The Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings, #1)

by J. R. R. Tolkien

The Fellowship of the Ring is the first part of JRR Tolkien’s epic masterpiece The Lord of the Rings. This 50th anniversary edition features special packaging and is the first paperback edition to include the definitive edition of the text.

Impossible to describe in a few words, JRR Tolkien’s great work of imaginative fiction has been labelled both a heroic romance and a classic fantasy fiction. By turns comic and homely, epic and diabolic, the narrative moves through countless changes of scene and character in an imaginary world which is totally convincing in its detail. Tolkien created a vast new mythology in an invented world which has proved timeless in its appeal.

Now, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its first publication, the text has been fully restored with almost 400 corrections – with the full co-operation of Christopher Tolkien – making it the definitive version of the text, and as close as possible to the version that J.R.R. Tolkien wanted.

In addition to now having the definitive version of the text, this paperback features special packaging to commemorate the golden anniversary of the Nation’s Big Read.

• ISBN13: 9780007203581
• Publish Date: 17 October 2005 (first published 29 July 1954)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 15 March 2007
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
• Edition: 50th Anniversary edition
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 576
• Language: English
• URL: http://harpercollins.co.uk
• Special: Anniversary Edition

Reviews

[inlibrisveritas]

3 So much love for these books.

[Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews]

Many years prior to this story's beginning, a young Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins goes on an adventure; on his adventure he comes across a cave in which a strange creature by the name of Gollum resides. After a game of chance Bilbo acquires a magic ring.

Let's fast-forward now to Bilbo's eleventy-first birthday, which is a grand affair as it is joint with his nephew and heir, Frodo. Much preparation has gone into the party in which Hobbiton had yet to see for many a year. All goes splendid until Bilbo's infamously boring speech, year 111 is no exception until he suddenly disappears at the end of his roast on Hobbiton. After vanishing he walks into the night to mingle with the elves. Upon his leaving, but with great difficulty, leaves the magic ring for Frodo to inherit.

After discovering how dangerous the ring is Frodo and Sam who swears he wasn't eaves-dropping and heard " N-nothing important. That is, I heard a good deal about a ring, and a Dark Lord, and something about the end of the world, but... Please, Mr. Gandalf, sir, don't hurt me. Don't turn me into anything... unnatural." Anyway, they're off to Morder. As not to make this description any longer will just say that after forging the fellowship the seven members experience consent peril and betrayal.

There are thousands of adjectives to describe The Fellowship Of The Ring but none could do it justice. Instead I will simply say that Middle Earth is a place that can only be dreamed of but with lush descriptions and 3D characters it is very easy to picture a hobbit hole or the Mines of Moria. Alas, despite the vivid detail, it is not a happy story (little people willing going to their death doesn't make for light reading). The novel begins out nice enough showing a peaceful and gay time but slowly grows darker and darker. I thought this was brilliant because it shows what is worth fighting for and are willing to go to the ends of Mordor to keep it safe. A beautifully crafted story, and am still pondering why it has taken me so long to reread it.