J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century

The core of Tolkien: Author of the Century consists of three chapters that examine The Lord of the Rings as a linguistic and cultural map, as a twisted web of story, and as a response to the meaning of myth. It presents a truly unique argument to explain the nature of evil and also gives the reader a compelling insight into the complex interlacing of the many strands of the story as the narrative moves between characters, and of the unparalleled level of skill necessary to construct such a rich and complex story. The other chapters examine The Hobbit, explaining the hobbits' anachronistic relationship to the heroic world of Middle-earth, the fundamental importance of The Silmarillion to the canon of Tolkien's work, and an illuminating look at Farmer Giles, Leaf by Niggle and other lesser-known works in their connection to Tolkien's own life. - Front Flap blurb