(Note: some of the essays in these volumes are very academic, while others are easily read. An annual scholarly publication of Tolkien scholarship that includes a summary or reviews of papers and books published on Tolkien’s fiction and his academic work. West Virginia University Press, Morgantown, 2004 onwards. Anderson (from 2012 David Bratman), Michael D. Tolkien studies has started to expand beyond just Literary Studies into the areas of study such as ecology, musicology, and astrology.Īcademic journals and conference proceedings Some of these are free but some can be more expensive and harder to find. There are many excellent studies on Tolkien that require some knowledge of Tolkien’s biography and works. Revised edition, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 1992 HarperCollins, London. Journeys of Frodo: An Atlas of JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. The Art of the Lord of the Rings by Tolkien. Tolkien: The Places that Inspired Middle-earth. John & Priscilla Tolkien, HarperCollins, London. Humphrey Carpenter with Christopher Tolkien. Tolkien, Charles Williams, and their Friends.

The list was initially compiled by Ian Collier, David Doughan and Troels Forchammer from an earlier list by Charles E. Below you will find a (most certainly not exhausted) list of critical works for new and experienced readers to help them expand on their reading of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and other works. However, as The Hobbit has been in print for over 80 years and The Lord of the Rings for over 60 years the list of possible titles, and the range of their quality, is naturally rather large. Aside from the number of short ‘Guides’ to Tolkien and his works by publishers such as York Notes, Barron’s Book Notes, SparkNotes, and even Dummy’s Guide, there are many excellent books that deal with his works.

Splintered book