Product Description

This is a stunning two-volume slipcased set containing the most comprehensive in-depth companion to Tolkien's life and works ever published, including synopses of all his writings, and a Tolkien gazetteer, who's who and chronology. The two volumes contained in this slipcase, written by two of the foremost experts on J.R.R. Tolkien, comprise the definitive handbook to one of the most popular authors of the 20th century. Tolkien's progress is traced from his birth in South Africa in 1892, to the battlefields of France and the lecture-halls of Leeds and Oxford, to his success as the author of "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings", until his death in 1973. His many academic and literary achievements, his public reception, and his enduring fame are examined in detail. The first volume in this set is a chronology of Tolkien's life and works, the most extensive biographical resource about him ever published. Thousands of details have been drawn from letters, contemporary documents in libraries and archives, and a wide variety of other published and unpublished sources. Assembled together, they form a portrait of Tolkien in all his aspects: the distinguished scholar of Old and Middle English, the capable teacher and administrator, the devoted husband and father, the brilliant creator of Middle-earth. The second volume, the Reader's Guide, is an indispensable introduction to Tolkien's life, writings, and art. It includes histories and discussions of his works; analyses of the components of his vast 'Silmarillion' mythology; brief biographies of persons important in his life; accounts of places he knew; essays on topics such as Tolkien's interests and attitudes towards contemporary issues, ideas found in his works, adaptations, and invented languages; and checklists of his published works, his poetry, his pictorial art, and translations of his writing.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #39765 in Books
• Published on: 2006-11-02
• Format: Box set
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 2
• Binding: Hardcover
• 1999 pages

About the Author
Wayne G. Hammond is a librarian at the Chapin Library of Rare Books at Williams College, Massachusetts. He is the author of 'The Graphic Art of C.B. Falls' (1892), 'J.R.R. Tolkien: A Descriptive Bibliography' (1993), and regular notes on Tolkien in the journal 'Mythlore'. Christina Scull is the former librarian of Sir John Soane's Museum, London. She is the author of 'The Soane Hogarths' (1991), edits the journal 'The Tolkien Collector', and frequently writes and speaks about Tolkien.

Customer Reviews

An Incredible Resource
I purchased these books in November and spent the holidays reading the chronology volume cover to cover. Rarely have I seen such a complete and detailed study of a man's life and works. At the same time it is written in a style that makes you feel as though you are living with Tolkien as a husband, professor, writer, father, and later quite fustrated and bemused idol!! It opens up information on unpublished works like Sellic Spell and the language based on Tolkien's Gothic studies - Taliska. Through the incredible work of the authors you really get a sense of how busy Tolkien's life was, the pull between his academic and family responsibilities vs. his work on Middle Earth. I was really rooting for him to finish the Sillmarillion (even though I know he would not) and that people would let him alone to get on with the work. I have always wanted to meet Tolkien and this volume of chronology made me feel the closest I have in my studies to actually meeting him. I am now reading the second volume cover to cover. Thank you authors for such an invaluable resource!

Probably the best Tolkien Reference on the market today
This book has so much well researched information on Tolkien's written works and life, that it is easily the best book for anyone interested in this area.

It compliments books such as the 12 volume History of Middle Earth by Christopher Tolkien, the Reader's Guide to the Lord of The Rings and The Descriptive Bibliography (the last two both written by Wayne G Hammond). The first book (Chronology) details Tolkien's Life like a diary, for each day of his file that details remain. The second volume (Reader's Guide) is a very comphrensive guide to all Tolkien's written works, friends and colleagues.

If you are interested in details of Tolkien's life and works then this is the book for you, a fantastic work.

A work of great quality
Apart from what the reviewers above mentioned, I will point out the exceptional quality of the edition itself. The hardback books, the dustjacket, the fine paper and the well-chosen font make for an outstanding work - it is a pleasure to own it in your bookcase - not to mention the extremely informative content. It's well worth the money. Please check the customer photos that I posted, they will give you a better insight. A set well worth its money.