Further Reading The Lord of the Rings was among the most well-read books of the last century, second only to The Christian Bible. If you're trying to catch a glimpse of how Tolkien wove such powerful magic, here are the best resources I've come across so far, roughly in order of usefulness:

In 1938, right about the time he was getting a serious start on writing his masterpiece, Tolkien gave a lecture called On Fairy-Stories. He explains his idea of fairy tales, myth, elves, elf-magic, mythopoeia (the art of creating myth), disputes the idea that escapism is bad, and explains why fairy-tales for adults are important and even necessary. Wow. I can't over-recommend this to anyone who's thinking of writing fantasy, science fiction, magical realism or fairytales. On Fairy-Stories is available in collections including Tree and Leaf (1964) and The Monsters and The Critics (1983), which also includes the great essay Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics. Tolkien's essay probably borrows a few ideas from George MacDonald's wonderful essay The Fantastic Imagination.





(1964) and (1983), which also includes the great essay Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics. Tolkien's essay probably borrows a few ideas from George MacDonald's wonderful essay The Fantastic Imagination. Tolkien reveals a few more clues as to what he had in mind in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien , edited by Humphrey Carpenter with the assistance of Christopher Tolkien (1981).





, edited by Humphrey Carpenter with the assistance of Christopher Tolkien (1981). Ursula K. Le Guin's The Language of the Night is by far the best book I've ever come across on the secret inner mechanics of science fiction and fantasy. She speaks glowingly of Tolkien throughout, and her essay The Child and the Shadow provides a stunningly insightful Jungian interpretation of The Lord of the Rings . Her ideas on Tolkien served as the basis for her wonderful Earthsea series, which has also attracted a devoted readership in the millions. Of everyone who's written on Tolkien, Le Guin has walked most closely in his footsteps. She must know something worth knowing.





is by far the best book I've ever come across on the secret inner mechanics of science fiction and fantasy. She speaks glowingly of Tolkien throughout, and her essay The Child and the Shadow provides a stunningly insightful Jungian interpretation of . Her ideas on Tolkien served as the basis for her wonderful series, which has also attracted a devoted readership in the millions. Of everyone who's written on Tolkien, Le Guin has walked most closely in his footsteps. She must know something worth knowing. J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century , by Tom Shippey (2000). The first time I read Shippey's work I felt I might burst from joy. For instance, Shippey makes an amazing observation about Tolkien's depiction of evil: you can never tell for sure if the evil is inside Frodo (his own weakness) or outside Frodo (the dark magic of Sauron). Shippey argues that this is a true perception of how people really experience evil, making the book powerful. And that's just the tip of the iceberg...





, by Tom Shippey (2000). The first time I read Shippey's work I felt I might burst from joy. For instance, Shippey makes an amazing observation about Tolkien's depiction of evil: you can never tell for sure if the evil is inside Frodo (his own weakness) or outside Frodo (the dark magic of Sauron). Shippey argues that this is a true perception of how people really experience evil, making the book powerful. And that's just the tip of the iceberg... Master of Middle Earth; The Fiction of J.R.R. Tolkien , by Paul H. Kocher (1972). How do immortals perceive time? Do the elves live in a perpetual state of grief from watching the constant death of the natural world and mortals they love? Does Frodo see the same stellar constellations that we do? If Sauron wins he will destroy Lórien, but if Frodo destroys the One Ring Galadriel's elvin ring will lose it's power, and the elvin race will no longer be able to delay their autumn; The elves will be forced to either leave Middle Earth or lose most of their memories, magic and stature and become the wimpy, inconsequential elves of most Victorian literature (which Tolkien so despised). If Galadriel claims the Ring, could she preserve Lórien? Kocher asks genuinely deep questions about Tolkien's epic, and suggests some well-supported answers.





, by Paul H. Kocher (1972). How do immortals perceive time? Do the elves live in a perpetual state of grief from watching the constant death of the natural world and mortals they love? Does Frodo see the same stellar constellations that we do? If Sauron wins he will destroy Lórien, but if Frodo destroys the One Ring Galadriel's elvin ring will lose it's power, and the elvin race will no longer be able to delay their autumn; The elves will be forced to either leave Middle Earth or lose most of their memories, magic and stature and become the wimpy, inconsequential elves of most Victorian literature (which Tolkien so despised). If Galadriel claims the Ring, could she preserve Lórien? Kocher asks genuinely deep questions about Tolkien's epic, and suggests some well-supported answers. Rhythmic Pattern in the Lord of the Rings, also by Ursula Le Guin, from Meditations on Middle Earth (2001).





(2001). The Road to Middle Earth; How J.R.R. Tolkien Created a New Mythology , by Tom Shippey (1982). Another great book, though a bit more academic (and thus harder to read) than Shippey's newer work. Includes lots of tracing Tolkien's names and story-ideas back to their original sources, plus ruminations on philology, academia, and Tolkien's methods and goals.





, by Tom Shippey (1982). Another great book, though a bit more academic (and thus harder to read) than Shippey's newer work. Includes lots of tracing Tolkien's names and story-ideas back to their original sources, plus ruminations on philology, academia, and Tolkien's methods and goals. Robert West agrees with Tom Shippey that Tolkien uses a medieval writing technique called "interlace" (also called "entrelacement" by the French and "polyphonic narrative" by C.S. Lewis). However, West and Shippey's explanations of what they mean by the term "interlace" are so different, yet each so interesting and plausible, that they're worth comparing. Shippey's interlace discussion appears in Author of the Century , West's in The Interlace Structure of The Lord of the Rings, available in a collection of essays called A Tolkien Compass , edited by Jared Lobdell (1975).





, West's in The Interlace Structure of The Lord of the Rings, available in a collection of essays called , edited by Jared Lobdell (1975). Splintered Light; Logos and Language in Tolkien's World (1983), by Verlyn Flieger. Flieger proposes that Tolkien structured The Lord of the Rings using ideas proposed by Owen Barfield, particularly from Barfield's book Poetic Diction: A Study in Meaning (1928). Barfield (1898-1997) was another member of the Inklings group and the father of Lucy Barfield, the real-life inspiration for Lucy Pevensie from the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. Barfield's basic idea is that language, myth and our perception of the world are all either inseparably intertwined or maybe even the same thing seen from different angles. Flieger brilliantly analyzes the simultaneous cross-evolution of language and myth in Tolkien's work. Everything begins with "el," meaning behold!/star/light (almost certainly inspired by El, an ancient Hebrew name for God). The primal divine light splinters into pieces, allowing the existence of Middle Earth and all who dwell there, but also allowing for the possibility of evil. The first sin is possesiveness: both Melkor (the greatest of the Valar [archangels], and thus probably Satan) and Fëanor (the greatest of elves) are so fearful about being deprived of divine light that they hoard it, thus casting others into shadow. Tolkien's constructed languages all flow from the idea of light: who turns towards the light, who turns away, who is willing to face shadow for the sake of light. Flieger's arguments are necessarily a bit technical, so her book requires work to read, but it's immensely rewarding and reveals an essential piece of Tolkien's magic.





(1983), by Verlyn Flieger. Flieger proposes that Tolkien structured using ideas proposed by Owen Barfield, particularly from Barfield's book (1928). Barfield (1898-1997) was another member of the group and the father of Lucy Barfield, the real-life inspiration for Lucy Pevensie from the by C.S. Lewis. Barfield's basic idea is that language, myth and our perception of the world are all either inseparably intertwined or maybe even the same thing seen from different angles. Flieger brilliantly analyzes the simultaneous cross-evolution of language and myth in Tolkien's work. Everything begins with "el," meaning behold!/star/light (almost certainly inspired by El, an ancient Hebrew name for God). The primal divine light splinters into pieces, allowing the existence of Middle Earth and all who dwell there, but also allowing for the possibility of evil. The first sin is possesiveness: both Melkor (the greatest of the Valar [archangels], and thus probably Satan) and Fëanor (the greatest of elves) are so fearful about being deprived of divine light that they hoard it, thus casting others into shadow. Tolkien's constructed languages all flow from the idea of light: who turns towards the light, who turns away, who is willing to face shadow for the sake of light. Flieger's arguments are necessarily a bit technical, so her book requires work to read, but it's immensely rewarding and reveals an essential piece of Tolkien's magic. J.R.R. Tolkien; A Biography , by Humphrey Carpenter (1977).





, by Humphrey Carpenter (1977). Tolkien's son Christopher has edited the massive History of Middle Earth series, which includes early drafts of the books, a glossary of elvish language roots, oodles of additional stories which take place in Middle Earth (a bit like "cut scenes" on a film DVD) and much more. It's difficult to imagine a serious study of Tolkien which doesn't include this resource. On the other hand the series definitely errs on the side of too much information, so you might skim the series in a library before purchasing selected volumes.





series, which includes early drafts of the books, a glossary of elvish language roots, oodles of additional stories which take place in Middle Earth (a bit like "cut scenes" on a film DVD) and much more. It's difficult to imagine a serious study of Tolkien which doesn't include this resource. On the other hand the series definitely errs on the side of too much information, so you might skim the series in a library before purchasing selected volumes. The Tolkien Fan's Medieval Reader (2004), edited by Turgon (aka David E. Smith) provides an abundance of juicy insights on where Tolkien found his inspirations, including fragments and complete versions of many of the source stories.

Most other Tolkien scholarship I've read (and I'm talking thousands and thousands of pages) unfortunately tends to be more enthusiastic than helpful. However, chances are there are few more nuggets of gold hidden out there somewhere, so don't be afraid to keep looking beyond this list!!

