A Christian can almost be forgiven for not reading the Bible, but there's no salvation for a fantasy fan who hasn't read the gospel of the genre, J.R.R. Tolkien's definitive three-book epic, the Lord of the Rings (encompassing The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King), and its charming precursor, The Hobbit. That many (if not most) fantasy works are in some way derivative of Tolkien is understood, but the influence of the Lord of the Rings is so universal that everybody from George Lucas to Led Zeppelin has appropriated it for one purpose or another.

Not just revolutionary because it was groundbreaking, the Lord of the Rings is timeless because it's the product of a truly top-shelf mind. Tolkien was a distinguished linguist and Oxford scholar of dead languages, with strong ideas about the importance of myth and story and a deep appreciation of nature. His epic, 10 years in the making, recounts the Great War of the Ring and the closing of Middle-Earth's Third Age, a time when magic begins to fade from the world and men rise to dominance. Tolkien carefully details this transition with tremendous skill and love, creating in the Lord of the Rings a universal and all-embracing tale, a justly celebrated classic.

October 21, 2004, marks the fiftieth anniversary of The Lord of the Rings. It has been called the greatest book of the twentieth century, an unforgettable adventure story that has captivated nearly one hundred million American readers since it was first published in 1954, and it continues to find new readers every day. This year, Houghton Mifflin celebrates the first U.S. publication of The Fellowship of the Ring.

This is what they have to say: "We're enormously proud to present by far the finest edition we've ever produced," says Clay Harper, Tolkien Projects Director for Houghton Mifflin. "Under the direction of literary executor Christopher Tolkien, the most knowledgeable Tolkien scholars in the world have reviewed the entire textual history of this massive novel with fresh eyes for this edition. They have examined every word and pored over the documentary record before suggesting hundreds of small corrections that have been approved by Christopher in order to achieve the author's desires and ensure perfection. Then our design and manufacturing staffs pulled out all the stops to create a truly beautiful book that is a joy to read and that will be cherished for years to come."

The Lord of the Rings: 50th Anniversary Edition became a spectacular celebratory edition including a fully corrected text, two large-format two-color foldout maps, protective slipcase with inset panels, two-color foil stamping, ribbon placemarker, gilded edges, and Tolkien's hand-colored leaves of the Book of Mazarbul.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1184 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co; 50th Anniversary Edition edition (October 21, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618517650
• ISBN-13: 978-0618517657
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6.6 x 2.7 inches