'One of the best loved characters in English fiction... a marvellous fantasy adventure' Daily Mail 'Finely written saga of dwarves and elves, fearsome goblins and trolls... an exciting epic of travel, magical adventure, working up to a devastating climax' The Observer 'A flawless masterpiece' The Times
J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973) was a distinguished academic, though he is best known for writing The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, plus other stories and essays. His books have been translated into over 35 languages and have sold many millions of copies world wide. Alan Lee is the creator of the highly successful illustrated edition of The Lord of the Rings, and winner of the 1994 Kate Greenaway Medal for Children's Book Illustration. He won an Oscar for his work on Peter Jackson's Return of the King.