photo copyright Houghlin Mifflin
source: MagillAuthor Online
"Not all who wander are lost." -- J.R.R. Tolkien
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| INTRODUCTION |
SCOPE |
BROWSING |
SUBJECT HEADINGS |
LOCATION |
| BIOGRAPHICAL |
HANDBOOKS |
DICTIONARIES |
INDEXES |
GEOGRAPHICAL |
| JOURNALS |
BIBLIOGRAPHIES |
OTHER SOURCES |
WEB RESOURCES |
CONTACT INFO |
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973)
is one of the most recognized and celebrated authors in all of British
Literature. He is the author of The Lord of the Rings,
The Hobbit, and the Silmarilian, as well
as numerous scholarly works.
Besides being a celebrated writer, Professor
Tolkien was a talented philologist and scholar of linguistics
and mythology at Oxford University. He fashioned entire
languages for his fictional works, and used his linguistic
skills to create modern day translations of classic Old English
poems.
J.R.R. Tolkien's works of fiction have sold more than 50 million copies since he finished the Lord of the Rings in 1956, and their popularity has grown in recent years due largely in fact to the release of motion pictures based on the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Carpenter, Humphrey. J.R.R.
Tolkien: A Biography. New York:
Houghton Mifflin, 2000.
LC number PR6039.
O32 Z622 2000
Dewey Decimal number
823.91 T649, C295, 1977
* Considered by many as the best
Tolkien biography to date, it is endorsed by the Tolkien
Society. This work is factually correct, as well as easy
to read and understand. It has recently been reissued by
the publisher in conjunction with the renewed interest in Tolkien’s
works.
Jones, Leslie Ellen. J.R.R.
Tolkien: A Biography. London:
Greenwood Press, 2003.
LC number PR6039.O32
Z6664 2002
Dewey Decimal number
828.91209 T649 J77 2003
* Written with the intent that
it would be used as a source for students writing papers
about Tolkien, this book is easy to read and geared towards undergraduates.
It is one of the more recent additions in conjunction with renewed
interest in his works.
Moseley, Charles. J.R.R.
Tolkien. Plymouth, England: Northcote House,
1997.
LC number PR6039.
O32 Z697 1997
Dewey Decimal number
828.91209 T649, M898, 1997
* A short, but well written biography.
It contains an extensive bibliography of works
by and about the author, which include critical remarks
about the less than stellar books written about Tolkien,
as well as glowing reviews for the excellent books.
Tolkien, John. Tolkien
Family Album. London: HarperCollins, 1992.
LC number PR6039.
O32 Z845 1992b
* Photographs assembled by the
children of J.R.R. Tolkien. A wonderful
insight into his life from his family’s point of view.
Duriez, Colin. The J.R.R.
Tolkien Handbook. Grand Rapids: Baker
Books, 1992.
LC number PR6039.O32
Z638 1992
Dewey Decimal number
828.91209 T649, D962, 1992
* An excellent, easy to use source
of Tolkien’s life and works. This Handbook contains
details about Tolkien's friends, family, and literary influences,
as well as his popular works of fiction. The book is arranged
alphabetically and includes an index. Especially useful
as a quick reference tool.
Scott-Kilvert, Ian, ed. "J.R.R.
Tolkien." British Writers. Supplement. New
York: Scribner, 1987. 519- 536.
LC Number PR85
.B688 Suppl.
Dewey Decimal number 820.9 B863, 1987
* An
all encompassing look at Tolkien's life and works, in article form.
Ideal for students who desire a brief source of infomation.
This handbook includes a biography and bibliography, as
well as interpretation, criticism, and influences of Tolkien's fiction.
This source also focuses on Tolkien's place within adult fantasy
fiction.
Oldsey, Bernard, ed.
British novelists, 1930-1959. Dictionary
of Literary Biography, vol. 15. Detroit: Gale Research,
1983.
LC number PS21 .D5185
1978 vol. 15
* Lengthy article with photographs
and artwork in addition to biography and bibliography.
It contains definitions and explanations that are specific to
Tolkien's life.
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Mythlore: A journal of
J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and Charles Williams
studies. Los Angeles: Mythopoeic Society.
1969-present. (Originally printed as The Tolkien Journal)
LC number PN56.M95
M9
* A journal published by the Mythpoeic
Society, which includes the American branch of Tolkien
Society. This journal is the main American scholarly
journal containing articles about Tolkien.
Seven: An Anglo-American
Literary Review. Wheaton, Ill.: Wheaton
College, 1980.
LC number PR471.
A15
Dewey Decimal number
820.90091 S497x
* A literary journal about seven British
authors, including J.R.R. Tolkien, who influenced each other’s
work. Articles about each individual author are included.
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Hammond, Wayne G. J.R.R.
Tolkien: A Descriptive Bibliography. New
Castle: Oak Knoll, 1993.
LC number Z8883.45
.H36 1993 (8th Floor of Davis Library)
* This bibliography includes books,
periodicals, letters, and art work by J.R.R. Tolkien, as
well as books and articles about him.
Johnson, Judith. J.R.R.
Tolkien: Six Decades of Criticism. London:
Greenwood Press, 1986.
LC number Z8883.45
.J63 1986 (8th floor of Davis Library)
Dewey Decimal number
016 TT649, J67, 1986
* This bibliography contains a
list of Tolkien’s writings, critical works on Tolkien,
and Book reviews of his works. Also includes an extensive
index for easy searching.
Melned, Susan Barbara. John
Ronald Reuel Tolkien. Johannesburg: University
of the Witwatersrand, 1972.
Dewey Decimal number
823.91 qT649ZM
* Alphabetical bibliography of
works of and about Tolkien. Another great way to search.
West, Richard. Tolkien
Criticism: An Annotated Checklist. Kent
State University Press, 1981.
LC number Z8883.45
.W45 1981 (8th floor of Davis Library)
Dewey Decimal number
016.828 T649, W519, 1981
* This bibliography is arranged
chronologically, includes both works by and about the author,
and contains an appendix and index.
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Carpenter, Humphrey. The
Inklings: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Williams, and
their friends. Boston: HarperCollins, 1997.
LC number
PR6023.E926 Z613 1978
Dewey Decimal number 820.900912 C295, I56,
1997
* This book is written about the
literary group Tolkien was apart of while he was at Oxford, called
the Inklings. It was while he was in this group that he wrote
The Lord of the RIngs, and it was their encouragement that eventually
lead to its publication. This book is not a biography of Tolkien
himself, but gives an excellent look into the influences in his life as
he was writing his greatest works of fiction.
Tolkien, J.R.R. Letters
of J.R.R. Tolkien. ed. Humphrey Carpenter.
New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1981.
LC number PR6039.
O32 Z48 2000
Dewey Decimal number
828.912 T649, C824, 1981
* These are actual letters written
by Tolkien to others, and give precious insight to his
creative processes. They were edited by Humphrey
Carpenter, a well-renowned literary scholar, with the help
of Tolkien’s son Christopher Tolkien.
www.tolkiensociety.org:
Official Website of the Tolkien Society
* from the website: "The
Tolkien Society was founded to further interest in the
life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien. The Society has close
and friendly links both with the late Professor's family and
publishers, and with fellow literary societies and other groups
in all fictional fields." This website has an outstanding
biography about J.R.R. Tolkien, as well as an extensive list
of links for reference sources and scholarly materials. Many
more web resources are located on this page.
http://www.forodrim.org/arda/tbchron.html:
A Chronological Bibliography of the Writings of J.R.R.
Tolkien.
* This website has a descriptive
bibliography of the author’s works. This source
is updated regularly.
http://www.forodrim.org/bibliography/tolklist.html:
A Chronological Bibliography of the
Writings About J.R.R. Tolkien.
* Created by the same webmaster
as above, this bibliography focuses on works written about the author.
This source is updated regularly.
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