Product Description

This deluxe slipcased volume contains the definitive version of the text, featuring for the very first time full-colour facsimiles of pages from the Book of Mazarbul, illustrations by Tolkien that he intended for inclusion in the 'Bridge of Khazad-dum' chapter. Also appearing are previously unpublished family trees and two full-size fold-out maps. Since it was first published in 1954, The Lord of the Rings has been a book people have treasured. Steeped in unrivalled magic and otherworldliness, its sweeping fantasy and epic adventure has touched the hearts of young and old alike. Over 100 million copies of its many editions have been sold around the world, and occasional collectors' editions become prized and valuable items of publishing. This deluxe cased volume contains the complete text, fully corrected and reset, and features for the very first time the pages from the Book of Mazarbul, illustrations done by Tolkien and intended for inclusion in the famous 'Bridge of Khazad-dum' chapter. Also appearing are previously unpublished family trees and two, full-size fold-out maps. Sympathetically packaged to reflect the classic look of the original, this brand new volume will prove irresistible to collectors and new fans alike.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #65833 in Books
• Published on: 2004-10-18
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 1184 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
A Christian can be forgiven for not reading the Bible--heck, it's a pretty big book after all. But there's no salvation for a fantasy fan who hasn't read the gospel of the genre, J.R.R. Tolkien's definitive three-book epic, The Lord of the Rings (encompassing The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King), and its charming precursor, The Hobbit. That many (if not most) fantasy works are in some way derivative of Tolkien is understood, but the influence of The Lord of the Rings is so universal that everybody from George Lucas to Led Zeppelin has appropriated it for one purpose or another.

Not just revolutionary because it was groundbreaking, The Lord of the Rings is timeless because it's the product of a truly top-shelf mind. Tolkien was a distinguished linguist and Oxford scholar of dead languages, with strong ideas about the importance of myth and story and a deep appreciation of nature. His epic, 10 years in the making, recounts the Great War of the Ring and the closing of Middle-Earth's Third Age, a time when magic begins to fade from the world and men rise to dominance. Tolkien carefully details this transition with tremendous skill and love, creating in The Lord of the Rings a universal and all-embracing tale, a justly celebrated classic. --Paul Hughes, Amazon.com

Review
'Masterpiece? Oh yes, I've no doubt about that.' Evening Standard 'Among the greatest works of imaginative fiction of the 20th century.' Sunday Telegraph 'The English-speaking world is divided into those who have read The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit and those who are going to read them' Sunday Times 'A story magnificently told, with every kind of colour and movement and greatness' New Statesman

About the Author
J.R.R.Tolkien (1892-1973) was a distinguished academic, though he is best known for writing The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, plus other stories and essays. His books have been translated into 50 languages and have sold many millions of copies worldwide.

Customer Reviews

Anniversary Edition: UK vs. US deluxe versions
Tolkien's US publisher, Houghton Mifflin, has produced a slightly larger book in leather, with a faint marbled appearance and a brushed feel. The paper on the US edition is good quality too, with an appealing translucency that sits well with the gilded edges (although when the book is closed, the gold looks a little cheap compared with the pale finish on the available HarperCollins India paper edition). The boards, however, both for the slipcase and book seem a little thin, and once the gilded pages have had a cursory ruffle, it's a surprise to find the book needs squeezing back in the slipcase, which then bows out in response. Should you wish to remove the book, a good shake is required to free it.

Where the US edition shines, however, is in the inclusion of the two large-scale fold out maps, laid in at either end of the book. These are exceptional, but sadly omitted in the UK deluxe edition of this release.

What, the UK edition doesn't have fold out maps? At twice the price? Well, it does, but they are not the large-scale affairs that graced the original releases and which are represented in the US edition in question; the ones HarperCollins have laid in throughout the text of their deluxe edition fold out horizontally only, which is to say they are scaled down. I presume that this design choice is made to tie in with the format of the fold out Thror's Map in the matching deluxe Hobbit, but still, it seems a wasted opportunity.

Indeed, compared with the US edition, it is easy to see what this edition does not have: i.e., leather, big maps, two tone print, and gilding, but a cursory glance at the design and build of HarperCollins' deluxe edition quickly reveals its superior quality. For a start, the boards used for both book and slipcase are thicker and sturdier, and the uncovered slipcase innards are constructed from a closely matched, light grey board. Similar care has been taken in the UK edition's old fashioned presentation: the case has a gently curved front for effortless book removal, and a circular window reveals part of the book's front design, completing it with its own embossed motif. The selection of fine quality coverings cannot be faulted either: the mottled grey paper perfectly complements the textured maroon quarter-binding and matching slipcase (in turn, the grey backing is also used on the deluxe Hobbit, going equally well with green).

Crucially, however, the execution of the design is spot on, something sorely lacking in the US edition: the folds of the covering within the slipcase are deep and symmetrical, which is even more impressive considering the curved front, and the embossing is firmly pressed in, lending depth and texture. Basically, everything you expect from the manufacture of such an expensive book is delivered in the UK edition: from the engineering of the slipcase window, to the squareness of every available edge, care with the details shines through.

The Lord of the Rings: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
We all know that the The Lord of the Rings is a work of genius, so this review covers this particular published version (The Lord of the Rings: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition). First off this book is expensive and in format it is only a little larger than the paperback version. Also apart from the three pages from the book of Mazurbul there are no illustrations. First impressions will probably leave most people wondering where their money went. So what do you get for the money?

Well, clearly the publishers have spent some time thinking about how to add both quality and usability. There are two fold out maps printed in black and red. Not spectacular and in size these cover no more space than if they were printed across two pages. However, because they are fold out they are easier to read and if left "folded out" can be referred to whilst reading text on other pages.

The slip cover works well and is has a sturdy feel. The paper has a quality (non glossy) feel and is much whiter than other versions (especially the paperback) I have seen. Combined with a very crisp font this makes the book easy to read, something I struggle with in some of the cheaper published versions. Somehow when the book is closed after use the pages easily compress back to their original size making the slip case easy to use without the case being oversized.

It would have been easy for the publishers to have fallen into the trap of printing this book in the larger format of some Lord of the Rings books. However, the Lord of the Rings is a long story and these larger formats are very difficult to read due to the weight of the books. This book can actually be used!

Overall the book has an understated feel of quality which will grow on you. However there is no getting away from the premium price. If you are looking for something to give a more immediate impression there are cheaper versions, printed on glossier paper, in larger format and with more illustrations.
This makes this a book for the dedicated Lord of the Rings collector, if you just want a book for everyday use or to read for the first time I would suggest one of the mid-price versions.

This edition is poor quality
Don't get me wrong - I love LOTR, and I hate to be a stick in the mud. Its just that this paperback edition, contains paper as flimsy as toilet roll, and ink that smudges with the slightest touch. I'd recommend Lord of the Rings to anyone, but if you can afford it Id say spend a little more money to get a book that lasts its proper lifetime.