J. R. R. Tolkien - The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien - The Lord of the Rings, Science Fiction & Fantasy Art
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Overview
A reissue of the literary detective work examining Tolkien's sources and inspiration, beautifully illustrated by the lead conceptual artist for the LOTR film trilogy, of whom Peter Jackson said "His art captured what I hoped to capture with the films." J. R. R. Tolkien had a great knowledge of, and love for, world mythology when he wrote his beloved trilogy of Middle Earth. This authoritative work shows how The Lord of the Rings is the result of an ancient storytelling tradition that dates back to the dawn of western cultures, and how, by drawing upon the world's primary myths and legends, Tolkien created his own mythology for the 20th century. In particular, the symbol of the Ring has a rich and fascinating heritage, and just as Gandalf sets out to discover the history of the Hobbit's Ring, so the author searches out the history and descent of Tolkien's Ring, and how the Ring quest tradition first came into being among tribal peoples before written records were kept. Beautifully illustrated throughout by the acclaimed artist Alan Lee—creator of the illustrated The Lord of the Rings—this is an extraordinary journey through the most magical and potent of stories.Editorials
From the Publisher
"A mighty achievement, effectively described and celebrated in this lavish, handsomely presented volume." —Times Educational Supplement
"Day's enthusiasm is infectious, and he concisely retells the myths he examines with some verve." —SFX Magazine
From Barnes & Noble
Anyone familiar with J.R.R. Tolkien's epic tale, The Lord of the Rings, knows the literary merits of this wonderful adventure fantasy. Yet, interestingly, Tolkien's overriding ambition was not to write a great story, but rather to create an entire mythological system for the English people. With its intricate mix of legend and lore, archetype and symbol, the trilogy awoke something deep in human consciousness through its universal language of mythic images. In this book, David Day delves into the inspirations and sources for the Ring stories, exploring an ancient storytelling tradition that dates back to the dawn of Western culture and encompasses Norse mythology, Arthurian legend, Celtic and Saxon myths, the classical tradition, German romance, and Biblical tales, as well as specific works like the medieval epic, the Nibelungenlied, and Wagner's operatic adaptation, The Ring of the Nibelung. Alan Lee's evocative color and black-and-white illustrations capture the magic of these mythic characters and themes with a particular grace and elegance. 8 1/2" x 11".Book Details
Published
April 1, 2012
Publisher
Pavilion Books, Limited
Pages
184
Format
Hardcover
ISBN
9781862059276