Available for the first time in paperback, this is the pre-eminent critical stud
y, and exploration, of how myth and legend played such a significant role in the
works of J.R.R. Tolkien. The Song of Middle-earth takes a fresh look at The Lor
d of the Rings, digging deep into the foundations of Tolkien's world to reveal t
he complex tapestry of history and mythology that lies behind his stories.
Th
e charge that Tolkien's work was merely derivative - that he extracted elements
from other mythologies and incorporated them into his own fiction - is dismissed
in favour of a fascinating examination of the rich historical background to Mid
dle-earth. From the mythic tradition of the Tales told in The Book of Lost Tales
: I to the significance of oral storytelling throughout the history of Middle-ea
rth, this book examines the common themes of mythology found within Tolkien's wo
rk. In doing so, The Song of Middle-earth demonstrates how Tolkien's desire to c
reate a new mythology for England is not only apparent in his writing, but also
realised.
