The Magical Worlds of the "Lord of the Rings": An Unauthorised Guide - A Treasury of Myths, Legends and Fascinating Facts

A guide to J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" books, including "The Hobbit". The book is written in a question-and-answer format which lets the reader discover the ancient myths, legends and events that fired Tolkien's imagination and led to him creating his fantastical world. Why do hobbits live in holes? Who and what inspired Gandalf? Why are Tolkien's elves tall? These and many other questions are explored.

Formerly a head writer of television's "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" and an editorial director of HarperCollins, David Colbert is also the author of the Eyewitness history series. A graduate of Brown University, he studied anthropology and mythology and has spent much of his life in libraries.