• ISBN13: 9780618212903

• Condition: NEW

• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

By, J.R.R Tolkien

"It's a strange business walking out your front door; you step out onto the path, and if you don't keep your feet on the road there's no knowing where you'll be swept offto." To Frodo Baggins of the Shire, these words had relatively no significance, but when he found himself in a crucial position in the salvation of Middle Earth; he came to comprehend the meaning of this proverb more thoroughly. In J.R.R Tolkien's epic novel The Fellowship of the Ring, readers are propelled into the breathtaking fantasy world of Middle Earth and introduced to young Frodo Baggins of The Shire. Throughout this spellbinding epic, readers accompany Frodo on his rugged road of hardships and dilemmas leading up to the destruction of the ring of power and the liberation of Middle Earth.
Frodo Baggins was just a typical Hobbit who coexisted peacefully and quietly in his secluded environment in the Shire. He was a normal citizen who was very naive with regard to the many happenings of Middle Earth. However, Frodo's serene life was short-lived, for he soon discovered that the all mighty ring of power was in his household. This book is about how Frodo most leave behind his beloved home and set out to destroy the ring of power once and for all. Along his quest, he faces many arduous circumstances and he sometimes longs for his familiar home. Often, IR.R Tolkien makes the readers really ponder whether Frodo has enough willpower to continue his quest and if he will ever truly overcome affliction. The author does an outstanding job creating this believable yet surreal world and making you really get interested in the characters and events. In my opinion, he is one of the most innovative authors of all time.
Perhaps even more alluring than the predominant storyline are the strong underling themes and messages that permeate the book. Even though this book is a fantasy, it has some extremely important messages that are universally significant. For instance, one of the most dominant themes of this book (and the whole trilogy) is the concept of small people being strong enough to overcome great adversity. At some instances, you can really see that Frodo is a brave person and that he has enough determination to overcome the malice and hatred of the enemy. Another central theme is the notion that fate intervenes with an individual's life. For instance, when the ring of power fell into the hands of Frodo, was it really misfortune or was he meant to be the destroyer of the ring and savior of Middle Earth? I found myself pondering such questions over and over again in my mind and definitely think that this added great intrigue to an already outstanding book.
All in all, you can see that I enjoyed exploring Middle Earth and experiencing the many thrilling events described in this amazing piece of literature. I think that this is an essential read for anybody who is interested in fantasy stories and I strongly recommend it to everyone who has the stamina to persevere through some of the more complicated and confusing parts. This is my favorite book that I have read thus far and I believe that J.R.R Tolkien is one of the most creative and gifted authors of American literature.

2 of 2 found the following review helpful:

An Artist's Inspiration  Jan 30, 2004
I found that the Art of the Fellowship of the Ring was extremely interesting. The sketches and composites were all very detailed and unique. Many of the drawings included, of course, never made it to the film, so it is brilliant to see some of the artists' original conceptions of Professor Tolkien's work.

As a fan of both architectural and fashion design I found the sections on 'Locations' and 'Costumes' particularly fascinating. For instance, I never realized that the basic outline for the Elven clothing was taken from the shape of leaves, nor the intricacy of the detail put into places as seemingly simple as Bag End.

Many of the sketches contained in this volume are of things that never made it to the film, not even to the extended version. In summary, The Art of the Fellowship of the Ring is an exhilerating insight to the LotR for both those interested in art...and I am sure for those who simply revere it, as well. ^^