{"product_id":"9780547524412","title":"The Road to Middle-Earth: How J. R. R. Tolkien Created a New Mythology","description":"\u003cb\u003e“Uniquely qualified to explicate Tolkien’s worldview,” this journey into the roots of the Lord of the Rings is a classic in its own right (Salon.com).\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Road to Middle-earth\u003c\/i\u003e, Tom Shippey’s classic work, now revised in paperback, explores J. R. R. Tolkien’s creativity and the sources of his inspiration. Shippey shows in detail how Tolkien’s professional background led him to write The Hobbit and how he created a timeless charm for millions of readers. Examining the foundation of Tolkien’s most popular work, \u003ci\u003eThe Lord of the Rings\u003c\/i\u003e, Shippey also discusses the contribution of \u003ci\u003eThe Silmarillion\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eUnfinished Tales\u003c\/i\u003e to Tolkien’s great myth cycle, showing how Tolkien’s more “difficult” books can be fully appreciated. He goes on to examine the remarkable twelve-volume \u003ci\u003eHistory of Middle-earth\u003c\/i\u003e, written by Tolkien’s son and literary heir Christopher Tolkien, which traces the creative and technical processes by which Middle-earth evolved.","brand":"Houghton Mifflin Harcourt","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47123889979632,"sku":"9780547524412","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780547524412_p0.jpg?v=1769914740","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780547524412","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}