What do you think?
Rate this book
The Maps of Middle-Earth
Best-selling Tolkien expert Brian Sibley (The Lord of the Rings: The Making of the Movie Trilogy and The Lord of the Rings Official Movie Guide) presents a slipcased collection of four full-color, large-format maps of Tolkien's imaginary realm illustrated by John Howe, a conceptual designer for the blockbuster films directed by Peter Jackson. The set includes a hardcover book describing in detail the importance and evolution of geography within Tolkien's epic fiction and four color maps presented with minimal folds, including two (Beleriand and Númenor) never before published in this country.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1994
28 people are currently reading
4777 people want to read
About the author
J.R.R. Tolkien
786 books77.3k followersJohn Ronald Reuel Tolkien: writer, artist, scholar, linguist. Known to millions around the world as the author of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien spent most of his life teaching at the University of Oxford where he was a distinguished academic in the fields of Old and Middle English and Old Norse. His creativity, confined to his spare time, found its outlet in fantasy works, stories for children, poetry, illustration and invented languages and alphabets.
Tolkien’s most popular works, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are set in Middle-earth, an imagined world with strangely familiar settings inhabited by ancient and extraordinary peoples. Through this secondary world Tolkien writes perceptively of universal human concerns – love and loss, courage and betrayal, humility and pride – giving his books a wide and enduring appeal.
Tolkien was an accomplished amateur artist who painted for pleasure and relaxation. He excelled at landscapes and often drew inspiration from his own stories. He illustrated many scenes from The Silmarillion, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, sometimes drawing or painting as he was writing in order to visualize the imagined scene more clearly.
Tolkien was a professor at the Universities of Leeds and Oxford for almost forty years, teaching Old and Middle English, as well as Old Norse and Gothic. His illuminating lectures on works such as the Old English epic poem, Beowulf, illustrate his deep knowledge of ancient languages and at the same time provide new insights into peoples and legends from a remote past.
Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, in 1892 to English parents. He came to England aged three and was brought up in and around Birmingham. He graduated from the University of Oxford in 1915 and saw active service in France during the First World War before being invalided home. After the war he pursued an academic career teaching Old and Middle English. Alongside his professional work, he invented his own languages and began to create what he called a mythology for England; it was this ‘legendarium’ that he would work on throughout his life. But his literary work did not start and end with Middle-earth, he also wrote poetry, children’s stories and fairy tales for adults. He died in 1973 and is buried in Oxford where he spent most of his adult life.
Tolkien’s most popular works, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are set in Middle-earth, an imagined world with strangely familiar settings inhabited by ancient and extraordinary peoples. Through this secondary world Tolkien writes perceptively of universal human concerns – love and loss, courage and betrayal, humility and pride – giving his books a wide and enduring appeal.
Tolkien was an accomplished amateur artist who painted for pleasure and relaxation. He excelled at landscapes and often drew inspiration from his own stories. He illustrated many scenes from The Silmarillion, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, sometimes drawing or painting as he was writing in order to visualize the imagined scene more clearly.
Tolkien was a professor at the Universities of Leeds and Oxford for almost forty years, teaching Old and Middle English, as well as Old Norse and Gothic. His illuminating lectures on works such as the Old English epic poem, Beowulf, illustrate his deep knowledge of ancient languages and at the same time provide new insights into peoples and legends from a remote past.
Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, in 1892 to English parents. He came to England aged three and was brought up in and around Birmingham. He graduated from the University of Oxford in 1915 and saw active service in France during the First World War before being invalided home. After the war he pursued an academic career teaching Old and Middle English. Alongside his professional work, he invented his own languages and began to create what he called a mythology for England; it was this ‘legendarium’ that he would work on throughout his life. But his literary work did not start and end with Middle-earth, he also wrote poetry, children’s stories and fairy tales for adults. He died in 1973 and is buried in Oxford where he spent most of his adult life.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
January 6, 2014
A middle class, middle aged dad in khaki shorts and fanny pack lays a map out on the hood of the family station wagon. "Well kids, I thought we'd start in the Shire then head off to Rivendell. Maybe catch the stoned trolls if we have time." His finger eagerly traces the route, passing over the map's many lines showing roads and rivers. "After that we'll drive along the scenic Misty Mountains. I hear that's nice. We're not going to be able to make Mirkwood or Isengard, not if were going to have time to zip down to Mordor and snap off a few shots before heading home. What do you think, sounds like a nice little trip, doesn't it honey?" Wind whips the map up into his face, which draws snorts from the bored children and causes the wife to sigh and roll her eyes.
The Maps of Tolkien's Middle-earth is a lovely fold out map of Middle Earth with a booklet containing summary details of locations. The whole package is put together like one of those map guides you might get from Lonely Planet or Fodor's right before you head off on your week-long vacation to see the major sites.
The map itself is decent:
However, the descriptions in the booklet are pretty lightweight, eschewing historical depth. All in all, this is probably only of interest to rabid LotR collectors, or it might make for a good companion/supplement to Tolkien's works for first-time readers in the age range of about 12 to 15, generally speaking. Otherwise, save your money.
The Maps of Tolkien's Middle-earth is a lovely fold out map of Middle Earth with a booklet containing summary details of locations. The whole package is put together like one of those map guides you might get from Lonely Planet or Fodor's right before you head off on your week-long vacation to see the major sites.
The map itself is decent:
However, the descriptions in the booklet are pretty lightweight, eschewing historical depth. All in all, this is probably only of interest to rabid LotR collectors, or it might make for a good companion/supplement to Tolkien's works for first-time readers in the age range of about 12 to 15, generally speaking. Otherwise, save your money.
December 31, 2014
This is a gorgeous bit of work: a slipcase with a hardcover book of information on the making of the maps and what they depict, and a book-cover type folder which contains the four maps, folded up but completely separate (so if you wanted to frame and mount them, that’d be possible). It’s a beautiful collection, and the book itself is gorgeous too. The type-set is the same as most copies of The Hobbit I’ve seen, which I liked, and the layout too. Various illustrations — sketches and full colour — are included, with Brian Sibley describing the events and locations on each of the four maps.
It’s not hugely informative if you’re familiar with the geography and history of Middle-earth, but looking at things laid out like this can be different, and it’s a gorgeous collection, too.
It’s not hugely informative if you’re familiar with the geography and history of Middle-earth, but looking at things laid out like this can be different, and it’s a gorgeous collection, too.
September 26, 2024
I've been enjoying season 2 of The Rings of Power and this was just fun thing to complement it.
January 19, 2013
Beautiful Maps! Someday I think I will have to frame them!
February 17, 2018
John Howe is an artist that worked on the LOTR trilogy and drew the four beautiful full-colour poster maps that make up this collection: maps of northwestern Middle Earth, Wilderland, Beleriand and Numenor. The maps are accompanied by some brief notes by him about the process, as well some essays from Brian Sibley (fairly lightweight) about the importance of maps to Tolkien's creative process and the difficulties and challenges he had in drawing them (eventually taken over by son Christopher), as well a gazetteer of all the places named on the maps. The book was a birthday present from my son and makes a gorgeous gift to a Tolkien fan.
November 7, 2015
Review to come.
March 8, 2025
J.R.R. Tolkien, famed author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, loved languages, myth, and maps. Some argue his tales started with a map. In this book, Brian Sibley presents four maps related to Middle-Earth. For each, he provides a brief history/overview and dictionary of place or terrain names explaining their relevance to a given story. Included is four full-color fold-out maps (each measuring roughly 16"x16") drawn by John Howe based on the original Tolkien drawings.
This book exceeded my (modest) expectations. I expected it to be a vehicle to make money (and basically sell you four maps). I think it is that, partially. But it is also done well. The overviews for each map include some backstory on when Tolkien (or his son) made them, and how some names have changed over time, which was helpful. Sibley also mentions key events and characters from the major works (including The Silmarillion), which, along with the maps and place names, helps visualize and contextualize where things happened in some of the less well-known tales.
This is a quick read, and perhaps not for everyone, but for big Tolkien fans, check it out.
This book exceeded my (modest) expectations. I expected it to be a vehicle to make money (and basically sell you four maps). I think it is that, partially. But it is also done well. The overviews for each map include some backstory on when Tolkien (or his son) made them, and how some names have changed over time, which was helpful. Sibley also mentions key events and characters from the major works (including The Silmarillion), which, along with the maps and place names, helps visualize and contextualize where things happened in some of the less well-known tales.
This is a quick read, and perhaps not for everyone, but for big Tolkien fans, check it out.
May 13, 2024
I really liked this book! It was not super dense like a lot of Tolkien’s other works, and so it was nice to fly through this one. John Howe’s illustrations are amazing and very fun to look at, and Brian Sibley’s writing is really insightful and fun to read. Sometimes it did get a little repetitive, but I had a very great time reading through this. Also the 4 fold-out maps are amazing pieces of artwork from John Howe. I thought this book was really well made, and it makes an amazing addition to any Tolkien collection!
July 13, 2024
This made the lord of the rings nerd in me very happy. And it even came with TOYS!
July 29, 2024
This is a lovely set of maps for the Tolkien nerds, and I shall be framing them and hanging them in my reading nook.
December 31, 2019
Excellent edition with four foldable maps in hardback envelope along with a booklet which describes regions and places marked on the maps.
January 27, 2015
I'd say 3 of the 4 maps are beautiful enough to be frame-worthy while one map (Numenor) only suffers because there isn't a lot of detail from Tolkien's original written descriptions to work with. The text volume of material gathered by Brian Sibley is illuminating and brings to life the locals on the maps. This material is for Tolkien geeks like me and those loving artistic fictional maps.
February 20, 2016
These maps are beautiful - I think the Hobbit one, with Smaug curled around it, is my favorite.
Not sure exactly how to rank this vis-a-vis "books," though. (I actually haven't read the little supplement book that comes with the maps - perhaps I shall!)
Not sure exactly how to rank this vis-a-vis "books," though. (I actually haven't read the little supplement book that comes with the maps - perhaps I shall!)
July 9, 2020
So part of my review for this includes the 4 amazing maps that come along with it. John Howe is one of the best Tolkien illustrators, and Brian Sibley has been one of the best at summarizing Tolkien and delivering his work in various platforms for decades now. His work creating the BBC drama version of LOTR has always been a favorite of mine.
While there are some helpful insights gained from reading the History of Middle Earth series, most of the info in the book portion of this will be nothing new to the serious Tolkien reader. That said, it's well organized, concise, and a unique view on the Tolkien legendarium through the lens of maps.
I have always loved maps, and my love of maps is sort of a chicken and egg scenario with Tolkien's work because some of the first maps I remember loving were from The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings.
Two quick anecdotes along those lines. In high school, during a tough time for me when my parents were splitting up, I took the 8 1/2 by 11 map of Middle Earth that came with the cassette edition of the BBC LOTR radio drama, and penciled in grid lines on it with a ruler. I used these to make a blown up map on a poster myself based on a proportional redraw. It was tons of fun. And if you know me, not mathematically or artistically inclined, you will see how significant this is for me. I spent hours and hours on it.
When I got my first real full time job, as a caller doing government surveys in the summer after my senior year of high school, I had a lot of time waiting for people to pick up the phone (and sometimes berate me for bothering them). We were required to let the ring go 7 times if there was no answering machine. I got to the point where I didn't have to really think about counting anymore. I could register 7 rings in the background of my mind, and what I would do actively while waiting was draw freehand maps of Middle Earth on little scraps of paper at my desk.
Tolkien has been important to me through my whole life, but probably more than any, during the hardest times in my life. And Tolkien's maps have been a huge part of that. As he wisely said, "I wisely started with a map..." If any of this resonates with you, you should buy this book.
While there are some helpful insights gained from reading the History of Middle Earth series, most of the info in the book portion of this will be nothing new to the serious Tolkien reader. That said, it's well organized, concise, and a unique view on the Tolkien legendarium through the lens of maps.
I have always loved maps, and my love of maps is sort of a chicken and egg scenario with Tolkien's work because some of the first maps I remember loving were from The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings.
Two quick anecdotes along those lines. In high school, during a tough time for me when my parents were splitting up, I took the 8 1/2 by 11 map of Middle Earth that came with the cassette edition of the BBC LOTR radio drama, and penciled in grid lines on it with a ruler. I used these to make a blown up map on a poster myself based on a proportional redraw. It was tons of fun. And if you know me, not mathematically or artistically inclined, you will see how significant this is for me. I spent hours and hours on it.
When I got my first real full time job, as a caller doing government surveys in the summer after my senior year of high school, I had a lot of time waiting for people to pick up the phone (and sometimes berate me for bothering them). We were required to let the ring go 7 times if there was no answering machine. I got to the point where I didn't have to really think about counting anymore. I could register 7 rings in the background of my mind, and what I would do actively while waiting was draw freehand maps of Middle Earth on little scraps of paper at my desk.
Tolkien has been important to me through my whole life, but probably more than any, during the hardest times in my life. And Tolkien's maps have been a huge part of that. As he wisely said, "I wisely started with a map..." If any of this resonates with you, you should buy this book.
November 27, 2025
I bought the book primarily for the four included larger maps of Middle Earth, Wilderland, Beleriand and Numenor. They are beautifully done and the artwork around the borders is outstanding. However, while the scale works for the smaller areas of Wilderland and Numenor, I wish the maps of Middle Earth and Beleriand were bigger, as the writing of places appears miniscule.
There is a well done summary of the storyline around each of the four maps as well as an alphabetical ordered list of locations on the maps with some information and storyline of what happened there. This is obviously not meant to be a complete list of all locations and the information is somehow limited to make it not too tedious and boring to read, but it's also well done and accompanied by some beautiful drawings. However, it could use some additional help to find the actual locations on the maps, as that is sometimes hard, also due to the small print of the names. The Atlas of Middle Earth uses grid numbers and letters to help with that, which might have spoiled the artwork here. I currently have a good knowledge of locations as I have just read The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales with constant consultation of the Atlas of Middle Earth, but for someone less familiar it might be tedious to find them.
Overall it's a well done addition to the work of Tolkien in a fairly well condensed format.
There is a well done summary of the storyline around each of the four maps as well as an alphabetical ordered list of locations on the maps with some information and storyline of what happened there. This is obviously not meant to be a complete list of all locations and the information is somehow limited to make it not too tedious and boring to read, but it's also well done and accompanied by some beautiful drawings. However, it could use some additional help to find the actual locations on the maps, as that is sometimes hard, also due to the small print of the names. The Atlas of Middle Earth uses grid numbers and letters to help with that, which might have spoiled the artwork here. I currently have a good knowledge of locations as I have just read The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales with constant consultation of the Atlas of Middle Earth, but for someone less familiar it might be tedious to find them.
Overall it's a well done addition to the work of Tolkien in a fairly well condensed format.
May 3, 2025
t became utterly obsessed with the Lord of the Rings in the early 2000’s (my review in https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...).
At that time, and in the following years I searched for all connected works, from other Tolkien’s works to illustrated guides about the art and “making of” of the movies to these “companion books” I am now reviewing.
The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook by Alan Lee is a compilation of this master’s iconic illustrations. They embellished the books many years before the making of the movies. Then, they inspired many of the settings and conceptual designs in the visual adaptation.
The Atlas of Middle-Earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad shows us in beautiful detail all the different regions and their relative positions inside Tolkien’s Middle Earth.
The Maps of Tolkien's Middle-Earth brings us a compilation of Tolkien’s world-building, illustrated by John Howe, another master, who, like Alan Lee, used to illustrate Tolkien’s books and then became an inspiration for the movie’s aesthetic.
I congregate these three books in the same review because, in essence, they are all a part of the vaster creation beyond the main literary works, contributing to our knowledge and immersion.
They are beautiful creations and will always be 5 stars.
At that time, and in the following years I searched for all connected works, from other Tolkien’s works to illustrated guides about the art and “making of” of the movies to these “companion books” I am now reviewing.
The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook by Alan Lee is a compilation of this master’s iconic illustrations. They embellished the books many years before the making of the movies. Then, they inspired many of the settings and conceptual designs in the visual adaptation.
The Atlas of Middle-Earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad shows us in beautiful detail all the different regions and their relative positions inside Tolkien’s Middle Earth.
The Maps of Tolkien's Middle-Earth brings us a compilation of Tolkien’s world-building, illustrated by John Howe, another master, who, like Alan Lee, used to illustrate Tolkien’s books and then became an inspiration for the movie’s aesthetic.
I congregate these three books in the same review because, in essence, they are all a part of the vaster creation beyond the main literary works, contributing to our knowledge and immersion.
They are beautiful creations and will always be 5 stars.
November 19, 2024
You could tell the author and illustrator are fond of the source material. Attached to this copy are 4 great maps - one of Middle-earth, of Wilderland (the eastern part of Middle-earth, more so focusing on BB's adventures), one of Beleriand (Western realm sunken after the First Age), and one of Numenor (Island-star sunken after the Second Age).
All in all, the book was nice, and I paid 32 euros for it - was it worth the money? I think so and so, considering I had bought 'The Silmarillion' and similar books within this hardback series for about 10 euros less. I guess here you have the four poster-maps, and I grant you they are of good quality and feel good in the hands, but was very sad when I saw a lack of bookmark ribbon that usually is found with these types of books. Nevertheless, this is a book for the die-hard Tolkien fans and happy to have it in my collection
All in all, the book was nice, and I paid 32 euros for it - was it worth the money? I think so and so, considering I had bought 'The Silmarillion' and similar books within this hardback series for about 10 euros less. I guess here you have the four poster-maps, and I grant you they are of good quality and feel good in the hands, but was very sad when I saw a lack of bookmark ribbon that usually is found with these types of books. Nevertheless, this is a book for the die-hard Tolkien fans and happy to have it in my collection
February 8, 2021
Veľmi efektný knižný box obsahujúci 2 zväzky: prvým sú knižné dosky s poskladanými 4 farebnými mapami v spracovaní ilustrátora Johna Howa (mapa Divočiny – Wilderland – z Hobita, mapa Stredozeme v čase udalostí Pána prsteňov, mapa Beleriandu a mapa ostrova Númenor), každá s rozmerom 72 x 72 cm a druhým je sprievodné slovo Briana Sibleya ku každej z nich. Aj keď malo ísť zbierku máp, zažiadalo sa im dodať k nim sprievodný text, ktorý bol dosť obšírny, keďže obsahoval zhrnutia diel Hobita, Pána prsteňov a Silmarillionu (pre tých, čo čítali knihy pred rokmi a už si ich veľmi nepamätajú, to možno bude celkom užitočné pripomenutie). Okrem obsahového zhrnutia diel nájdete v knihe aj abecedný zoznam miest nachádzajúcich sa na jednotlivých mapách, tentokrát so stručnejším popisom.
September 13, 2022
I wasn't terribly impressed with this one. The maps are beautiful, but the little book that comes with them isn't terribly necessary. For each map, there are a couple of pages of how it came about, and then a location-by-location rundown of the plot that concerns the map. I think this is pretty skippable to all except for perhaps a Tolkien scholar who may want the map history or the maps themselves.
December 22, 2024
The later third of this book was pretty fuzzy to me as I haven't read the Silmarillion in ages and have read little of the History of Middle Earth by Christopher Tolkien but I have read The Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit many times. It was fascinating to read about the role of maps in Tolkien's work and to refresh my memory about the geography and history of Middle Earth. Wonderful illustrations and great maps make this a must read for Tolkien fans.
May 23, 2024
This book caught my eye as I was browsing around the local Barnes & Noble with a friend recently. The introduction by Brian Sibley about Tolkien's love for landscape and myth, and his creation of the maps of Middle-earth is very good, and the illustrations by visual artist John Howe are absolutely stunning. This book is something every Tolkien admirer will enjoy.
November 1, 2025
Everyone knows I am a HUGE Tolkien fan. So of course I had to check out this book. If you enjoy maps and worldbuilding, you will really like this. Or if you simply love Middle Earth and want to know more about it, this is also for you! The book is beautiful and the maps are sublime. I adore this book and now I need to own it *hint hint to my husband*
July 29, 2018
Beautiful map for a beautifully created world!
August 24, 2019
While the art work is beautiful the maps are so small you can't really explore them.
Want to read
May 12, 2021It's not so much a book as it 's a bunch of maps.....still pretty nice
April 24, 2023
Beautiful and huge maps. The perfect addition to my Tolkien collection. And a wonderful encyclopedia of the places.
July 1, 2024
A masterpiece for every Tolkien's fan!
July 25, 2024
If someone you know loves tolkin and his works this is a must
April 27, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. I found it very helpful when it came to understanding all the places where things took place in the books. A really solid read.
June 14, 2025
I love maps. and even though most of my books are romance, I have a spot in my heart for world building fantasy’s with maps. Aka lord of the rings
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews