Product Description

Classic hardback edition of the second volume of The Lord of the Rings, featuring Tolkien's original unused dust-jacket design. Includes special packaging and the definitive edition of the text, with fold-out map. Frodo and the Companions of the Ring have been beset by danger during their quest to prevent the Ruling Ring from falling into the hands of the Dark Lord by destroying it in the Cracks of Doom. They have lost the wizard, Gandalf, in the battle with an evil spirit in the Mines of Moria; and at the Falls of Rauros, Boromir, seduced by the power of the Ring, tried to seize it by force. While Frodo and Sam made their escape the rest of the company were attacked by Orcs. Now they continue their journey alone down the great River Anduin -- alone, that is, save for the mysterious creeping figure that follows wherever they go. Now, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its first publication, the text has been fully restored with almost 400 corrections -- with the full co-operation of Christopher Tolkien -- making it the definitive version, and as close as possible to the version that J.R.R. Tolkien intended. Also included is the original red and black map of Middle-earth as a fold-out sheet. This 50th anniversary hardback features Tolkien's original unused dust-jacket design, which has been reworked to celebrate this special anniversary.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #77821 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10-17
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 352 pages

Review
'Extraordinarily imaginative, and wholly exciting' The Times 'The story itself is superb' Observer 'A most remarkable feat' Guardian 'Masterpiece? Oh yes' Evening Standard 'An astonishing imaginative tour de force' Daily Telegraph 'A story magnificently told' New Statesman 'Tolkien was a storyteller of genius' Literary Review 'Amongst the greatest works of imaginative fiction of the twentieth century' Sunday Telegraph

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 over 30 languages and have sold many millions of copies worldwide.

Customer Reviews

First and best
When Peter Jackson's epic movies hit the theatres, a new wave of readers began scrambling for "The Fellowship of the Ring." And that is definitely a good thing, because this trilogy not only spurred the fantasy genre into a respectable position, but also provided the template for virtually every elf, dwarf, lost king, and medieval fantasy world since. It's also a glorious read.

The action takes place sixty years after the events of "The Hobbit" -- Bilbo Baggins is older, not much wiser, substantially wealthier, and quite eccentric (a not-so-affectionate nickname is "Mad Baggins"). He has also adopted his bright young cousin Frodo, who was orphaned at a young age and had led a rather fractured life since then. On his 111th birthday, Bilbo suddenly vanishes, leaving behind all his possessions to Frodo -- including the golden ring that allows its wearer to become invisible.

Seventeen years later, Gandalf the wizard shows up again on Frodo's doorstep, and informs the young hobbit that his ring is in fact the One Ring of the Dark Lord Sauron. It inevitably corrupts those who have it, and most of Sauron's power is invested in it. Trying to deflect danger from the Shire, Frodo leaves with his best friend Sam and his loyal cousins Merry and Pippin. But Frodo has only the slightest idea of the hideous and dangerous journey ahead of him, that will take him across Middle-Earth to the evil land of Mordor.

Many fantasy cliches were spawned from this book (although they weren't cliches when Tolkien used them). Orcs, elves, dwarves, halflings, sprawling medieval kingdoms, dethroned kings, gray-bearded wizards and evil Dark Lords. But no one will feel that these are stale; on the contrary, they feel fresh and unused, because that is what they were when the book was first penned.

This book begins on much the same note as "The Hobbit": it's lighter and more cheerful, since it opens in the Shire. But darker undertones begin to crop up in the very first chapter, when Bilbo begins clutching at the Ring and speaking in a Gollum-like manner. It meanders for awhile while the hobbits are travelling, singing and generally wandering around. But when they reach Bree, at which point it becomes darker, faster and more chilling.

One of the things that Tolkien did exceptionally well is atmosphere. With a minimum of words, he conveys the menace of the Black Riders, the beauty of the Elves, the decay of the ancient kingdom of Moria, the exquisite beauty of the Elves. All this is done with a minimum of actual description. And he balances the epic and personal stories, by describing the struggles of the "little guys" who are in the middle of a worldwide struggle.

Frodo himself is the quintessential "little guy" hero, one of the last people whom you'd expect to be on a mission to save the world. He's a little moody, a little immature and bored at the beginning, but incredibly brave and stout-hearted when the pressure is put on him. Self-sacrifice is his middle name. Unlike Luke Skywalker and Harry Potter, Frodo also has no astounding destiny or special powers to help him. He's simply an ordinary person, an everyman... or should I say, "everyhobbit."

Tolkien also brings back the quintessential wizard, Gandalf, whose powers and hidden sides are revealed more fully here. And Frodo is surrounded by a likable (though sometimes not exactly friendly) band of companions, from the noble, secretive king-in-hiding to his loyal pal Sam, as well as his cousins Merry and Pippin. One is wise beyond his years, one is a goodhearted flake.

Tolkien wasn't the first fantasy writer, but he can rightly be described as the first noted fantasy writer, and he remains top of the heap today. A deserved classic, and a beautiful story.