J. R. R. Tolkien

This Very Short Introduction provides an accessible and authoritative guide to Tolkien's works, and it places The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings in the context of his full body of writings.

Matthew Townend, Professor of English, University of York

Matthew Townend is Professor in the Department of English and Related Literature, and the Centre for Medieval Studies, at the University of York, where he has taught since 1999. He is an expert both on medieval language and literature (especially Old English, Old Norse, and the history of the English language) and also on nineteenth- and twentieth-century 'medievalism' (that is, the re-imagining of the Middle Ages in modern literature and culture). He teaches widely - from undergraduate courses to PhD supervision - in the areas of medieval language and literature, and also modern medievalism.