The first part of the history of the creation of "The Lord of the Rings" is a study of Tolkien's work from its inception to the end of the first volume, "The Fellowship of the Ring". In "The Return Of The Shadow" (the abandoned title of the first volume of "The Lord of the Rings") we see how Bilbo's "magic ring" evolved into the supremely dangerous Ruling Ring of the Dark Lord; and the precise and astonishingly unforeseen moment when a Black Rider first rode into the Shire. The character of the hobbit called Trotter (afterwards Strider or Aragorn) is developed, though his true identity seems to be an insoluble problem. Frodo's companions undergo many changes of name and personality and other major figures appear in unfamiliar guises - a sinister Treebeard, in league with the Enemy, and a ferocious, malevolent Farmer Maggot. The book comes complete with reproductions of the first maps and facsimile pages from the earliest manuscripts.
- ISBN10 004440669X
- ISBN13 9780044406693
- Publish Date 28 June 1990 (first published 25 August 1988)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 11 August 1994
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
- Imprint HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
- Edition New edition
- Format Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
- Pages 502
- Language English