photo copyright Houghlin Mifflin
source: MagillAuthor Online
"Not all who wander are lost." -- J.R.R. Tolkien
Click on the links below for more
information
| 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.
Return to top
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.
Return to top
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.
Return to top
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.
Return to top
