Catherine McIlwaine

The range of J. R. R. Tolkien's talents is remarkable. Not only was he an accomplished linguist and philologist, as well as a scholar of Anglo-Saxon and medieval literature and Norse folklore, but also a skilful illustrator and storyteller. Drawing on these talents, he created a universe which is for many readers as real as the physical world they inhabit...

From J.R.R. Tolkien's childhood in the Midlands and his experience of the First World War to his studies at school and university; his exquisite illustrations for The Silmarillion, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and his creation of intricate and beautiful maps showing the topography of Middle-earth - the land he invented - this stunning book is a...