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The Lord of the Rings: A Reader’s Companion

By Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Lord of the Rings: A Reader’s Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull is an indispensable guide for fans of Tolkien's epic tale. It provides detailed commentary, annotations, and historical context for the entire The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The book enhances the reader's understanding and appreciation by offering insights into the text, Tolkien's influences, and the world he created.
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Format: Hardback
$5999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are a devoted fan of Middle-earth and seek a deeper understanding of the rich lore and intricate details behind the classic fantasy epic. This companion offers insightful annotations and comprehensive explanations that enhance the story's complexity, making it an ideal read for those wanting to explore behind-the-scenes insights and additional context from the world of Tolkien.

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A unique companion to The Lord of the Rings which relates the textual history of the Nation’s Favourite Read; with a previously unpublished Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings, written by Tolkien himself.

The essential scholarly fiction fantasy classic guide

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A unique companion to The Lord of the Rings which relates the textual history of the Nation’s Favourite Read; with a previously unpublished Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings, written by Tolkien himself.

In The Lord of the Rings: A Reader’s Companion, internationally acclaimed scholars Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull examine Tolkien's masterpiece chapter by chapter, offering expert insights into its evolution, structure, and meaning. They discuss important influences on its development, connections between that work and other writings by Tolkien, errors and inconsistencies, significant changes to the text, and archaic and unusual words used by Tolkien. Thousands of notes, keyed to standard editions of The Lord of the Rings but universally accessible, reveal the richness and complexity of one of the most popular works of fiction in our time.

Extensive reference is made also to writings by Tolkien not previously or widely published, including elaborate time-schemes, an unfinished manuscript index to The Lord of the Rings, and most notably, the important Nomenclature or guide to names in The Lord of the Rings prepared for the use of translators, long out of print and now newly transcribed and printed in its entirety.

With these resources at hand, even the most seasoned reader of The Lord of the Rings will come to a greater enjoyment and appreciation of Tolkien's magnificent achievement.

Published originally in 2005, the Reader’s Companion won the annual Mythopoeic Scholarship Award in Inkling Studies. It has now been revised and updated to mark the 60th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Lord of the Rings: A Reader’s Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull is praised for its depth and critical acclaim, being described as a masterpiece and one of the greatest works of imaginative fiction of the 20th century. It stands out for its insightful commentary and comprehensive analysis, enriching the reader's understanding of Tolkien's iconic series.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780007556908

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 19 June 2014

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: HarperCollins

Edition: 60th Anniversary edition

Illustration: 12 b/w illus, 1 col plates, Index

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 38.0mm

Width: 149.0mm

Height: 228.0mm

Weight: 1090g

Pages: 976

Collections

2025 Best Sellers Best Sellers at Book Hero Christina Scull Fantasy Fiction General Fiction High Fantasy In Stock Books In-Stock Fiction Books New Release Fiction Sci-Fi & Fantasy The Lord of the Rings Wayne G. Hammond

About the Author

Wayne G. Hammond, is Assistant Librarian in the Chapin Library of Rare Books, Williams College, author of the standard bibliography of Tolkien’s works, J.R.R. Tolkien: A Descriptive Bibliography (1993), and a regular contributor of Tolkien’s notes to the journal Mythlore. He also lectures on the history of printing and illustration and is a practising book designer and graphic artist – making him the ideal co-author of the acclaimed study of Tolkien’s paintings and drawings, J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist & Illustrator. His wife Christina Scull is the former librarian of Sir John Soane’s Museum, London, author of The Soane Hogarths (1991) and the editor of the magazine The Tolkien Collector. The couple live in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Christina Scull is the former librarian of Sir John Soane’s Museum, London. She is the author of ‘The Soane Hogarths’ (1991), edits the journal ‘The Tolkien Collector’, and frequently writes and speaks about Tolkien. Her husband, Wayne G. Hammond, is Assistant Librarian in the Chapin Library of Rare Books, Williams College, author of the standard bibliography of Tolkien’s works, ‘J.R.R. Tolkien: A Descriptive Bibliography’ (1993), and a regular contributor of Tolkien’s notes to the journal ‘Mythlore’. He also lectures on the history of printing and illustration and is a practising book designer and graphic artist – making him the ideal co-author of the acclaimed study of Tolkien’s paintings and drawings, ‘J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist & Illustrator’. The couple live in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

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