J.R.R. Tolkien is the greatest fantasy writer ever to have lived. He has millions of devoted readers (and filmgoers) worldwide, and over 100 million copies of his books have been sold. The Master Of The Rings takes a look at the man himself, where he came from, what influenced his writing, and the themes that unite his major works, The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings. There is also a detailed guide to who's who, what's what, and where's where in Middle Earth, plus a unique look at the historical background to The Lord of The Rings. The books have had a massive influence on fantasy as a genre since their publication. Without Tolkien, there might have been no J.K. Rowling, David Eddings or Star Wars. Looking at this, we begin to see the more far-reaching, but no less important aspects of Tolkien's world. Ultimately, there is the phenomenon itself in all its many forms, from websites to language schools. The Master of the Rings is the perfect readers' and moviegoers' companion to Tolkien's world, his words, and his philosophy. Read Less