Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Xlibris book explores the intricacies of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth

written August 20, 2007

The Xlibris book, Visualizing Middle-earth, takes an in-depth look at the elements and concepts envisioned by J.R.R. Tolkien in his epic saga, the Lord of the Rings.

Renowned Tolkien researcher Michael Martinez presents a collection of essays in this self-published book, discussing several of Middle-earth’s issues that include the economy of Bree, the holidays Hobbits observe, the portrayal of the Rohirrim, and the history and culture of Dwarves.

Martinez, in the essay “Tolkien’s Middle-earth Doesn’t Look Like Medieval Europe,” contends that the assumptions many fans have on the actual appearance of Middle-earth is not what Tolkien had in mind when he wrote the Lord of the Rings.

Meanwhile, in “Understanding Magic in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth,” Martinez argues against the misconceptions and myths on the workings of magic in the realm of the Elves. This, and the rest of the book’s essays, makes Visualizing Middle-earth an indispensable and exciting complement to the Lord of the Rings books and movies.

A must-have for Tolkien aficionados, Visualizing Middle-earth is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Xlibris.com.

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