The Little Book of J.R.R. Tolkien

A renowned scholar of the English language, Tolkien is today celebrated as the father of the high fantasy genre. Drawing on his knowledge of languages, mythology and legend, he created an entire alternative reality, Middle Earth, and populated it with hobbits, orcs, ents, dragons, magicians and giant spiders.Packed with fascinating facts about Tolkien''s life and labours, this delightful volume includes extracts from his works, letters and interviews, as well as from his contemporaries and admirers. It''s a celebration of the writer whose imagination and creative genius changed the course of fantasy literature.''I would rather spend one lifetime with you, than face all the ages of this world alone.''The Fellowship of the Ring (1954)''I am in fact a Hobbit (in all but size). I like gardens, trees and unmechanized farmlands; I smoke a pipe, and like good plain food (unrefrigerated), but detest French cooking...''Tolkien in a letter to Deborah Webster, 25 October 1958In July 1915, Tolkien