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The Fellowship of the Ring: Discover Middle-earth in the Bestselling Classic Fantasy Novels before you watch 2022’s Epic New Rings of Power Series (The Lord of the Rings, Book 1)
£3.80
The first part of J. R. R. Tolkien’s epic adventure
THE LORD OF THE RINGS
‘A most remarkable feat’
Guardian
In a sleepy village in the Shire, a young hobbit is entrusted with an immense task. He must make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ruling Ring of Power – the only thing that prevents the Dark Lord Sauron’s evil dominion.
Thus begins J. R. R. Tolkien’s classic tale of adventure, which continues in The Two Towers and The Return of the King.
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Additional information
| Publisher | HarperCollins (20 April 2009) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| File size | 14398 KB |
| Text-to-Speech | Enabled |
| Screen Reader | Supported |
| Enhanced typesetting | Enabled |
| X-Ray | Enabled |
| Word Wise | Enabled |
| Sticky notes | On Kindle Scribe |
| Print length | 465 pages |
| Page numbers source ISBN | 0008376123 |
by Totally not a Hobgoblin
An unfortunate consequence of the success of The Lord of the Rings has been that frequent resetting has engendered errors by the hundred. In some copies, the ring verse has lost its last line; in others, The Council of Elrond its last two sentences. The chief virtue of this 50th Anniversary Edition of The Fellowship of the Ring (ISBN 9780007203543) is that its text, prepared by some of the most eminent Tolkienologists on Arda, is undoubtedly the most accurate ever published.
Based on Tolkien’s own second edition, the book omits his 1954 Foreword, which he himself came to regret as misconceived, but includes his revised Foreword of 1966 and his 1966 Prologue. We’re also given a seven page Note on the Text by Douglas A. Anderson, as well as a four page Note on the 50th Anniversary Edition by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull.
Tolkien would probably chuckle if he knew that two of his frustrated wishes for his book have finally been granted half a century after he proposed them. The tengwar ring inscription has at last been printed in fiery red instead of black; and a tipped in, fold-out plate reproduces his laboriously crafted, battle-distressed pages from the Book of Mazarbul, already well known to fans from their appearance in a Tolkien calendar and then in Pictures by J. R. R. Tolkien. The inscription on the Door of Moria, by contrast, remains in its familiar black on white, a retreat from the arguably more fitting white on black alternative ventured in the large format hardcover edition featuring paintings by Alan Lee. The only other illustrations are Christopher Tolkien’s canonical red and black maps of part of the Shire and of the west of Middle-earth, the latter in its much improved, Unfinished Tales version but now reduced to only about a quarter of its original area. Readers with eyes as keen as Gwaihir’s may regret that lines that were once firm and true are now pixelatedly fuzzy; those who would prefer a larger map should seek out the poster-sized version redone by John Howe (
The Maps of Tolkien’s Middle-earth: Special Edition
).
The design of the text is very similar to that of the second edition, the only obvious difference being that the PostScript Monotype Plantin font is slightly smaller than the Imprint font of yore. The traditional tengwar and runes still adorn the title page, now accompanied by a JRRT monogram. L.E.G.O., Harper Collins’s Italian printer, has printed the text crisply on a smooth, cream-coloured paper much like that often used by Everyman’s Library, a touch less opaque than would be ideal but not to the point of being objectionable.
The book is signature bound with a black and yellow headband, and comes in a robust black cover with elegant gilt lettering. It lies nicely flat when opened. The dust jacket, matt and reminiscent of parchment but with a tough plastic lining, allows us to enjoy a motif painted by Tolkien himself, in which Sauron’s Eye stares at us through the Ruling Ring and its tengwar, while Vilya, Nenya and Narya jointly confront his malevolence. The jacket’s English lettering is printed in a striking copper foil, which lamplight kindles to a gleam that’s rather beautiful.
This admirable, almost perfect edition of Tolkien’s masterpiece probably comes closer than any other to bringing us his book in the form that he desired. Warmly recommended.
by Kerry Winstanley
Good quality paperback. It’s also got Tom Bombadil in it, so if you watched the movies and want to know who he is, buy the book!
by Amazon Customer
Bought for my collection wanted all the same covers for them and absolutely love these covers
by Amazon Customer
Lovely book but arrived scuffed and damaged
by P. Bridle
Wonderful. Serkis’s range of voices and his animated delivery is truly remarkable.
by Nat Whilk
Superlatives don’t do the series justice and this first book lays the basis for the greatest quest in print. The main characters are introduced with a magnificence of style that only Tolkien can produce and the adventures encountered during this early part of the quest are full of action and camaraderie. I know I will enjoy re-reading the rest of the trilogy.
by Grandma A
Can’t review the book as it is for a birthday gift. But did arrive very quickly. Good price.
by SJ
I really enjoyed this. The narrator’s voice is very soothing and easy to listen to. He gets into character exceptionally well. This is a book I have always wanted to read but found it hard work to read it, however, listening to it being read is a joy. I am middle aged and I loved it.