The Fellowship of the Ring: Visual Companion [Hardcover]

Jude Fisher's Lord of the Rings Visual Companion is a real treat for Tolkien fans and brings readers up close to some of the amazing detail they will find in the big-screen version of this fantasy classic. Not just a straightforward movie guide, this is more of a Middle Earth encyclopaedia with information on the people and places that cinema-goers will be introduced. The text is informative and never presumes any level of knowledge, making this book more than accessible for Tolkien fans or those who have yet to discover his work. The pictures are full colour and quite simply superb, showcasing the movies epic scope and immense special effects. There is even a fold-out map of Middle Earth in the centre pages using shots from the movie to illustrate key locations, giving it a more realistic feel. Not an average movie tie-in book, Fisher's wonderful guide has been as lovingly put together as the movie itself and has "quality" stamped all over it. This is definitely one to add to your collection. --Jonathan Weir

Adult/High School-This official, authorized companion to the movie will be helpful to anyone wanting background about Middle-earth, the ancient history of the rings of power, and the main characters and creatures in J. R. R. Tolkien's work. Readers will learn the history of the free peoples of Middle-earth, hobbits, elves, dwarves, and men. The book ends with the Istari, an Elvish term meaning an order or brotherhood of wizards; Gandalf the Grey and Saruman the White are highlighted in this section. Finally, the Dark Powers are featured, including the Orcs, Uruk-Hai, and the Nazgul. The photos are excellent and give readers a good idea of what the characters are all about and their roles in the movie. Anyone interested in a brief history of Tolkien's novel, filmmaking, and cinematography will find this an entertaining read.
Patricia White-Williams, Kings Park Library, Fairfax County, VA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Houghton will publish a Visual Companion volume for each of Jackson's film installments. This offers a heavily illustrated introduction to the characters and the story.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Fully illustrated visual guide to the first in the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy

A large format, full-colour photographic, encyclopaedic guide to the characters, places, landscapes, artefacts and costumes of the world of The Fellowship of the Ring. High quality specifications to include gatefold spreads. Approximately 10,000 words of text.

Further books for the release of The Two Towers and The Return of the King will be published at yearly intervals.

Full-colour guide to The Fellowship of the Rings movie, the first part of Peter Jackson’s epic 300 million dollar film trilogy

Hundreds of exclusive pictures of people, places and objects from the film.

Extensive text to accompany the pictures, complementing both the film and Tolkien’s original book.

J.R.R. Tolkien was born on January 3, 1892. After serving in the First World War, he embarked upon a distinguished career as a professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University. He is the renowned creator of Middle-earth and author of the great modern classic, The Hobbit, the prelude to his epic masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings. Other works by J.R.R. Tolkien include The Silmarillion. J.R.R. Tolkien died in 1973 at the age of 81.

Jude Fisher, who lives in England, is the pseudonym of an established fantasy author with expertise in Tolkien's novels. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.