Written for J.R.R. Tolkien's own children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when first published more than sixty years ago. Now recognized as a timeless classic with sales of more than 40 million copies worldwide, this introduction to Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf the Wizard, and the spectacular world of Middle-earth tells of the adventures of a reluctant hero, a powerful and dangerous ring, and the cruel dragon Smaug the Magnificent.

Many years ago, J.R.R. Tolkien composed his own version of the great legend of Northern antiquity, recounted here in The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún . In the Lay of the Völsungs is told the ancestry of the great hero Sigurd, the slayer of Fáfnir, most celebrated of dragons; of his awakening of the Valkyrie Brynhild, who slept surrounded by a wall of fire, and of their betrothal; and of his coming to the court of the great princes who were named the Niflungs (or Nibelungs), with whom he entered into blood-brotherhood. In scenes of dramatic intensity, of confusion of identity, thwarted passion, jealousy, and bitter strife, the tragedy of Sigurd and Brynhild, of Gunnar the Niflung and Gudrún his sister, mounts to its end in the murder of Sigurd, the suicide of Brynhild, and the despair of Gudrún. The Lay of Gudrún recounts her fate after the death of Sigurd, her marriage against her will to the mighty Atli, ruler of the Huns (the Attila of history), his murder of her brothers, and her hideous revenge.

The world first publication of a previously unknown work by J.R.R. Tolkien, which tells the extraordinary story of the final days of England’s legendary hero, King Arthur. The Fall of Arthur, the only venture by J.R.R. Tolkien into the legends of Arthur King of Britain, may well be regarded as his finest and most skilful achievement in the use of the Old English alliterative metre, in which he brought to his transforming perceptions of the old narratives a pervasive sense of the grave and fateful nature of all that is told: of Arthur’s expedition overseas into distant heathen lands, of Guinevere’s flight from Camelot, of the great sea-battle on Arthur’s return to Britain, in the portrait of the traitor Mordred, in the tormented doubts of Lancelot in his French castle. Unhappily, The Fall of Arthur was one of several long narrative poems that he abandoned in that period. In this case he evidently began it in the earlier nineteen-thirties, and it was sufficiently advanced for him to send it to a very perceptive friend who read it with great enthusiasm at the end of 1934 and urgently pressed him ‘You simply must finish it!’ But in vain: he abandoned it, at some date unknown, though there is some evidence that it may have been in 1937, the year of the publication of The Hobbit and the first stirrings of The Lord of the Rings. Years later, in a letter of 1955, he said that ‘he hoped to finish a long poem on The Fall of Arthur’; but that day never came. Associated with the text of the poem, however, are many manuscript pages: a great quantity of drafting and experimentation in verse, in which the strange evolution of the poem’s structure is revealed, together with narrative synopses and very significant if tantalising notes. In these latter can be discerned clear if mysterious associations of the Arthurian conclusion with The Silmarillion, and the bitter ending of the love of Lancelot and Guinevere, which was never written.

Deluxe collector's edition featuring the first edition text and containing a facsimile page of Tolkien's original manuscript. The book is quarterbound with a gold motif stamped on the front board and is presented in a matching slipcase. The Fall of Arthur, the only venture by J.R.R. Tolkien into the legends of Arthur King of Britain, may well be regarded as his finest and most skilful achievement in the use of the Old English alliterative metre, in which he brought to his transforming perceptions of the old narratives a pervasive sense of the grave and fateful nature of all that is told: of Arthur's expedition overseas into distant heathen lands, of Guinevere's flight from Camelot, of the great sea-battle on Arthur's return to Britain, in the portrait of the traitor Mordred, in the tormented doubts of Lancelot in his French castle. Unhappily, The Fall of Arthur was one of several long narrative poems that he abandoned in that period. In this case he evidently began it in the earlier nineteen-thirties, and it was sufficiently advanced for him to send it to a very perceptive friend who read it with great enthusiasm at the end of 1934 and urgently pressed him 'You simply must finish it!' But in vain: he abandoned it, at some date unknown, though there is some evidence that it may have been in 1937, the year of the publication of The Hobbit and the first stirrings of The Lord of the Rings. Years later, in a letter of 1955, he said that 'he hoped to finish a long poem on The Fall of Arthur'; but that day never came. Associated with the text of the poem, however, are many manuscript pages: a great quantity of drafting and experimentation in verse, in which the strange evolution of the poem's structure is revealed, together with narrative synopses and very significant if tantalising notes. In these latter can be discerned clear if mysterious associations of the Arthurian conclusion with The Silmarillion, and the bitter ending of the love of Lancelot and Guinevere, which was never written. Show more Show less

J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings took first place in a recent nationwide British poll to find the greatest book of the century. He may be the most popular writer of our age, but Tolkien is often misunderstood. This major new study of his life, his character and his work reveals the facts and confronts the myths. It explores the background to the man and the culture in which he wrote. Tolkien: Man and Myth observes the relationships that the master writer had with his closest literary colleagues. It reveals his unique relationship with C.S. Lewis, the writer of the Narnia books, and the roots of their estrangement. In this original book about a leading literary life, Joseph Pearce enters the world created by Tolkien in the seven books published during his lifetime. He explores the significance of Middle Earth and what it represented in Tolkien's thinking. Myth, to him, was not a leap from reality but a leap into reality.

Numbered, limited edition of 500 copies. Signed by Ted Nasmith and Christopher Tolkien.

A sumptuous new one-volume edition of Tolkien's classic masterpiece that is fully illustrated throughout in watercolour by the acclaimed and award-winning artist, Alan Lee, and housed in a special transparent slipcase.

Come face to face with Smaug the Magnificent, the most realistic, breathtaking and destructive dragon ever to appear on screen, in this gallery of exclusive images that tell the story of how he was created. Smaug is possibly the most memorable character in JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit: a huge, malevolent, fire-breathing, talking dragon! But while he makes quite an impact in the book, in Peter Jackson’s film adaptation he is definitely the most spectacular creature ever to appear on screen. So how did the filmmakers manage to take the dragon that has lived in millions of readers’ imaginations and turn him into a totally unique and unforgettable living, breathing character? The answer can be found in Smaug: Unleashing the Dragon. Packed with stunning, exclusive new images, it reveals how he grew out of thousands of detailed and fantastical concept designs into the beast that is unleashed in awesome digital glory. Compiled by the Academy Award™-winning teams at Weta Digital and Weta Workshop, who provide fascinating insights telling the story of the dragon’s creation, this is the perfect companion for every fan who was blown away by Smaug, the Magnificent!

Before "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" came this previously unpublished work by Tolkien, written during the 1920s and 1930s, that makes available the author's extensive retelling in English narrative verse of the epic Norse tales of Sigurd the Volsung and The Fall of the Niflungs.

在地底的洞府中住着一个霍比特人。 比尔博，一个热爱安逸生活的霍比特人，自得其乐地待在袋底洞他的霍比特洞府里。清晨和煦，睿智巫师甘道夫的到来打破了宁静。“越过冰冷而又雾蒙蒙的大山，在那深深地下洞穴已有千年……”吟着古老的歌谣，十三个矮人将比尔博拽进冒险远行的队伍。在这趟“意外之旅”之中，与世无争的霍比特人比尔博，却孤身一人在暗如永夜的山底洞穴中发现了足以改变整个世界的小小戒指。 《霍比特人》自1937年首次出版，已被翻译成64种语言，销售超过1亿册，成为伟大的现代经典。17年后，续作《魔戒》出版。《霍比特人》完美地融合了史诗气派与童心稚趣。故事发生在精灵强盛的时代之后、人类统治的时代之前。那时著名的黑森林依然耸立，群山间仍充满艰险。如果此前你对这些浑然不知，那么随着这位平凡探险家的不凡旅程，你会和他一道顺便认识食人妖、半兽人、矮人和精灵，也会了解到那个遭到忽视的伟大时代。 初入世界的前路未知，正如去而复返后的无法忘怀。

霍比特人长什么样？脚上毛茸茸的比尔博先生穿鞋了吗？矮人们给他的纸条是用什么语言写的？比尔博和矮人们从精灵王酒窖中乘桶而逃，“漂流”的河流是往南还是往北汇入密林河的？最受爱戴的《霍比特人》英国首版时经历了哪些波折？ 本书完全收录了托尔金为《霍比特人》所做的美术创作，包含上百幅速写、素描、水彩画、地图和平面图。它们一直深深地影响着大家对于比尔博巴金斯及其所在世界的想象。您能在书中看到这些插画的多种版本——从原始创意，历次修改到最终定型，它们或为首次出版，或经首次上色，都是珍贵的《霍比特人》历史瞬间。 关于《霍比特人》的艺术，您都能在这本书中找到答案。

★最童稚蠢萌的新年礼物，来自老托爷爷的新年问候！ ★华语世界首次引进！英语世界40年的传统——托尔金官方年历，万千戒迷的心水之物！ ★难以抗拒的童稚蠢萌风！全球最新《霍比特人》插图本（Jemima Catlin）斑斓精华，现在立刻抢先拥有！ 《霍比特人官方年历2014》的配图，由杰迈玛•卡特林绘制的新插图版《霍比特人》精选而来。这也是自艾伦•李为《霍比特人》绘制插画之后，近二十年来，托尔金基金会首次认可的官方新系列插图。风格淳朴，充满童趣蠢萌的欢乐气息。 内容按照《霍比特人》原著章节安排，每月设有独立主题，每个与托尔金本人及其作品有关的日子均特殊标记。值得托尔金作品爱好者的珍藏。