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Studies

This category contains several pages, so do not forget to hit the next button at the bottom of each page. Click on a picture to enlarge it.

Note that there are also studies in the other sections. For instance the Walking Tree publications are in the "Books about Tolkien - Societies publications" section.

 

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Sarah Arthur, Walking with Frodo

A devotional journey through The Lord of the Rings
Wheaton, 2003. "Leads you through nine pairs of choices -such as darkness or light, betrayal or loyalty- made in The Lord of the Rings and what the Bible has to say about it." Paperback. Illustrated.*

Sarah Arthur, Walking with Bilbo

A devotional adventure through The Hobbit
Wheaton, 2005.  Quotes from The Hobbit are placed next to ones from the Bible. Paperback. Illustrated.*

Ted Baehr and Tom Snyder, Frodo & Harry. Crossway, 2003

Understanding visual media and it impact on our lives
Deals with the influence of movies on children. 1st edition. Paperback.

DeeDee Baldwin (ed.), Parma Eruseen

The Essay Collection
2015. 1st edition. Paperback. Collection of essays on Tolkien and the Jackson movies from the website Parma Eruseen.*

Stanley P. Baldwin, J.R.R. Tolkien: His Life and Works

Library of Great Authors
Spark Notes, 2003. Overview of Tolkien life and work, with summaries of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. 1st edition. Hardback (no dustjacket issued).*

Gregory Bassham and Eric Bronson (ed.), The Lord of the Rings and Philosophy. One Book to Rule Them All

Open Court , 2003
1st edition. Paperback. Essays on the Ring, immortality, time and ending.*

Gregory Bassham (ed.), The Hobbit and Philosophy

Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series
Blackwell, 2012. 1st editon. Paperback.

J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit is one of the best-loved fantasy books of all time and the enchanting "prequel" to The Lord of the Rings. With the help of some of history's great philosophers, this book ponders a host of deep questions raised in this timeless tale, such as: Are adventures simply "nasty, disturbing, uncomfortable things" that "make you late for dinner," or are they exciting and potentially life-changing events? What duties do friends have to one another? Should mercy be extended even to those who deserve to die?

  • Gives you new insights into The Hobbit's central characters, including Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf, Gollum, and Thorin and their exploits, from the Shire through Mirkwood to the Lonely Mountain
  • Explores key questions about The Hobbit's story and themes, including: Was the Arkenstone really Bilbo's to give? How should Smaug's treasure have been distributed? Did Thorin leave his "beautiful golden harp" at Bag-End when he headed out into the Wild? (If so, how much could we get for that on eBay?)
  • Draws on the insights of some of the world's deepest thinkers, from Confucius, Plato, and Aristotle to Immanuel Kant, William Blake, and contemporary American philosopher Thomas Nagel

From the happy halls of Elrond's Last Homely House to Gollum's "slimy island of rock," The Hobbit and Philosophy is a must read for longtime Tolkien fans as well as those discovering Bilbo Baggins and his adventures "there and back again" for the first time. *

Alida Becker (ed.), A Tolkien Treasury

Philadelphia, 2000. With essay's by W.H Auden, Colin Wilson, Edmund Wilson a.o. With a section on paintings by Tim Kirk. Hardback. Antiquarian: fine condition.*

Alida Becker (ed.), A Tolkien Treasury - mini edition

Philadelphia, 2012. With quotes by W.H Auden, Colin Wilson, Edmund Wilson a.o. Illustrated in b&w by Michael Green and in colour by Tim Kirk. Hardback.*

Alida Becker (ed.), The Tolkien Scrapbook

Running Press, 1978. 1st edition. The paperback version of A Tolkien Treasury. With essay's by W.H Auden, Colin Wilson, Edmund Wilson a.o. With a section on paintings by Tim Kirk. Hardback. Antiquarian: very good condition.*
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James Stuart Bell, The Spiritual World of The Hobbit

Minneapolis, 2013. 1st edition. Paperback.

"Let this book be your guide as you discover hidden truths embedded in J.R.R. Tolkien's epic adventure. As one of the bestselling books of the last hundred years, and now a blockbuster movie, the magical charm of The Hobbit has delighted millions. But there is a spiritual dimension that will strike an even deeper chord. The Spiritual World of the Hobbit will take you behind the scenes, revealing Tolkien's beliefs and motivations. From there it will walk you step-by-step through the story itself, uncovering powerful themes of providence, mercy, and courage that are as important in our own lives today as they were to the hobbits in Middle-earth."*

Magne Bergland (ed.), Angerthas in English 3

Bergen, 1997. Magazine of the Norwegian Tolkien Society. This is an all English edition with articles like "Law and Administration in The Shire", "Tolkien and Military Strategy", "The Poem Silmessë", "Magic in Middle-earth". Illustrated. Stapled wrappers. 

Bradley J. Birzer, J.R.R. Tolkien's Sanctifying Myth. Understanding Middle-earth

Isi Books, 2002
1st edition. Hardback. "Explains the surprisingly specific religious symbolism that permeates Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium."

Andrew Blake, J.R.R. Tolkien: A Beginner's Guide

Hodder, 2002. A basic introduction, aimed at school children. 1st edition. Paperback. Illustrated.

Harold Bloom (ed.), J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. Modern Critical Interpretations

Philadelphia, 2000

Contains: "The Appeal of The Lord of the Rings: A Struggle for Life" by Hugh Keenan, "The Lord of the Rings as Literature" by Burton Raffel, "Frodo Anti-Faust: The Lord of the Rings as Contemporary Mythology" by Randel Helms, "1925-1949(ii): The Third Age" by Humphrey Carpenter, "The Lord of the Rings: Tolkien’s Epic" by Jane Chance Nitzsche, "Defining The Lord of the Rings: An Adventure Story in the Edwardian Mode" by Jared Lobdell, "Recovery: Name in The Lord of the Rings" by David Jeffrey, "The Medieval-Renaissance Vision of The Lord of the Rings" by Rose Zimbardo and "The Quest as Legend: The Lord of the Rings" by Katharyn Crabbe. All published before. 1st edition. Hardback.

Harold Bloom (red.), J.R.R. Tolkien. Modern Critical Views

Philadelphia, 2000.  "Tolkien: The Monster and the Critics" by Thomas Gasque, "Cosmic Order" by Paul Kocher, "Tolkien and Frodo Baggins" by Roger Sale, "The Author (1953-1965)" by Daniel Grotta-Kurska, "The Individuated Hobbit" by Timothy R. O’Neill, "Tolkien’s Prelude" by Anne Petty, "A Mythology for England" by Paul Kocher, "On the Need for Writing Tolkien Criticsm" by Neill Isaacs, "Lit. and Lang" by Tom Shippey and "Myth and Story" by Richard Purtill. All published before. 1st edition. Hardback.

Conrad O'Briain (ed.), Tolkien: The Forest and the City

Dublin, 2013. 1st ediiton. Hardback. Collecton of essays by Verlyn Flieger, Tom Shippey. Thomas Honegger, Michael Drout a.o.

Despite the association of J.R.R. Tolkien with the natural world, Middle-earth as landscape and built environment has been relatively neglected. Tolkien: the forest and the city presents new work by some of the finest scholars in Tolkien studies, as well as research from a number of emerging scholars, addressing this neglect. 

Drawing on a wide variety of critical approaches, from philology to ecocriticism, in a clear, approachable style, this collection explores the interaction of culture and nature that imbues Tolkien’s secondary world with the immediacy of our own. *

Kurt Brunner and Jim Ware, Finding God in The Lord of the Rings

Wheaton, 2001. Hardback. Quotes from The Lord of the Rings are compared to the Bible and the authors draw lessons from that.*

Marjorie Burns, Perilous Realms (hardback)

Celtic and Norse in Tolkien's Middle-earth
University of Toronto Press, 2005. "well researched and stimulating work that repeatedly offers original insights and contains much to interest the reader who wishes to explore the fascinating web of influences, sources and attitudes underlying Tolkien's Middle-earth". 1st edition. Hardback (no dustjacket issued).

Stratford Caldecott, The Power of the Ring

The Spiritual Vision Behind The Lord of the Rings

Crossroad, 2005. 1st edition. Paperback.*

The spiritual intensity of The Lord of the Rings is obvious to anyone who has read the trilogy or watched the films by Peter Jackson. Yet the majority of fans are still not aware that the authors was a devout Roman Catholic. In this book Stratford Caldecott reveals the deeper meanings of the text and films, drawing not only on the classic published works but also on Tolkien's writings unpublished during his lifetime.

Lin Carter, Tolkien: A Look Behind The Lord of the Rings. Ballantine, 1971

Fourth printing. Pocket. On the cover various mythical beings. "A joyous exploration of Tolkien's classic trilogy and of the glorious tradition from which it grew". Antiquarian: very good condition.*

Lin Carter, Tolkien: A Look Behind The Lord of the Rings. London, 2003

Gollancz. 1st edition thus. Hardback.*

Erica Challis (ed.), People's Guide to J.R.R. Tolkien

Cold Spring Press, 2004
Essays and reviews taken from TheOneRing.net. Paperback.*

Erica Challis (ed.), More People's Guide to J.R.R. Tolkien

Cold Spring Press, 2005
More essays and reviews taken from TheOneRing.net. 1st edition. Paperback.*

Jane Chance Nitzsche, Tolkien's Art

Papermac, 1980. 1st edition thus. Paperback. "traces in detail the sources and influences, from pagan epic to Christian legend". Antiquarian: very good condition.*