pbFascinating, gorgeously illustrated and thought-provoking. . . . A masterful book.--Elizabeth Hand, iWashington Postib pbA lavishly illustrated look at the locales familiar to J. R. R. Tolkien, the creator of Middle-earthb pThis book takes you to the places that inspired J. R. R. Tolkien to create his fictional locations in iThe Lord of the Ringsi, iThe Hobbiti, and other classic works. Written by renowned Tolkien expert John Garth, iThe Worlds of J. R. R. Tolkieni features a wealth of breathtaking illustrations, including Tolkien's own drawings, contributions from other artists, rare archival images, and spectacular color photos of contemporary locations across Britain and beyond, from the battlefields of World War I to Africa. pGarth identifies the locales that served as the basis for Hobbiton, the elven valley of Rivendell, the Glittering Caves of Helm's Deep, and many other settings in Middle-earth, from mountains and forests to rivers, lakes, and shorelands. He reveals the rich