What do you think?
Rate this book
The Complete Guide to Middle-earth
First ever deluxe, slipcased edition of the peerless A–Z guide to the names, places and events in the world of J.R.R. Tolkien, fully illustrated in colour throughout by acclaimed Tolkien artist, Ted Nasmith, and featuring an exclusive colour foldout poster.
J.R.R. Tolkien’s works of epic adventure and fantasy, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion have delighted many millions of fans since they were first published, and are now more popular than ever before.
The Complete Guide to Middle-earth has been compiled to enhance the reader’s enjoyment of Tolkien’s books by bringing together in an A-Z sequence all the key facts and information about names, places, languages and events from The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion.
Accompanied with numerous genealogical tables and a unique Chronology of the First Age, it will provide an indispensable aid to every reader’s discovery of Tolkien’s world.
The first, and definitive, encyclopedia, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth is now available for the first time as a clothbound deluxe edition, housed in a fully illustrated slipcase, to complement the deluxe illustrated editions of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales, and is lavishly illustrated with more than 50 full-colour paintings by acclaimed Tolkien artist, Ted Nasmith, with many appearing exclusively in this edition.
J.R.R. Tolkien’s works of epic adventure and fantasy, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion have delighted many millions of fans since they were first published, and are now more popular than ever before.
The Complete Guide to Middle-earth has been compiled to enhance the reader’s enjoyment of Tolkien’s books by bringing together in an A-Z sequence all the key facts and information about names, places, languages and events from The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion.
Accompanied with numerous genealogical tables and a unique Chronology of the First Age, it will provide an indispensable aid to every reader’s discovery of Tolkien’s world.
The first, and definitive, encyclopedia, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth is now available for the first time as a clothbound deluxe edition, housed in a fully illustrated slipcase, to complement the deluxe illustrated editions of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales, and is lavishly illustrated with more than 50 full-colour paintings by acclaimed Tolkien artist, Ted Nasmith, with many appearing exclusively in this edition.
512 pages, Hardcover
First published July 12, 1974
About the author
Robert Foster
60 booksThis is the disambiguation profile for otherwise unseparared authors publishing as Robert Foster
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
July 22, 2016
An oh-so very helpful reference book for those who want to become a Middle Earth historian or perhaps an etymologist focusing on the Undying Lands......maybe a specialist in Numenor studies?
Robert Foster's The Complete Guide to Middle Earth: From The Hobbit to the Silmarillion will give you just that, a comprehensive compilation of the people, places, events, etc as created by J.R.R. Tolkien. This is very helpful for the reader who can't retain every single detail Tolkien packed into his books. I think there's only a few people on Earth who can, a small tribe of large-brained semi-humans inhabiting Oxford.
Though encyclopedic in nature, The Complete Guide reads more like a dictionary (which means you don't actually read it) with its alphabetical listing and relatively short entries. Short though they may be, generally they don't omit information. After all, in many cases there wasn't a lot of information to go on, so why skip any of it? Example:
PERIANNATH (S: 'halflings') Hobbits (q.v.). (III 510; R 67)
On the other hand, Tolkien being the incredible world-builder that he was, relatively speaking there is copious amounts of info on fairly unimportant characters:
MIRABELLA BRANDYBUCK (TA 2860-2960) Hobbit of the Shire, youngest daughter of Gerontius Took. She married Gorbadoc Brandybuck and had seven children by him. (III 475, 476)
Mirabella doesn't even appear in The Lord of the Rings! She's only a bleedin' footnote! Ah, but I love it. Sometimes these entries of bit players provide enough detail to allow one to imagine up a mini story in their mind.
Generally, the entries are fuller and quite helpful, at least wherever they can be, and seldom do they exhaust a word when they shouldn't. For instance, a page or two on Frodo is good, but his whole story replete with every detail would take up books' worth of pages...three books to be precise.
Occasionally entries will send you on an endless quest for the answer. For instance, "Ngoldo" essentially tells you to see "Noldo," which points you to "Tengwa," and "Tengwa" isn't in the book! However, there is something called "Tengwar," which apparently is a writing system. So in the end you'll get there, and this little annoyance isn't the book's fault. Blame it on the boss of nova, Tolkien, that generative blast that had a great hand in creating today's fantasy world as we know it.
Robert Foster's The Complete Guide to Middle Earth: From The Hobbit to the Silmarillion will give you just that, a comprehensive compilation of the people, places, events, etc as created by J.R.R. Tolkien. This is very helpful for the reader who can't retain every single detail Tolkien packed into his books. I think there's only a few people on Earth who can, a small tribe of large-brained semi-humans inhabiting Oxford.
Though encyclopedic in nature, The Complete Guide reads more like a dictionary (which means you don't actually read it) with its alphabetical listing and relatively short entries. Short though they may be, generally they don't omit information. After all, in many cases there wasn't a lot of information to go on, so why skip any of it? Example:
PERIANNATH (S: 'halflings') Hobbits (q.v.). (III 510; R 67)
On the other hand, Tolkien being the incredible world-builder that he was, relatively speaking there is copious amounts of info on fairly unimportant characters:
MIRABELLA BRANDYBUCK (TA 2860-2960) Hobbit of the Shire, youngest daughter of Gerontius Took. She married Gorbadoc Brandybuck and had seven children by him. (III 475, 476)
Mirabella doesn't even appear in The Lord of the Rings! She's only a bleedin' footnote! Ah, but I love it. Sometimes these entries of bit players provide enough detail to allow one to imagine up a mini story in their mind.
Generally, the entries are fuller and quite helpful, at least wherever they can be, and seldom do they exhaust a word when they shouldn't. For instance, a page or two on Frodo is good, but his whole story replete with every detail would take up books' worth of pages...three books to be precise.
Occasionally entries will send you on an endless quest for the answer. For instance, "Ngoldo" essentially tells you to see "Noldo," which points you to "Tengwa," and "Tengwa" isn't in the book! However, there is something called "Tengwar," which apparently is a writing system. So in the end you'll get there, and this little annoyance isn't the book's fault. Blame it on the boss of nova, Tolkien, that generative blast that had a great hand in creating today's fantasy world as we know it.
May 1, 2012
I know it might seem strange but my wife and I used this as a "baby name book". all three of our kids can be found in this book. My original copy is falling apart at the seams, but I won't be getting rid of it any time soon.
January 6, 2015
I keep this around any time I am reading something set in Middle Earth, which is much of the time. My dog-eared paperback copy is filled with notes, scribbled maps and bookmarks. Even avid readers of Tolkien's work sometimes have a hard time keeping track of the names, dates and places. Included are short descriptions of all the who's, the what's, the where's and the when's. This guide is a perfect reading companion.
April 28, 2021
Very nice reference book for Tolkien's work. Great pics and write ups for just about everything you might want to know. Very recommended
January 5, 2015
I absolutely adore this book. It's fantastic to have around whenever anyone happens to ask me something about Lord of the Rings that I don't actually know. I love having it on hand as reference material. Speaking as someone who has had great difficulty when trying to read The Silmarillion, it really helps explain how events which took place outside of The Lord of the Rings came to pass.
I've checked this book out of my local library so many times, and I was thrilled when I finally got my own personal copy.
The pictures interspersed among the entries are gorgeous and always worth some attention.
Love this book and would recommend to any fan of Lord of the Rings. Anyone who is not so big on Middle Earth and the lore around it probably wouldn't enjoy this book quite so much.
I've checked this book out of my local library so many times, and I was thrilled when I finally got my own personal copy.
The pictures interspersed among the entries are gorgeous and always worth some attention.
Love this book and would recommend to any fan of Lord of the Rings. Anyone who is not so big on Middle Earth and the lore around it probably wouldn't enjoy this book quite so much.
April 10, 2022
This is not a book you read, but is instead an invaluable resource for Middle-earth fans. This is a comprehensive guide to all things Middle-earth, by someone who actually knows the world and history of it. Sadly, that can't be said for everyone trying to cash in on the Tolkien name these days, so this older resource is definitely the go-to for anyone wanting a quick, easy guide to basic info on names, words, places, events, people and beasts, and tells you where in the texts the information is from.
September 6, 2024
Jewel, I think you would like this book!
October 17, 2022
An excellent reference book. Entries are listed alphabetically. I used it quite often while watching The Rings of Power.
Want to read
February 23, 2024I'm going to read a dictionairy? I'm going to read a dictionairy!!
December 16, 2023
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
Compiled and edited by Robert Foster, this reference book for J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth was originally released in 1971 as “A Guide to Middle-earth” until it was revised and updated in 1978 as “The Complete Guide to Middle-earth”. Re-released in 2022, this definitive guide is a gorgeous hardcover edition illustrated with over 50 full-colour paintings by the talented Tolkien artist, Ted Nasmith. This indubitably fascinating encyclopedia comes with an introduction by Robert Foster, an A-Z guide to numerous names, places, and events that took place within The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion, two appendices about the chronology of the First Age and concerning genealogical tables, notes on illustrations by Ted Nasmith, and a thorough index.
Yes, the idea in itself might be appalling, utterly repulsive to some, but I did it, as my Tolkien project continues. In fact, this is the first dictionary that I actually read from cover to cover, and surprisingly, I couldn’t be more impressed and happy by this reading journey. You could have told me a couple of years back that I would eventually end up reading a dictionary, and I wouldn’t have believed you, but here I am. While I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone who hasn’t read the aforementioned three books, this particular edition would make for an impressive gift for any fan of Tolkien’s universe of Middle-earth. There is also more likelihood that a Tolkien-head would dare embark on such a thorough reading adventure, tedious to the eyes (and ears) of outsiders, but pseudo-nostalgic and refreshing for those who are well-versed in J.R.R. Tolkien’s world.
Considering how meticulous J.R.R. Tolkien was with his characters, this encyclopedia does contain a fair number of characters who are absolutely inconsequential to the larger stories at play. In reality, these characters might have even been mentioned just once in a long paragraph describing a gathering in a particular book, making it quite funny to read their names and know nothing more than that 1) they were at some small-scale event and 2) what race they belonged to. Some names are also mentioned only to refer you to another name more commonly used within Tolkien’s universe, making you go on a hunt for answers. I’ll never forget when I landed on “Bombadil, Tom”, only for it to tell me to go check out “Tom Bombadil”.
Obviously, more significant characters, places, or events have much longer descriptions, sometimes going beyond two full pages. This is much appreciated and quite useful, as Robert Foster does a phenomenal job in being succinct without losing the very essence of these events in his summaries. De facto, they mostly make you want to go pick up J.R.R. Tolkien’s books to revisit them as soon as possible.
It must be noted that even if this might be the most definitive encyclopedia fans will get of the universe, this book doesn’t take into account all the publications post-1978, especially the Unfinished Tales edited by Christopher Tolkien. There are several contradictions that can be noted, but these details are much more accessible today through online sources. Nevertheless, what Robert Foster accomplishes here remains rightfully impressive, allowing anyone to quickly search and rediscover the whole story behind names, places, and events, without necessarily having to crack open all the books and reread them.
If all that wasn’t enough, let Ted Nasmith paintings convince you of this edition’s raison d’être, of why you should get your hands on this particular edition. His artwork is simply breathtaking, phenomenally detailed, and visually-vibrant. If you’re not convinced, go do a quick search online and you’ll know.
The Complete Guide to Middle-earth is a magnificent reference book with stunning illustrations that serves as a brilliant companion to any reader’s foray into J.R.R. Tolkien’s universe of Middle-earth.
June 1, 2020
Of course this isn’t the kind of book you read cover to cover, but was it a great guide or companion to have by your side while reading Tolkien, absolutely!! Well done, very basic alphabetical order so easy to consult and search in it. Look to me like it’s very complete. If you want to deep-dive into Tolkien universe and want a useful reference book to help you go into it, I would recommend this one!
August 22, 2022
Even though I’ve read Tolkien’s Silmarillion, The Hobbit & LOTR trilogy several times, I still get confused at times to who or what something is. I want to read them again and this time I won’t have to question what something means, who someone is or where they are, thanks to this comprehensive guide by Robert Foster. I’m so glad I got it for a reference. It’s easy to read and easy to find what one is looking for. Includes Family Trees.
July 2, 2022
2.5 stars [Encyclopedia]
(W: 2.62, U: 2.63, T: 2.33, L: 3.13)
Exact rating: 2.68
First published in 1978, this work is dated in both its spellings and lore (e.g., Foster didn't know Gandalf was a Maia, or that the Elvish suffix -(n)dur means "servant"). The shorter entries are mediocre, but the longer entries on more important topics are notable.
The entries are clean in font, and set against a glossy white page background in the 2003 illustrated edition [L: 3]. Illustrations by Ted Nasmith averaged a [L: 3.25].
Not a work to buy or consult unless you are a diehard Tolkien fan.
(W: 2.62, U: 2.63, T: 2.33, L: 3.13)
Exact rating: 2.68
First published in 1978, this work is dated in both its spellings and lore (e.g., Foster didn't know Gandalf was a Maia, or that the Elvish suffix -(n)dur means "servant"). The shorter entries are mediocre, but the longer entries on more important topics are notable.
The entries are clean in font, and set against a glossy white page background in the 2003 illustrated edition [L: 3]. Illustrations by Ted Nasmith averaged a [L: 3.25].
Not a work to buy or consult unless you are a diehard Tolkien fan.
January 17, 2023
Absolutely fabulous and indispensable. I wish I had bought this book years and years ago. It really does an amazing job clarifying Tolkien's writing. A must have for anyone reading any of his works.
March 28, 2015
This, to me, is the definitive companion or reference guide to Tolkien's books, in addition to any indexes or appendices found at the back of the actual books themselves.
You get an A-Z encyclopedic concordance from pretty much anything in The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, the Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales.
The artwork, while not needed, is fantastic work by Ted Nasmith. [also: it matches the illustrated hardbacks of The Hobbit by Alan Lee, The Lord of the Rings by Alan Lee, and The Silmarillon by Ted Nasmith; (illustrations, size dimensions, the glossy paper...) all published by Harper Collins; quite well. Of course it is attractive in its own right, but saying it 'fits' really well with some other exisitng editions of Tolkien's books.
Despite me writing a review, I did not 'read' all of this title, as it reference. Nevertheless, after randomly flipping through it (and looking up a few things here and there) I discovered that this book is incredibly handy and comprehensive. I agree with Christopher Tolkien's statement on the inside dustjacket flap: ""Mr Robert Foster's Complete Guide to Middle-earth supplies, as I have found through frequent use, an admirable work of reference."
Aside from the various Tolkien books I recommend, I insist that this be the only 'extra' or 'reference' one needs to complement The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales.
You get an A-Z encyclopedic concordance from pretty much anything in The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, the Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales.
The artwork, while not needed, is fantastic work by Ted Nasmith. [also: it matches the illustrated hardbacks of The Hobbit by Alan Lee, The Lord of the Rings by Alan Lee, and The Silmarillon by Ted Nasmith; (illustrations, size dimensions, the glossy paper...) all published by Harper Collins; quite well. Of course it is attractive in its own right, but saying it 'fits' really well with some other exisitng editions of Tolkien's books.
Despite me writing a review, I did not 'read' all of this title, as it reference. Nevertheless, after randomly flipping through it (and looking up a few things here and there) I discovered that this book is incredibly handy and comprehensive. I agree with Christopher Tolkien's statement on the inside dustjacket flap: ""Mr Robert Foster's Complete Guide to Middle-earth supplies, as I have found through frequent use, an admirable work of reference."
Aside from the various Tolkien books I recommend, I insist that this be the only 'extra' or 'reference' one needs to complement The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales.
November 11, 2015
The structure is that of a dictionary, with entries for every single name, name variation, place, character, deity, war, sword, etc. There was never a time where I searched for something and I didn't find it here. It was useful while reading the Silmarillion and made it a whole lot more fun. I won't read Tolkien stuff without it.
There are also full genealogy trees for all the main dynasties: Elrond / Elros, Isildur / Aragorn, Hurin / Boromir / Faramir, et al. Very handy to understand who’s who.
The only reason for not getting this book is that there's an
illustrated guide, which might be nicer; however it's also bigger and less practical, and I wonder if it is as complete as this book, considering it’s half as many pages.
There are also full genealogy trees for all the main dynasties: Elrond / Elros, Isildur / Aragorn, Hurin / Boromir / Faramir, et al. Very handy to understand who’s who.
The only reason for not getting this book is that there's an
illustrated guide, which might be nicer; however it's also bigger and less practical, and I wonder if it is as complete as this book, considering it’s half as many pages.
April 5, 2020
Impressive in both the depth of its content and its overall presentation, Robert Foster’s ‘definitive companion’ is a fine reference to the names, places and events of Tolkien’s world and published works. As an encyclopedia, it is as exhaustive as I would wish, however, its appeal and value is greatly enhanced by the inclusion of Ted Nasmith’s detailed art. The majority of his paintings are quite magnificent, with exceptional detail, realism and mood, capturing key landscapes and locations in compositions that held my attention for some time. Dramatic and often spectacular, these illustrations give life to the many descriptions, supporting the factual information with artistic vision. The book is well worth the price just for the art.
April 20, 2013
From the First Era of Tolkien Rediscovery. Very comprehensive discussions of people, places and things. A bonus are the genealogical tables and Chronology of the First Age. Maps provide little detail beyond what Tolkien drew.
No speculation is both a virtue (straight Tolkien) and a loss (no attempt to draw on secondary sources). Highly useful whether reading the original works or reviewing Peter Jackson's efforts
No speculation is both a virtue (straight Tolkien) and a loss (no attempt to draw on secondary sources). Highly useful whether reading the original works or reviewing Peter Jackson's efforts
March 15, 2017
This book is an exhaustive guide to everything in Tolkein's Lord of the Rings realm. I have found it indispensable over the years. I will remember something from the books and will consult this guide to be sure my recollection is correct. If you are new to the LOTR world, you will find this book to be very handy. There are spoilers throughout, obviously. I applaud Robert Foster's effort in compiling this information in one nifty volume.
July 18, 2009
This little book was indispensable to my thorough digestion of Tolkien's famous books. While it isn't completely exhaustive, it does provide a comprehensive alphabetical dictionary-like reference to the many names, places and historical references Tolkien scatters throughout his works. A must-have for any big Tolkien fan.
November 14, 2016
This is a great guide to the world of Middle Earth that has lost most of its value in a world post-Google. It features succinct explanations for pretty much any obscure location or character you may run across, and it's very easy to read.
January 22, 2020
The essential companion to any re-reading of LOTR.
May 8, 2024
I remember many years ago, while I was in Los Angeles visiting family friends, that I stumbled into a crazy bookshop just to escape the sun for a bit. I don't even think I was able to cover 20% of the place before I was ushered out by my family, but this was one of three books that I was able to pick up. I cost me something like $6. According to an ancient sticker on the back, this was once worth $30, and I can easily justify that terrifying price tag.
This is an incredible resource for referencing within J.R.R. Tolkien's broad explorations of Middle-earth. When I made the decision to write my dissertation on Tolkien's masterworks, this book was nothing short of my lifeline.
My favourite aspect of this book is that Robert Foster has quite literally delved into everything, from people and places that are lucky if they get mentioned one time in any written work to the matters you can't take a single step without hearing about, such as the likes of Smaug and Sauron, going so far as to explain the real-world languages many place/character names come from and what they mean in our own languages. He even includes guides on how to find what he references yourself in your own copies of the books, and he even divides his instructions up by edition (For example, if you have the LoTR trilogy in three separate books, or as one single volume, he accounts for that. Granted, the editions he was working with are incredibly old compared to modern editions of these texts, so there may be some inaccuracy with modern volumes. In my experience though, I am yet to encounter any).
This book seeks only to enhance your experience of your journey throughout Middle-earth, and if you're like me, an easily confused loser who far more often than not bites off far more than they can chew when it comes to books, this handy little guide can keep you on the straight and narrow, help you remember where you and your thought processes left off, and will quite happily show you aspects of this world you never would have considered otherwise. All of the nooks and crannies of Middle-earth are fully on display here, for those who like the finer details to enjoy.
This is an incredible resource for referencing within J.R.R. Tolkien's broad explorations of Middle-earth. When I made the decision to write my dissertation on Tolkien's masterworks, this book was nothing short of my lifeline.
My favourite aspect of this book is that Robert Foster has quite literally delved into everything, from people and places that are lucky if they get mentioned one time in any written work to the matters you can't take a single step without hearing about, such as the likes of Smaug and Sauron, going so far as to explain the real-world languages many place/character names come from and what they mean in our own languages. He even includes guides on how to find what he references yourself in your own copies of the books, and he even divides his instructions up by edition (For example, if you have the LoTR trilogy in three separate books, or as one single volume, he accounts for that. Granted, the editions he was working with are incredibly old compared to modern editions of these texts, so there may be some inaccuracy with modern volumes. In my experience though, I am yet to encounter any).
This book seeks only to enhance your experience of your journey throughout Middle-earth, and if you're like me, an easily confused loser who far more often than not bites off far more than they can chew when it comes to books, this handy little guide can keep you on the straight and narrow, help you remember where you and your thought processes left off, and will quite happily show you aspects of this world you never would have considered otherwise. All of the nooks and crannies of Middle-earth are fully on display here, for those who like the finer details to enjoy.
August 22, 2023
Amazing compendium.
The Harper Collins Standard Hardback Edition is beautifully illustrated by Ted Nasmith, both sides of the cover, as well as copiously inside.
Technological advancement has almost made this book obsolete, because for simple name or place references Google is going to be a faster option for most of us, and that diminishes the power and usage of Robert Foster's incredible guide which was written before internet existed.
I personally have always wondered if this was worth it.
Now that I have it, I can share so some reasons for getting this.
- Big entries like Saruman, Sauron, Gandalf, etc are treated in chronology and context of the wider events that pertain to them in summary. This means you will read in a couple of paragraphs how characters develop, what their aims were and what they were up to and why. This helps strengthen your general understanding of the world and stories.
- Another reason is pertains to the ideology and vision of Tolkien himself. This book allows you to be free of internet and screens, and strengthen your connection to the simple life Tolkien was so in love with. If anything, this reason is very underestimated by people, I expect. It just feels different, and if you love Tolkien, you will resonate with this too.
- The images by Ted Nasmith are evocative. They are very close to the source description, which makes them feel less elevated in comparison to John Howe or Alan Lee, who both have a very different style that packs more action, or invokes the feelings of awe. Nasmith draws more picture-like, while clearly painting scenes from the books faithfully, which bring to mind the emotions of the story that you know and love. That feels special.
To conclude, it looks amazing. There, I said it. The front and back look amazing and it's just a treasure to have. If only already for the majesty of this tome, and the sheer joy it gives of having it, holding it and looking at it and the images. And for those who value books and being offline, and Tolkien's ideology, this is just beautiful.
The Harper Collins Standard Hardback Edition is beautifully illustrated by Ted Nasmith, both sides of the cover, as well as copiously inside.
Technological advancement has almost made this book obsolete, because for simple name or place references Google is going to be a faster option for most of us, and that diminishes the power and usage of Robert Foster's incredible guide which was written before internet existed.
I personally have always wondered if this was worth it.
Now that I have it, I can share so some reasons for getting this.
- Big entries like Saruman, Sauron, Gandalf, etc are treated in chronology and context of the wider events that pertain to them in summary. This means you will read in a couple of paragraphs how characters develop, what their aims were and what they were up to and why. This helps strengthen your general understanding of the world and stories.
- Another reason is pertains to the ideology and vision of Tolkien himself. This book allows you to be free of internet and screens, and strengthen your connection to the simple life Tolkien was so in love with. If anything, this reason is very underestimated by people, I expect. It just feels different, and if you love Tolkien, you will resonate with this too.
- The images by Ted Nasmith are evocative. They are very close to the source description, which makes them feel less elevated in comparison to John Howe or Alan Lee, who both have a very different style that packs more action, or invokes the feelings of awe. Nasmith draws more picture-like, while clearly painting scenes from the books faithfully, which bring to mind the emotions of the story that you know and love. That feels special.
To conclude, it looks amazing. There, I said it. The front and back look amazing and it's just a treasure to have. If only already for the majesty of this tome, and the sheer joy it gives of having it, holding it and looking at it and the images. And for those who value books and being offline, and Tolkien's ideology, this is just beautiful.
March 23, 2020
I used this as a reference book while reading the Silmarillion and found it, along with Karen Wyn Fonstad’s “The Atlas of Middle Earth”, to be an invaluable guide. At first I was using the index at the back of the Silmarillion to remind me of names/places (and all the variations thereof because Tolkien had to name everything in at least 2-3 different languages) but the further you get into the book, the harder it becomes to jog your memory of what came before (especially since a lot of the Noldor elves in middle earth have names that sound super similar and I can never keep straight without the genealogy tables in front of me). The Silmarillion only has very basic definitions in its index so when you are on page 200 of the Silmarillion and it refers back to some prophecy earlier in the book (where 10 pages in that book can span 500 years or more) you have to remember who said it and then look up all the mentions for that person in the index to try and find what page 200 is referring back to. In contrast, Robert Foster’s book has longer summaries so you can just read it all in there pretty easily and continue on with the bigger story. Also much easier to pick up if you just want to look up any random word/place/person within the tolkienverse.
July 27, 2024
No rewelacyjna sprawa.
Przyznam, że czasem mam problemy z odróżnieniem nazw, nie ważne, czy w sindarin, khuzdul czy co, po prostu słyszę Rivendell i nie kojarzę, że to również jest Imladris, tak? Nie mam w głowie słownika. Zapominam również, jak kto co i kto z kim co miał :)
Zawartość obejmuje całość dzieł związanych ze Śródziemiem. Natenczas jestem tylko po WP (reszty nie dorwałam - jeszcze),więc z chęcią starałam się zapoznać z wydarzeniami poprzedzającymi wojnę o Jedyny Pierścień. Początkowo, jasne, trochę się zgubiłam, bo cośtam Valarowie czy elfy, jakaś Muzyka i kto to ten Iluvatar no?
Wydanie - cóż, miałam w rękach wydanie drugie? albo trzecie, po przeprowadzce z biblioteki poznańskiej do ostrzeszowskiej. Są błędy językowe w polskiej pisowni, czasami brakuje spójników (lub mają one za wiele liter),a zdarza się, że i samo główne hasło jest źle zapisane. Problem z wydrukiem tkwi w tym, że niektóre hasła są sklejone, a niektóre zbyt oddalone, również i zdarzyło mi się znaleźć przypis, który był zadrukowany innym przypisem. Niby na początku, w przedmowie autor przeprasza za błędy, no ale... nie przyjmuję.
Także... fajna rzecz dla fanów, też i dla osób trwających w czytaniu Silma, WP czy Hobbita.
Przyznam, że czasem mam problemy z odróżnieniem nazw, nie ważne, czy w sindarin, khuzdul czy co, po prostu słyszę Rivendell i nie kojarzę, że to również jest Imladris, tak? Nie mam w głowie słownika. Zapominam również, jak kto co i kto z kim co miał :)
Zawartość obejmuje całość dzieł związanych ze Śródziemiem. Natenczas jestem tylko po WP (reszty nie dorwałam - jeszcze),więc z chęcią starałam się zapoznać z wydarzeniami poprzedzającymi wojnę o Jedyny Pierścień. Początkowo, jasne, trochę się zgubiłam, bo cośtam Valarowie czy elfy, jakaś Muzyka i kto to ten Iluvatar no?
Wydanie - cóż, miałam w rękach wydanie drugie? albo trzecie, po przeprowadzce z biblioteki poznańskiej do ostrzeszowskiej. Są błędy językowe w polskiej pisowni, czasami brakuje spójników (lub mają one za wiele liter),a zdarza się, że i samo główne hasło jest źle zapisane. Problem z wydrukiem tkwi w tym, że niektóre hasła są sklejone, a niektóre zbyt oddalone, również i zdarzyło mi się znaleźć przypis, który był zadrukowany innym przypisem. Niby na początku, w przedmowie autor przeprasza za błędy, no ale... nie przyjmuję.
Także... fajna rzecz dla fanów, też i dla osób trwających w czytaniu Silma, WP czy Hobbita.
May 11, 2022
Stars: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
A great reference book for anyone interested in Tolkien. This little volume (I say of a 569 page book) claims to list and define almost everything that good ol' JRR mentioned in his books. At least, as of when it was originally published in 1971. It's a wonderful little oddity I picked up at the local record shop for about fifty cents and now it's going to sit in pride of place next to my copies of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
A great reference book for anyone interested in Tolkien. This little volume (I say of a 569 page book) claims to list and define almost everything that good ol' JRR mentioned in his books. At least, as of when it was originally published in 1971. It's a wonderful little oddity I picked up at the local record shop for about fifty cents and now it's going to sit in pride of place next to my copies of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
April 30, 2024
I honestly am a bit shocked I read a whole lexicon from start to finish - but what can I say: it was great! To get back into the vast world of Eä this is the right book. Probably more likely owned to look up certain words I can appreciate having read it all.
And having leaned something interesting that I keep thinking off: apparently Lotho Sackville Baggins met his end by being eaten by Grima. wow.
And having leaned something interesting that I keep thinking off: apparently Lotho Sackville Baggins met his end by being eaten by Grima. wow.
October 31, 2023
This is a fascinating look into the world of Middle-Earth. As the years have gone by we've obviously gotten more and better content to replace this but it's still a good starting point if you're interested in the broader story behind The Lord of the Rings.
August 22, 2018
Only the True Believers own this book. Welcome.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews