The Worlds of J. R. R. Tolkien: The Places That Inspired Middle-Earth

'Fascinating, gorgeously illustrated and thought-provoking. . . . A] masterful book.'--Elizabeth Hand, Washington Post A lavishly illustrated look at the locales familiar to J. R. R. Tolkien, the creator of Middle-earth This book takes you to the places that inspired J. R. R. Tolkien to create his fictional locations in The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and other classic works. Written by renowned Tolkien expert John Garth, The Worlds of J. R. R. Tolkien features a wealth of breathtaking illustrations, including Tolkien's own drawings, contributions from other artists, rare archival images, and spectacular color photos of contemporary locations across Britain and beyond, from the battlefields of World War I to Africa. Garth identifies the locales that served as the basis for Hobbiton, the elven valley of Rivendell, the Glittering Caves of Helm's Deep, and many other settings in Middle-earth, from mountains and forests to rivers, lakes, and shorelands. He reveals the rich interplay