Customer Reviews

The Lord of the Rings

5 star:		(742)
4 star:		(53)
3 star:		(33)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(31)

 

 

While a Lord of the Rings fanatic myself, I don't see a reason to write an extensive commentary on the trilogy. If you want a review on the book there are more than sufficient amounts of widely varied opinions below my own that should satiate one's curiosity as to the virtues (or lack thereof) of Tolkien's most acclaimed work.

I feel it more important to note that the item you will be receiving is NOT the one portrayed in the image, but rather a boxset of the three individual novels from the relatively recent Harper Collins reprinting. These three novels are the mass market stylized black ones which have a ring of yellow, red or green on the covers, distinguishing one novel from the next, as well as the glossy black background markings. Unfortunately, I had ordered this item thinking that it was a different printing (due to cover art) that I didn't yet possess and upon receiving the product, I was a little put out to discover that I now have two identical boxsets of black covers. The second will still make a great gift for someone else, but you should be aware that this item is inconsistent with the picture.

Only an balrog could object to an revised 50th anniversary edition, with corrections beyond those in the the standard revised version. BUT...

This edition is *not* "leather bound:" it's a less-than-ordinary hardcover binding with paper-thin faux-leather glued over paper boards. The bookmark ribbon breaks the binding. Signatures are glued rather than sewn together, not held together by the 'leather', but glued onto the paper end sheets, which are separated from the paper spine. Poor production generally: end papers badly centred, more than a little random glue and rubber cement on the covers that really mars the appearance. [See annotated Customer Image #2]. Reviewers elsewhere have commented on uneven type quality; this 2nd printing does not have that problem.

It's an OK one-volume edition, given the revisions. *Not* a 'collectible', definitely not worth the CDN$86 list, barely worth the discounted $56 given the disappointment factor. Don't give this as a gift to a Tolkien fan, expecting rapture. I kept mine for the revisions, first-time readers look elsewhere.

Amazon: please *stop* advertising this edition as 'leather bound': it is *serious* misrepresentation of the product.

As an owner of numerous editions, I welcome this latest revision in honour of the 50th anniversary. The soft leather cover is quite nice to the touch and the printing quality is superlative. The numerous revisions to the text are welcome and the two-coloured printing in spots is similar to the deluxe editions from 30 years ago.
If you desire an excellent edition at a very affordable price, this is the one to get. Highly recommended.

This is a beautiful edition of an already supremely amazing publication that any true Tolkien fan shouldn't be without. It combines all three parts of the trilogy, including all prefaces and appendices, into a drool-inspiring leatherbound single edition with gold-gilded pages. Simply the nicest edition of Lord of the Rings to date, though since they have published the three books again with many full colour illustrations, which I am going to need to add to my collection...

For anyone who is a true fan of Professor Tolkien's works, this is a must-have book. The quality of the pages is fabulous and the case and cover are first-class. I have the paperback version of the book, which I will continue to use for reading purposes ... This beautiful 50th edition book needs to be put on your bookshelf on display. It is a collector's edition that will be passed on from generation to generation.

Its more complete than the movies of course, and it clarified some questions that I had about the story. I'm happy with all of it.

Love the books, and I love the packaging of the set. They look great on display around the house. Arrived very quickly and I am very pleased.

This is being claimed as the UNABRIDGED audio books for the LOTR series.... However it is the DRAMATIZATION!!! If you are looking for the unabridged version DO NOT buy this one... The picture is edited so that it does not say dramatization on the box!!! VERY VERY VERY disappointed in Amazon for the sneaky way they did this. I will be returning this item IMMEDIATELY and shopping on a different site as this is the SECOND time they tricked me into the dramatization when I am looking for the unabridged version of the books.

This is the unabridged recording with Robert Inglis and is well read and paced appropriately. However, I later found out that you can get this on iTunes for less if you are willing to forego the CD.

i like this book and i am reading it. it is a good choice to read it when you are free.