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The Dark Powers of Tolkien

DELUXE EDITION An illustrated Exploration of Tolkien's Portrayal of Evil, and the Sources that Inspired his Work from Myth, Literature and History
Series: Tolkien
Brief Description
"For nothing is evil in the beginning" - J.R.R. Tolkien J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and The Silmarillion are some of the greatest tales of good versus evil ever told. From the creation of Arda to the War of the Ring, Tolkien's... Read More
Format: Hardback
$6000
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Releases 8th September 2026 (Approx. Date) Pre-order  "The Dark Powers of Tolkien" now to secure your copy from our first shipment

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A stunning gift edition of the indispensable and comprehensive handbook about the powers of darkness that shaped Middle-earth from acclaimed Tolkien scholar David Day.

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

"For nothing is evil in the beginning" - J.R.R. Tolkien

J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and The Silmarillion are some of the greatest tales of good versus evil ever told. From the creation of Arda to the War of the Ring, Tolkien's Middle-earth has seen war and rebellion, devastation and loss, in which the powers of darkness emerged.

This deluxe edition of David Day's The Dark Powers of Tolkien is a handsome hardback with an embossed and foiled cover, gilt edges and ribbon marker.

Published in a larger format, this edition features some all-new artwork alongside the familiar, exquisite maps, sketches and paintings from a host of brilliant artists.

Without villains, there can be no heroes - any heroic tale is dependent on the formidable challenge posed by its darkest forces. The Dark Powers of Tolkien examines these mighty entities at work in Tolkien's writing and the very nature of evil itself.

Contents include:

  • Melkor and the Origins of Evil
  • Morgoth the Dark Enemy In the First Age
  • Sauron the Ring Lord In the Second Age
  • Sauron the Necromancer In the Third Age
  • The Way of the Ring

This book has not been prepared, authorised, licensed or endorsed by J.R.R. Tolkien's heirs or estate, nor by any of the publishers or distributors of the book The Lord of the Rings or any other work written by J.R.R. Tolkien, nor anyone involved in the creation, production or distribution of the films based on the book.

Series: Tolkien

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  • The Dark Powers of Tolkien
    Pre-order
    The Dark Powers of Tolkien
    "For nothing is evil in the beginning" - J.R.R. Tolkien J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and The Silmarillion are some of the greatest tales of good versus evil ever told. From the creation of Arda to the War of the Ring, Tolkien's Middle-earth has seen war and rebellion, devastation and loss, in which the powers of...
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  • The Ring Legends of Tolkien
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  • A Dictionary of Tolkien
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  • A Dictionary of Tolkien
    Arranged in a handy A-Z format, A Dictionary of Tolkien explores and explains the creatures, plants, events, and places that make up these strange and wonderful lands. It is essential reading for anyone who loves Tolkien's works and wants to learn more about them. This book is unofficial and is not authorised by the Tolkien Estate or HarperCollins Publishers.
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  • An Atlas of Tolkien
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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781788407243

Publisher: Octopus Publishing Group

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 10 September 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Cassell

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 183.0mm

Height: 236.0mm

Weight: 0g

Pages: 256

About the Author

David Day was born and brought up in Canada. He has published many books in the fields of poetry, ecology, natural history, fantasy and mythology and a number of award-winning children's books. His writing has also appeared in many magazines and anthologies.

His enduring fascination with complex mythologies led him to J.R.R. Tolkien and Day is best known for his best-selling books on the life and works of that author.

It all began with the publication of A Tolkien Bestiary (1979), a lavishly illustrated book that for the first time gave readers of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings some indication of the immense scope of Tolkien's mythology

and cosmology.

Day's subsequent books include Tolkien: The Illustrated Encyclopedia (1992), The World of Tolkien: The Mythological Sources of Lord of the Rings (2002).

An Atlas of Tolkien and its companion volume, A Dictionary of Tolkien, were the first two books of a seven-volume reference library and more recently, The Illustrated World of Tolkien (2019) and The Illustrated World of Tolkien:

The Second Age (2023), celebrate more than 40 years of Day's works and delve into the lesser-known parts of Tolkien's legendarium.

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