Treason of Isengard (The History of The Lord of the Rings, Part Two) (The History of Middle-Earth - Volume 7)

Rating:
Summary: Fine Literary History of the Lord of the Rings Continues
Review: Once more Christopher Tolkien has done a valuable service for literary historians and anyone interested in the craft of writing in his elegant overview of his father's struggles in creating the Lord of the Rings. His recounting of his father's writing is a fascinating saga in its own right, chronicling his father's subtle changes in the personas of characters as diverse as Boromir and Treebeard. Of special note is how significant Boromir's role might have been if he hadn't died in battle at the end of "The Fellowship of the Ring". I was also intrigued with Tolkien making numerous changes in his depiction (and indeed, names for) of Gondor and Lothlorien, among others. There is a excellent overview on Tolkien's map of Middle-earth, noting its significant changes over the years from the 1920's until it assumed its present form for the Rings trilogy. At the end of this lengthy tome is a fine introduction to runes and how they underwent their own transformation while Tolkien was at work writing the Rings trilogy.

Rating:
Summary: Important for Tolkien Scholars, not for movie fans
Review: The History series are mostly about the evolution of the people, places, and history of the world of Arda. A lot of the stories are "rabbit trails;" stories that changed or conflict with other information. It has helped Tolkien Scholars (and can help amatuer Tolkien Scholars) to form more complete understandings of the world. The appendix on runes is a good example.

Rating:
Summary: Coattail riding to the max
Review: This work is nothing more than the attempt to make money off his fathers work. It is sad that he would go to this length to captilize on the popularity of the Lord of the Rings. Im greatly dissapointed. His father was a good man, a good christian, and a great writer. His son is none of the above.

Rating:
Summary: Coattail riding to the max
Review: This work is nothing more than the attempt to make money off his fathers work. It is sad that he would go to this length to captilize on the popularity of the Lord of the Rings. Im greatly dissapointed. His father was a good man, a good christian, and a great writer. His son is none of the above.