English narrative verse of the epic Norse tales of Sigurd the Volsung and The Fall of the Niflungs. It includes an introduction by J.R.R. Tolkien… Read article
Perhaps most unknown about J.R.R. Tolkien is that he was an editor of The Jerusalem Bible, published in 1966 just after the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council. Tolkiens contribution was the translation of Jonah, one of the most famous bible stories. In August Tolkiens translation of Jonah will be published by the original publishers of the 1966 Jerusalem Bible. It will feature previously unpublished material. Here is all info about… Read article
The Mythopoeic Scholarship Award in Inklings Studies is one of the four awards given by the Mythopoeic Society. It is given to books on J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis or Charles Williams that make significant contributions to Inklings scholarship. The finalists for the 2009 Mythopoeic Awards have just been announced and feature once again the best authors and books in the field of Inkling scholarship. Tolkienlibrary.com would like to congratulate… Read article
After the Tolkien calendar for The Lord of the Rings (2007), The Children of Hurin (2008) and The Silmarillion (2009), the 2010 Calendar will focus on the landscapes of Lord of the Rings. The official Tolkien calendar 2010 will contain 16 magnificent landscape paintings by renowned artist Ted Nasmith, selected from The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, and featuring several brand new works of art. Read article
Here is your chance to see and hear The Fellowship of the Ring live at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, October 9th and Saturday October 10th. For this extraordinary event, 300 musicians - a 75-piece orchestra and a 225-member choir - have been gathered to perform the complete score to 2001s The Fellowship of the Ring live with the motion picture on a massive screen towering above the stage. This once-in-a-lifetime, family-friendly event… Read article
The author of Arda Reconstructed: The Creation of the Published Silmarillion, Douglas C. Kane, has been so kind to sent over some signed stickers to stick inside your copy of the book. If you are interested to have a signed Douglas C. Kane sticker please sent me an email with your postal adress and Ill be happy to sent you one over. Read article
On the 5th of May was released The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun. Because a new Tolkien book is not being released every day, or even not every year, I thought it a good thing to organise an online release event. Online Release Events always have some common features, like a lot of chatting about J.R.R. Tolkien and his books, giveaways or contests and chat sessions with special guests. Because the new Tolkien book was not Middle-earth related… Read article
The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun Contest has ended and the winners are announced. The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun Release Party has also ended and I must admit that it was big fun! Glad so many joined in to celebrate the new book. Thanks to Tom Shippey to participate! Transcript will be posted at Tolkienlibrary.com as soon as possible. Read article
According to the Telegraph, the new Tolkien book is already one of Britains most pre-ordered titles, stating that fans of Tolkiens book will seek clues to the characters and events in his later novels, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The new Tolkien book is however something completely different, but nonetheless incredibly fascinating. The new book consists of two closely associated poems, to which Tolkien gave the titles The New… Read article
The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun Release Party is an online event to celebrate the publication of The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun, the new book by J.R.R. Tolkien, first released worldwide on Tuesday 5th of May 2009. It will be released in the UK by Tolkien publisher HarperCollins and in the US by Houghton Mifflin. The event will take place online on May the 5th, 2009 and is being organized by TolkienLibrary.com. Next to chatting and celebrating… Read article
On Amazon there has been released Part I of the foreword for the new Tolkien book. It is brilliantly written by Christopher Tolkien and really makes you want to read the upcoming book. Here it is reproduced. Read article
Today, I am very happy to be able to release the following interview with Bill Sanderson. He is part of a talented generation that matured in the 1970s and has carried on working in much the same way to the present. His book illustration work includes a series of Penguin covers for the novels of Anthony Burgess in the 1980s, Harry Harrison and Felix Dennis. Now, early May his art will be seen in the upcoming The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun… Read article
On April 4th you can go and enjoy J.R.R. Tolkien and Fantasy Inspired Art Exhibition: Land of Enchantment in England, but if you live at the other side of the world you can go to the Peruvian Tolkien Society annual meeting: The Great Council in Lima, Peru. There will be talks, theater, language sessions, giveaways and a lot of fun. Read article
The audio book of The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun will be read by Brian Denis Cox, who is a BAFTA- and Emmy Award-winning, Golden Globe-nominated British actor. Cox narrated an abridged audio book version of Sir Walter Scotts novel Ivanhoe, and an unabridged audio book of JRR Tolkiens The Silmarillion. Read article
When we celebrated the release of The Children of Hurin, during The Children of Hurin Release Party on 7 April 2007, one of the sheduled guests for the chat event was the author of Tolkien and the Great War, John Garth. Sadly enough he fell sick and he was replaced in the last hour by an equally interesting author John D. Rateliff, author of The History of The Hobbit. Since it is now about 2 years since the publication of The Children of… Read article
Now this is something fabulous. It seems that the BBC J.R.R. Tolkien documentary, made in 1997, finally made it onto DVD. This is good news, it will be fun to see the faces again of some of the Tolkien Society Members that I have learned to know since then. Now Im going to order the DVD and see if it is so good as I remember it. Read article
Members of the famed Inklings literary circle lived in the university city of Oxford. What were the places there like where people like C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien met to talk and to share their writing? You will find the answer in The Inklings of Oxford by Harry Lee Poe, whose stunning photographs and insightful text will deepen your knowledge of Oxford and the Inklings alike. Here follows more info on the book and an interview with… Read article
Last year I did an interview with the author Mark Wolf, just before the book was first released. It is always nice to re-read Mark Wolfs answers and hear him talk about the book once again, especially now the book will be reprinted with a brilliant new cover. Read article
There has just been released a very beautifully slipcased audio book collection, which includes The Hobbit, Tolkiens magical prelude to Lord of the Rings, and all three volumes of the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King. The slipcase features original cover art by John Howe, the world reknowned leading Tolkien illustrator and conceptual artist on Peter Jacksons film version of the trilogy… Read article
It is my pleasure to announce the following J.R.R. Tolkien and Fantasy Inspired Art Exhibition: Land of Enchantment. From Friday the 3rd of April until Monday the 6th there will be held a wonderful art exhibition in Moreton-In-Marsch in England. Some of us may have been to previous art exhibitions which were held there and know how wonderful these events are; yet this time it will be even better. Read article
Once in a while there are written books that come forth from a very deep love for Tolkien and his mythology. One of these books is Arda Reconstructed: The Creation of the Published Silmarillion by Douglas C. Kane, the co-founder of the Tolkien internet discussion site thehalloffire.net. Here follows more info on this book, that every serious Tolkien fans should have, and an interview with the author. Read article
The Road Goes Ever On and On: The Map of Tolkiens Middle-earth is the essential companion for any reader journeying through The Lord of the Rings, illustrated by John Howe, conceptual artist on the Lord of the Rings films and written by Brian Sibley. It will be a perfect Tolkien learning aid for schools and younger readers and an ideal gift for all Tolkien fans - contains the only official and authorised full-colour map of Middle-earth… Read article
It will be a commemorative diamond anniversary edition of Tolkiens classic book, including a map, a copy of Tolkiens unpublished short story which he expanded for publication, his notes for an aborted sequel, and the original first edition illustrations by Pauline Baynes. It will be limited to 500 pieces and features a brand new dust jacket. Read article
HarperCollins is to publish a new book by the late Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien. The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun, edited and introduced by Tolkiens son Christopher, will be published on 5 May 2009. Here is a FAQ with all info on the new book by Tolkien. Read article
Just as the last few years I contacted David Brawn, the publishing director of Harper Collins, to get some more information. The questions were sent before I announced the 2010 Tolkien Calendar and Diary, as well as the announcement of the hardback and super deluxe edition of The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun. Here follows some more info on the new Tolkien books that will be released this year. 2009 will be very exciting for the Tolkien fans… Read article
The world first publication of a previously unknown work by J.R.R. Tolkien, which tells the epic story of the Norse hero, Sigurd, the dragon-slayer, and the revenge of his wife, Gudrun, upon the Niflungs, called The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun, is now available through Amazon. This is the hardcover version. Read article
After the Tolkien calendar for The Lord of the Rings (2007), The Children of Hurin (2008) and The Silmarillion (2009), the 2010 Calendar will focus on the landscapes of Lord of the Rings. The official Tolkien calendar 2010 will contain 16 magnificent landscape paintings by renowned artist Ted Nasmith, selected from The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, and featuring several brand new works of art. Read article
The world first publication of a previously unknown work by J.R.R. Tolkien, which tells the epic story of the Norse hero, Sigurd, the dragon-slayer, and the revenge of his wife, Gudrun, upon the Niflungs, called The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun, will be released as a Limited Signed Slipcased Edition. Read article
It seems in December there was released a very interesting paperback set, that only now showed up in Amazon. I have not seen the set myself and will probably order a copy today. This is an interesting set, I do not know (yet) which paperbacks are inside. Since on the only (small) image I found the set looks to be put in a black box I assume they will hold the black paperback editions of The Simarillion and Unfinished Tales and the Children… Read article
The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun, due for worldwide release in May 2009, and published in the UK by HarperCollins Publishers will also be published in many other countries and many other languages. This list is based on information sent by the publishers and contributors from around the globe or found at on line bookstores, if you want to add information or edit some info please sent me an e-mail. Read article
What were the places there like where people like C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien met to talk and to share their writing? You will find the answer in this lively book, whose stunning photographs and insightful text will deepen your knowledge of Oxford and the Inklings alike. Read article
These days Tolkien lovers think Facebook is an ideal place for connecting up, to learn to know new friends and keep track of what others are doing. Many Tolkien societies have opened up Tolkien groups and many Tolkien lovers have inscribed themselves to Facebook. Here is an article that lists all Tolkien Societies on Facebook and talks about the phenomenon Facebook and Twitter. Read article
This month appears the Lost Tales of Hilary Tolkien, an 88 page ilustrated hardcover book that consists of several short tales written by Hilary Tolkien, Tolkiens brother. The tales were written down in a notebook that was re-discovered by a grand-child of Hilary Tolkien and thought it a good idea to have it published. The book is illustrated by Jef Murray, who kindly answered several questions about the book. Read article
Time flies when you are having a good time! 2008 was a year which started of with a large amount of paperbacks editions of all major Tolkien works. The middle of the year was the period when we saw the release of some books by Tolkien scholars and the end of the year we saw audiobooks and the Tales of the Perilous Realm come out. All together a very interesting year it was. Let us walk through it again in chronological order. Read article
The book is just one of an entire series of family name books in the Our Name in History Collection. Each book in the collection is printed on demand and is compiled from hundreds of millions of records from the worlds largest online resource of family history, Ancestry.co.uk. Read article
To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Hobbit Presse they have invented a very fun contest to win a fantastic prize, a special limited edition of Herrn der Ringe. Write an original letter to the author J.R.R. Tolkien! Write down the words you always wanted to say to your favorite writer, or ask the questions you always wanted to ask. Read article
HarperCollins is to publish a new book by the late Lord of the Rings author J R R Tolkien. The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun, edited and introduced by Tolkiens son Christopher, will be published in hardback in May 2009. Read article
GTC Roadshow AG announces the acquisition of the most expensive Tolkien book ever sold; a signed first edition of The Lord of the Rings dedicated to the Queen of the Hobbits, for 104.000 USD. A further 5 lots were acquired in the same auction: the first translation of The Hobbit dedicated to E. Griffiths, a signed US first edition Lord of the Rings, P. Baynes original art, a signed map of Middle-earth and a book dedicated to Tolkiens son… Read article
From 2 December 2008 Tuesday untill Saturday 3 January 2009, the library in Oss (the Netherlands, near Den Bosch) will host a Tolkien-exhibit together with Unquendor. Next to a comprehensive exhibition on Tolkien, there will be other activities such as a lecture, workshops and a reading day. All this will be in Dutch. Read article
GTC AG, a Swiss based company, announces the acquisition of the second most expensive Tolkien book ever sold; a signed Hobbit bought from Peter Harringtons for GBP53,000 setting a new benchmark for a signed book. This signed Hobbit will be one of the showpieces for the largest private Tolkien collection to be exhibited around the world beginning in 2011 by the GTC Roadshow, which coincides with the release of the new Hobbit film. Read article
It is the season again when nights gets longer and over here in Europe all leaves have fallen from the trees, the cold weather is back and we all huddle together around the fire. The quest has begon again to find an original gift? This year Im going to make some nice suggestions, by creating two lists which will help you find a perfect gift for any Tolkien and Hobbit lover or collector. Part I will cover all items related to The Hobbit,… Read article
The newly released edition of the Tales from the Perilous Realm Radio Dramatization comes as four stories on three disks, each containing elements of fantasy and faerie, or in total 3hrs of listening pleasure. It has exactly the same size as the Hobbit dramatization, so they fit well together on a shelve. Included are Farmer Giles of Ham, Smith of Wooten Major, and the wonderful Leaf by Niggle, the most neglected pearl by Tolkien. Theres… Read article
The newly released edition of the Hobbit Radio Dramatization includes 4 CDs and a bonus CD featuring expanded versions of music composed by David Cain, specially commisioned for the dramatization and a rare interview with Tolkien. Here is my review of this set. Read article
Hazael Design are pleased to announce an exhibition of limited edition furniture handmade from the timber reclaimed from JRR Tolkiens last home, Woodridings. Also The Tolkien treasures discovered in Poole go on display next saterday, on the 15th November, at Hazael Design, unit 12 Mill Lane Wimborne, England. I will myself come over to the opening of the exhibition and hope to see many Tolkien fans there. It would be great to discuss all… Read article
BBC Audiobooks America and Tolkien Library presented you a trivia to win a copy of the BBC Lord of the Rings Radio Dramatization, which has been released by BBC Audiobooks America on September 9, 2008. Congratulations to Elizabeth Trogdon, Albert Peruzzo, Jessica Burke and Derek Broughton, who all won one copy of the BBC Lord of the Rings Radio Dramatization. Read article
The second annual Tolkien Calendar from Heren Istarion: Northeast Tolkien Society is now available for ordering. Last years calendar was a great success, well made, and came with stunning artwork from Jef Murray and Ted Nasmith. This year looks to be continuing in the tradition of excellent vision and craftsmanship, under the able hands of Anthony, Jessica, and Phil and Megan Goss. Place your orders now for this excellent gift and collectible… Read article
BBC Audiobooks America and Tolkien Library present you a trivia to win a copy of the BBC Lord of the Rings Radio Dramatization, which has been released by BBC Audiobooks America on September 9, 2008. If you live in America or Canada enter the contest to win one of the four copies of the BBC Lord of the Rings Radio Dramatization. Read article
Some, who know me very well, are aware that every day I have an hour drive to office (and back again in the evening) and that during that ride I always listen to either BBC World Service, or to Tolkien Audio Books. When the two come together, be sure that it is of interest to me. Here follows a review of the 1981 BBC dramatization of the Lord of the Rings, which has just been re-released in the US, and I highly recommend to any Tolkien… Read article
Yesterday, to celebrate the release of the Children of Hurin paperback, Houghton Mifflin together with Tolkienlibrary.com organized a chat event with the illustrator Alan Lee. Here is the transcript of the interview with Alan Lee, illustrator of The Children of Hurin. Read article
The Children of Hurin Paperback Release Party has begun. The chat with Alan Lee will take place in 5 hours and a half from now, so if you want to join in now is the time. All info on the event can be found at www.tolkienlibrary.com. Come and celebrate the paperback edition of The Children of Hurin with us. Read article
The Children of Hurin Release Party will take place on the 14th of October to celebrate the release of The Children of Hurin Paperback Edition by Houghton Mifflin. Here is all the latest info. The time schedule has changed a little, and the chat box is already open to the Tolkien fans. See you all on Tuesday. Read article
It was my pleasure to find out, from David Brawn, that the Deluxe Edition will be limited to 2500 copies only and that it will match the other Deluxe Editions recently published. It will be released in December and will have a green color. The first 500 copies will be signed by Alan Lee and will be sold, probably from early November, through tolkien.co.uk. It will be just regular copies of the Deluxe Edition and will be sold at the normal… Read article
The Chat box of Tolkienlibrary.com is no live. To Connect to the Chat Forum and chat with other web site visitors, make sure the Connect Tab is visible then: Enter the Username you wish to use into the Chat Username box. This must be at least 3 characters and a maximum of 15 characters, no spaces. If you have a Password associated with this Username (Registered/Staff/Admin users only), enter it into the Password box. 3-15 characters, no… Read article
The Children of Hurin Paperback Release Party is an online event to celebrate the publication of The Children of Hurin Paperback Edition by Houghton Mifflin, the new book by J.R.R. Tolkien, first released on Tuesday 17th April 2007 in hardback edition. The event will take place online on October 14, 2008 and is being organized by TolkienLibrary.com and Houghton Mifflin. Next to chatting there will be giveaways and a chat session with special… Read article
On September 21, 2007 the UK The Hobbit turned 70 and this year on March 1, 2008 we celebrated 70 years of the US edition of the Hobbit. It is a good occasion to look back at 70 years of Tolkien collecting and The Hobbit collectables and ephemera, since most Tolkien collectors all started by reading and buying a copy of The Hobbit. Ill create here a series of articles on The Hobbit collecting and will try and touch some of the less common… Read article
This book, Tolkien, Race and Cultural History: From Fairies to Hobbits, presents an exploration of the evolution of Tolkiens mythology within the framework of its cultural and historical context. It contributes significantly to Tolkien studies, as well as understanding of many elements of popular culture in the pre-WW1 period. This is the first book to look at issues of race and ethnicity in Tolkien with any kind of historical knowledge… Read article
This book, Tolkiens Heroic Quest, by US author Robert Rorabeck looks at the heroic fiction of J.R.R. Tolkien, looking at major works such as The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, and lesser-known books. Since Im unable to find any info on this title I give here a view on a Master Thesis by the same author on the same subject, expecting this book to be an update of his 2003 study. Read article
The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook will be released in a sumptuous large-format trade paperback for the first time. The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook hardback edition, published in 2005, was a major best seller for over two years in a row and the new paperback will be very succesful for sure. It is being announced for tomorrow, but no cover has been revealed so far. I hope Harper Collins can hold up the publication date. More news on this… Read article
Since yesterday they started shipping out the 2009 Tolkien Calendar. It focuses on The Silmarillion and features illustrations from the revised illustration edition by Ted Nasmith. While we celebrated The Silmarillion 30th anniversary last year, it is great to see it is now in the picture again. The Calendar looks great and will find a nice place on my wall. Time to remove the Children of Hurin Calendar of 2008 and hang up the new one. Read article
The book focuses on the business of the event film, and includes chapters on techniques and meanings ranging from music to spirituality. It offers essays on multimedia products associated with the films and contains a dossier of reviews, interviews, production details and box-office returns. It should be released tomorrow on September 1, 2008. Read article
In April 2006 Robert Blackham published a little guidebook to Tolkien sites in Birmingham (called The Roots of Tolkiens Middle Earth); apparently he has now done the same for Oxford. The new book wil be called Tolkiens Oxford: Oxford through the eyes of Tolkien. Read article
Tolkien on Fairy-Stories, a new expanded edition of Tolkiens most famous, and most important essay On Fairy-stories, which defined his conception of fantasy as a literary form, and which led to the writing of The Lord of the Rings has just been released and is now available. Read article
It was my pleasure to find out, from David Brawn, that the Deluxe Edition will be limited to 2500 copies only and that it will match the other Deluxe Editions recently published. I heard rumors that it would come in a dark blue box, but can not confirm that yet. Read article
Every year The Mythopoeic Society gives away their prestigious Literary and Scholarship Awards. The most interesting award for Tolkien fans is The Mythopoeic Scholarship Award in Inklings Studies. It is given to books on J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis or Charles Williams that make significant contributions to Inklings scholarship. This year it was given to The Company They Keep: C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien as Writers in Community by Diana… Read article
While I was expecting a very similar front of the Tolkien Calendar and the Tolkien Diary (which so far has been a habit of the publishers), this year it seems they did something different. See the cover of this years Tolkien diary here. Read article
For hours I tried writing something about Pauline Baynes, Tolkiens favourite illustrator. The news of her passing away touched me deeply. The few letters we wrote each other really showed me why so many people did adore here. Brian Sibley has put a tribute to Pauline on his blog which in all respects is better then anything I could write. The artist is gone; but the artwork that she created lives on... Read article
The latest issue of Heroes Villains and Artists features an interview with Tolkien artist Greg Hildebrandt. From the Lord of the Rings calenders to Star Wars movie posters, his brush has defined the classic style of sci-fi and fantasy art for decades. So join Heroes Villains and Artists as they step into his home and learn about how he got his start and gain some insight into the artist. Hope you like some of the scans I sent in to Heroes… Read article
I am pleased to be able to release the official cover of the Tales of Perilous Realm which I was sent by David Brawn, the publishing director of Harper Collins. Read article
On August 1st Tolkien will go mobile and the following OMA Tolkien Editions will be available: The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Children of Hurin, The Silmarillion and many more... Read article
Yvan Strelzyk, a Tolkien collector from Thonon-les-Bains in France, specialized in Tolkien translations, French and English Hobbits and Lord of the Rings editions just send me an update of his profile. In it youll see that a new Hobbit translation is to be published in September in Norwegian nynorsk (cf. haugenbok.no). All Tolkien collectors are invited to sent in their own profiles or update the ones already online. Read article
Tolkiens former home in Poole is going to be demolished and the last remaining features have been removed by the demolisher. These include a wonderful Adam-style fireplace, some garden decorations, doors and a postcard he found behind the fireplace. Here is now your chance to own a piece of Tolkien history because all the items recovered from the house are now up for sale in the Tolkien Library Store. Read article
World at Large came up with a brilliant idea. To honour the move of the book The Hobbit to the big screen, their weekly podcast now features an interview with Rayner Unwin. I have also added a video interview with Rayner Unwin by the New York Times. Read article
This new collection is fully illustrated throughout by Oscar-winning artist, Alan Lee, who provides a wealth of pencil drawings to bring the stories to life as he did so memorably for The Hobbit and The Children of Hurin. Alan also provides an Afterword, in which he opens the door into illustrating Tolkiens world. Here you can see the new cover. Read article
As some of you might know I am quit a big fan of Tolkien Audio Books. I have an hour drive to work every day and if not listening to BBC World I tend to listen to Audio Books. It makes the drive to work a lot more fun and enjoyable. Now it seems I will be able to add some very nice Tolkien Audio Books to my collection. Here is an overview of new Tolkien Audio Books to be released this year. Read article
After the Tolkien calendar for The Lord of the Rings (2007) and The Children of Hurin (2008), the 2009 Tolkien Calendar will focus on The Silmarillion and will feature illustrations from the revised illustration edition by Ted Nasmith. While we celebrated The Silmarillions 30th anniversary last year, it is great to see it is now in the picture again. Here you can see the new cover. Read article
J.R.R. Tolkiens On Fairy-stories is his most-studied and most-quoted essay, an exemplary personal statement of his views on the role of imagination in literature, and an intellectual tour de force vital for understanding Tolkiens achievement in the writing of The Lord of the Rings. Here is an interview with the authors of the soon to be released gem of Tolkien studies Tolkien on Fairy-Stories. Read article
Normally Tolkien Studies is being released in April or May, but this year it will be a bit later and be released around Mid-July. They are currently being pressed by the West Virginia University Press. While the cover is not yet available I can tell it will be Chaucers Reeve, from the Ellesmere msnuscript of The Canterbury Tales. Here are the final contents. Read article
The son of JRR Tolkien will try next week to halt Hollywood plans to follow the critical and commercial triumph of the Lord of the Rings trilogy by filming The Hobbit and a sequel. Christopher Tolkien, 83, is calling for one last crusade in a long-running court battle against the producers of The Lord of the Rings only weeks before carpenters are due to begin work in New Zealand on the sets for the latest Middle-earth epic. He claims the… Read article
Last month I announced the book Tolkiens Gedling 1914 The Birth of a Legend by Andrew H. Morton and John Hayes, and I was, as most of us, very intrigued by the content of this book. Here is an interview with the author Andrew H. Morton about the book. Read article
TORN had a very interesting Chat this morning with Del Toro. All Del Toros answers are very wonderful to read and a lot of good news is in this interview. Ian Mckellen will be back as Gandalf, Andy Serkis will be Gollum, John Howe and Alan Lee will be asked to be on board once again. Read the interview here. Read article
The Academy Award-nominated writer-director has just been signed to helm back-to-back epics adapted from J.R.R. Tolkiens The Hobbit, which, after various delays, are finally going forward with Peter Jackson set to produce and together with Fran Walsh to deliver the script. Read article
Tolkien Studies, the Annual Scholarly Review, volume V will be available from 31 May 2008. It is the first scholarly journal published by an academic press for the purpose of presenting and reviewing the growing body of critical commentary and scholarship about Tolkiens writings. Now available for pre-order. Read article
HarperCollins UK is interested in setting up a permanent online store featuring J.R.R. Tolkiens works including his complete library, signed products and exclusives. They have opened a little survey, which is not very long but very interesting. All Tolkien collectors should spend a little time in answering the seven questions and let us hope something nice comes from this. Read article
In 1914 Tolkien stayed at his aunts farm, called Phoenix Farm, in Gedling. While the farm has now been demolished, it is said that it was there that Tolkien wrote the poem that in the end led to the Lord Of The Ring. Now, Andrew Morton, has published a book about Tolkiens Aunt Jane Neave. Read article
The French edition of the Fantasy Art Workshop is due out April 17th, so John Howe will be in Paris for a little show at the Galerie Arludik. The next day he will be signing in the Paris FNAC. The exhibition will stay open until may 17th. Read article
The flagship book this year will be The Tales from the Perilous Realm, planned to be the definitive reading edition of Roverandom, Farmer Giles of Ham, Leaf By Niggle, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, and Smith of Wootton Major. Here is all information. Read article
A French booksite has released an interview with Adam Tolkien, the grand-son of J.R.R. Tolkien. Because the interview was conducted in French, I have provided a translation here. Read article
After winning the 2007 Imperishable Flame Award the wonderful book by Diana Glyer has now been nominated for a Hugo Award, as Best Related Book. Read article
It was my honor to do an interview with Alan Lee in Paris on March 15, 2008. I hope this interview will shed some light on the illustrator Alan Lee, his wonderful art, and about his live long association with Tolkien books. Read article
The Queen of Hobbits, a very rare 1937 first issue of the first edition of J.R.R. Tolkiens much-loved classic The Hobbit was sold today (18 March) by international fine art auctioneers Bonhams in London for a staggering GBP 60,000 (USD 120,800), twice its presale estimate and a new world record price at auction for an inscribed copy of the book. Read article
Today we see the publication of a new book by Walking Tree Publishers called Tolkiens Shorter Works. In this article I will also list all latest must-read books published by the same publishing company, namely The Lord of the Rings and the Western Narrative Tradition, How we became Middle-earth and Myth and Magic Art according to the Inklings. Read article
A sumptuous large-format trade paperback containing sketches and paintings, by Alan Lee, from the Lord of the Rings, together with brand new and previously unseen material from the books and the Peter Jackson movie adaption, will be published by Harper Collins Publishers in September 2008. Read article
Original manuscripts from Tolkiens Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit and Mary Shelleys Frankenstein will be among a number of national treasures put on display in a new exhibition hall. The new centre will be named the Blackwell Hall. Read article
From the 5th of April until the 7th there will be held a wonderful art exhibition in Moreton-In-Marsch in England. Here is an update on the artists attending and some of the latest informations on the event. Read article
For the release of Les Enfants de Hurin, the French translation of the Children of Hurin, Tolkiendil will organize some very interesting online chat events and contests. Les Enfants de Hurin will be released on Thursday February 21. If you speak French and are interested in Tolkien then here are some items to add on your calendar. Read article
On Monday The Tolkien Estate and HarperCollins Publishers sued New Line Cinema to claim their long-forgotten gold in Los Angeles Superior Court. New Line refused to say whether the Tolkien Estate legal action would have an immediate impact on the development of The Hobbit movies. But if successful, the lawsuit has the potential to toss the films into the fires of Mt. Doom. Read article
A signed first impression of the Hobbit and the last known photograph by Tolkien will be sold at Bonhams Printed Books, Maps, Manuscripts and Photographs sale in New Bond Street on 18th March 2008. The signed and dedicated first edition of the Hobbit, from the library of Elaine Griffiths, has been valued at 20.000-30.000 British Pounds. Read here why this Hobbit can be called the Queen of Hobbits. Read article
In February 1968 J.R.R. Tolkien was interviewed in conjunction with the BBC television documentary Tolkien in Oxford, of which also a part has been included in the J.R.R. Tolkien: An Audio Portrait. As far as I know this interview was only released last year for the Children of Hurin Release on April 7, 2007. Since then a small part of that interview could be found in the BBC News Archives, yet the interview is far from complete. I managed… Read article
From the 5th of April until the 7th there will be held a wonderful art exhibition in Moreton-In-Marsch in England. Some of us may have been to previous art exhibitions which were held there and know how wonderful these events are, yet this time it will be even bigger and better. On the guest list are Ted Nasmith, John Howe, Alan Lee, Ruth Lacon and Roger Garland. Read article
In the interview we get some view on the media Anke Eisman likes to work with, her favourite artwork, her favorite Tolkien illustrators, opinion on the Lord of the Rings Movies and the fortcoming books with her artwork. The interview was done by Rowns for Tolkienguide.com. Read article
This year marks the 4th International Art Competition of ST Wieza City Culture and Art Centre of Bielawa in association with City Promotion and Strategy Department of Bielawa in Poland. The Tolkien theme of this years competition is Battles and Combats of the First Age and competitors are free to submit any piece of art on this subject. Read article
We seem to be some days or even hours away from some official announcements by New Line and MGM. Yesterday the Hollywood Reporter announced that Guillermo del Toro is in talks to direct back-to-back installments of J.R.R. Tolkiens The Hobbit. However no official announcement was made so far. Howard Shore will probably be composer of the new movies. Read article
To celebrate the release of Les enfants de Hurin the French publisher Christian Bourgois Editeur has invited Alan Lee to come to France to do several book signing sessions. The Children of Hurin will be released in France on the 21st of February. Read article
