WELCOME!

Since 1998, the simple goal for this 'unofficial' homepage for "The Lord of the Rings," by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, is to encourage readers of all ages to take a journey to Middle-earth.

To best achieve this goal, I feel the best use for this site, is to carefully research the currently available editions of Tolkien's works, as well as guides, essays, and other related educational material, sort them all out into the sections listed on the right, hopefully making it as easy as possible to find these books, so that people can experience the peerless masterworks of J.R.R. Tolkien.

"If you want to know the story, you can read the book."

~ Sir Ian McKellen, "The Actors Studio"

If you have yet to read one of Tolkien's books, then I invite you to order a copy of Ballantine's popular Boxed 'Paperback' Collection of "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings." You will join millions of people, from all over the world, who have been changed forever by taking their first journey to Middle-earth.

Those who have already made the journey to Middle-earth, and hunger for more, you will enjoy reading "The Silmarillion," Tolkien's epic history of the First Age of Middle-earth, and "The Children of Húrin", the first complete book by Tolkien since the 1977 posthumous release of "The Silmarillion."

You can also download 'e-book' editions of "The Hobbit," "The Lord of the Rings," "The Silmarillion," and "The Children of Húrin".

These digital versions of Tolkien's works can be read on personal computers, smartphones, or tablets, but I really feel they are best read on dedicated devices like the Kindle.

A SELECTION FROM 'THE RED BOOK OF WESTMARCH'

NEWS, REVIEWS, UPDATES

• Warner Brothers, New Line Cinema, and Metro Goldwyn Mayer have gotten togther and released the first of what is certain to be many trailers for their forthcoming motion picture adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit."

  Be sure to click here and check it out.

• It's that time of year again, so check out the 2012 Tolkien Calendar featuring thirteen paintings Dutch artist, Cor Blok.

  The paintings are inspired by Tolkien's classic masterpiece, "The Lord of the Rings," and were completed during the early 1960s when the young artist was working to create a Bayeux Tapestry approach to illustrating this monumental book.

  Who is Cor Blok you ask? Well, Cor Blok is the only artist still alive that has actually met J.R.R. Tolkien, and the only artist whose work Tolkien admired enough to actually purchase.

  Blok paintings were also featured in the 2011 Tolkien Calendar.

• Speaking of 2012, besides another 'calendar' indicating the world may end again, 2012 marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of the publication of "The Hobbit." To commemorate this, both Houghton Mifflin and HarperCollins are releasing special editions of "The Hobbit." Who'd have thought, right?

  Those are listed in 'The Hobbit' section.

  Two really interesting items also being published are "The Hobbit: 'Facsimile' First Edition," which is as it states, a replica of the edition published in 1937, and "The Art of the Hobbit," which collects over 100 sketches, drawings, paintings, maps, and plans (some published for the first time), in a really nice boxed slipcased hardcover.

  I'm sure there will be more, so I'll post those here and on the blog as they make themselves known.

Outside of the truly important items of interest to Tolkien fans that I post here, I'll post other news, reviews, and announcements, on An Unofficial Weblog for The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. I've also setup a 'Twitter' and 'Facebook' page where I'll post news and announcements to as well.

We're also proud to be the host of The Tolkien Forum. Founded in 1998, it is now one of the Internet's oldest message boards dedicated discussions and deliberations about the works of J.R.R. Tolkien.