The Real World of the Legendary Middle-earth

This book is an illustrated journey through the life and imagination of J.R.R. Tolkien. It reveals what in the appearance of Middle-earth is fantasy, and what owes its existence to our reality. The subject of John Gart’s unique research is... the places that inspired Tolkien to create the worlds of 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Silmarillion.' What served as the prototype for the Shire, the elven valley of Rivendell and the Misty Mountains? What of this did Tolkien see himself, and what did he only know from books and academic works? Gart's book illuminates how Tolkien's world was truly created and debunks the myths surrounding it. The publication is illustrated with drawings by Tolkien himself and other famous artists, as well as rare archival images and contemporary photographs: from pictures of battlefields of the First World War to stunning African landscapes.