Hobbits, Elves, and Wizards: Exploring the Wonders and Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings

by Michael N. Stanton

Stanton provides an intriguing look at Tolkien's fantasyscape that ultimately shows how all of these parts meld into a singularly compelling work of art that lives and breathes.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Literature, Literary Criticism, Books About Books, Reference, Science Fiction Fantasy

192 pages, Hardcover

First published November 17, 2001

About the author

Michael N. Stanton was a professor emeritus of English at the University of Vermont and a scholar of J.R.R. Tolkien’s works. He authored Hobbits, Elves, and Wizards and contributed numerous articles to the J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia. His work also appeared in Tolkien in New Zealand and Tolkien and the Modern Middle Ages, among other publications. In addition to his writing, Stanton delivered various papers and lectures on Tolkien and medieval literature.

Reviews

[Laurel Flynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not have to read this literary disassembling of Tolkien's famous books for coursework. I was inspired to reread The Hobbit, and then the Lord of the Rings books, after seeing the Desolation of Smaug film (hmmm....I don't remember some of these plotlines...). Never having read the Appendices in the back of The Return of the King, I continued on; at this rate I will actually attempt to read The Silmarillion, though, at a certain point, I really need some recreation in my reading.
I don't need the Cliff Notes qualities of this book but can truly appreciate the added perspective. I understood the mythological connections between Tolkien's work and the ancient stories of the Northern European peoples but virtually complete consistency and the depth of the world-building in Tolkien is amazing. The attention to the details of language and effects of cultural heritage on character development may not be things we notice as we enjoy the story of Middle-Earth but the books are the result of putting together a puzzle of 100,000 pieces, interlocking very precisely. You may need a book like Hobbits, Elves and Wizards to gain this appreciation.
On the one hand, I do not recommend this book for the casual reader. If you are blessed with time, retain a sense of literary curiosity from college English, and read Great Literature for fun, you will soak this book up quickly, enjoying the additional background to the story. On the other hand, if you were looking for details for your Warhammer figures you won't get past the introduction (if, indeed, you are prone to read that section at all). Yes, this short book will help you if you are tasked with writing a term paper on The Lord of the Rings but it isn't a substitute for diving in and enjoying that epic tale.

[Fantasy Literature · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are very few better qualified to write an introductory book on J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings than Michael Stanton, a scholar who has studied and taught the trilogy for twenty-five years. He's obviously a great fan of the book (that is, he does not seem to be simply trying to cash in on the recent popularity that the movies have caused) and writes in a simple, chatty style that is easy for most non-academics to understand. For those who are more experienced in reading essays and critiques, Hobbits, Elves and Wizards may come across as either too simplistic or repetitive, and I admit that there was very little here that I hadn't already come across in more comprehensive essays on this subject.

But Stanton is well aware of this, and has no ... Read More:
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[ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice overview for someone just getting into Tolkien's world. If you've read more than the stories themselves it'll be rehashing information you already know but there are some gems of information present for those who have delved in before as well.

[Kellie Cunningham · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have reached the unfortunate place in my career where it is incredibly hard to find Tolkien books that A: I haven't read, and B: are remotely interesting and give information that I didn't already know.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked myself because of the plot and the adventures that happens throughout the book.

[Santander · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a very good book because of the adventures and the effects

[Nofreeusernames Nofreeusernames · Rating 4 out of 5]

Místy trochu zdlouhavá, ale povětšinou fascinující kniha, která laika skvěle seznámí s pozadím Tolkienových příběhů. Je nesmírně zajímavé, jakou úlohu v nich hraje jazyk a vztah k přírodě, jako znak dobra nebo zla. Je-li někdo na straně světla, jeho jazyk je krásný a váží si přírody, temná strana má jazyk ostrý a ošklivý a přírodu ničí. Původ Gandalfa je poněkud neuvěřitelný, ale neméně úchvatný. Pokud jste dosud věřili na magii ve Středozemi, po přečtení knihy přestanete, protože onou magií není nic víc než síla slov a jejich rezonance v přírodě, která vyvolává kýženou reakci. Hodně mě to bavilo.

[Ci · Rating 5 out of 5]

After finishing Lord of The Rings merely five months ago, I was still enthralled by the wondrous world spanned by Tolkien's imagination. This book comes at the right time to review the characters and various plotlines, whetting the appetite for another re-read in the near future.

The author wrote in a clean, crisp style with a lot of insights to share. I did not know Gandalf is a Maia instead of human; his power and wisdom now becomes clear given his all encompassing role as the guardian and councillor for the Good.

I finished this book in one long gulp. I am confident that it would provide both insights and delights to LOTR fans.

[Todd Stockslager · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, readable guide to Tolkien's world, interestingly published to match the release of the first of the Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings movie series, but with a prominent back-cover disclaimer that the book has nothing to do with the movie.

Stanton focuses on the books' plot summaries, geographies, characters, and major themes. And in fact it does serve as a good companion to the movies, showing by its focus on the books how closely the movies track to the books.

I purchased this book in December 2003 at Union Station, where I went to buy a Christmas present for Vickie, to pass the time on the Metro on way back to my hotel.

[Aynarra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nemůžu knize nedat jinak, než 5 hvězdiček i přesto, že to není kniha, jako kniha. Není to kniha, která by byla sama příběhem, ale kniha, která o příběhu pojednává. Kniha, kde je rozebíráno díla Pána prstenů a to tak, že jsem si až do poslední stránky uvědomovala své nedostatky v tomto díle. Pána prstenů mám opravdu moc ráda, ale zdaleka o něm toho ještě nevím tolik, jako jsem si myslela...
Hobiti, elfové a čarodějové my tak poskytli jednu z mála možností, nahlédnout za oponu tohoto epického díla a porozumět tomu, čemu jsem doposud nerozuměla nebo co jsou nevěděla...

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic and informative read that I would highly recommend to any amateur Tolkien scholar such as myself. It delves into the language, the history, the development and the dubious theological tie ins that LOTR fans always talks about. My only regret is that my copy of fellowship isn't close at hand so I can't immediately dive in again with fresh insight.

[Tiffiny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I initially had a hard time getting into the LOTR trilogy until I read this book. It broke down so much of the book and made it more accessible to me. I definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to better understand the saga. (Read it in conjunction with the trilogy).

[Chrissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book to read prior to reading the Lord of the Rings again. Mr. Stanton provided several short summaries of various topics (language, races, themes) that encourage me to read LOTR again paying careful attention to parts that I missed previously.

[Nikola Pavlovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zanimljiv pogled na Tolkinov svet.
Vodite raspravu sa M. N. Stantonom dok citate njegovu knjigu, jer ne verujem da cete se sloziti sa svim idejama koje on ima da iznese ovde. Upravo u tome lezi i kvalitet ove knjige. Debata je uvek dobrodosla :)

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting academic look at Lord of the Rings and by a small extension the Hobbit. I would like to see an updated version of this with the other two films discussed.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview for the casual reader of the Lord of the Rings. Helps connect some dots in an easy-to-understand manner.

[Jody Mena]

If you're interested in The Lord of the Rings, but don't have the time or energy to read the books themselves, this book is a good solution. Stanton effectively overviews the plot and characters of the book while at the same time analyzing the structure, underlying philosophies of the book, as well as the history of the author and his writing process. It really helped me to recognize and clarify some of the themes I'd found in the books myself, and also helped me to identify new ones, which was pleasantly surprising. A great read!

[Louise Chambers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good material for understanding and enjoying the Middle-Earth world of J.R.R. Tolkien.

[John Fredrickson · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is not at all clear to me who the target audience for this book is. It really is an extended digest of sorts, recounting the basic plot-lines of the four book (Hobbit, LOTR 1,2 3) with some discussions along the way of themes that crop up or are particularly noteworthy. It feels too in depth for an introduction for those who are considering reading the series, but not in depth enough for those who have read it already.

One particular disappointment with the book is that it states throughout how key the design and use of language is throughout Tolkien's texts, but when the section on language arrives in this book, the author does not explore it in detail. Instead, he indicates that other authors have explored Tolkien and language very thoroughly, and defers to them.

[Victoria Schreiber · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very thoughtful and helpful book that disects Lotr in a concise manner - perfect for anyone wanting to get an overview of the different plot elements, characters, and aspects of the novel. The book is also written well and gives great explanations, which generally make it a good read. A short guide through Middle-Earth and therefore a great book for any Tolkien fan or those wanting to explore his world a bit more.

[Andrea Hickman Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing new or surprising here, but a reminder of why I love LotR.

[Whimsical · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how this book helps us see how Tolkien thought up and wrote Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit!

[Carrie]

An enjoyable book to read right after rereading LOTR to dig into the story a little more.

[Kris Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

an inside look at middle-earth. all the way from the writing desk to the books.