The Rough Guide to the Lord of the Rings (Rough Guide Reference) - Softcover

Small enough to fit in a back pocket, this guide to all things Middle-earth has enough material on the Tolkien saga to keep anyone reading for days. The editors make no assumptions about how much readers know of The Lord of the Rings; they explain exactly why the trilogy is so popular and plainly delineate its plot, characters, themes and meanings. Yet this isn't a cursory, quickie guide. Chapters explore, among other subjects, Tolkien's life and times; the making of the blockbuster movies based on the books; the culture, geography and language of Middle-earth (where the trilogy takes place); and how institutions from Greenpeace to Russian politics have been influenced by the trilogy. Sidebars add a quirky aspect to the text, sharing, for example, a list of directors' cameos to look out for in the films, a round-up of writers whose work has been influenced by The Lord of the Rings, and an overview of Tolkien's religious background. Photos.
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