The author of Lord of the Ringsthe British writer, poet and philologist JRR Tolkien (1892-1973), in addition to being the prolific novelist we know, was also a talented visual artist – even if he was sometimes the first to doubt it.
His drawings, often created to accompany his own literary works, offer us a rather unique visual insight into Middle-earth, the fruit of his imagination. They depict landscapes, maps, creatures and some iconic characters, such as Sauron and the hobbits.
After the success of Hobbit in 1937, it took Tolkien twelve years to follow up, “a really very long story which would captivate its readers”, he explained in the foreword to the second edition, also refuting any intention of a “message” or allegory that could be hidden in the novel. Tolkien originally wanted to publish The Lord of the Rings in a single volume, but the price of paper being too high during the post-war period, the work was divided into three volumes which appeared successively.
This translation, produced by Quebecer Daniel Lauzon — who notably also translated The Hobbit And THE Silmarillion takes into account the latest version of the English text as well as the indications left by Tolkien for the translators. Note that, under the translator’s pen, Bilbo Baggins becomes Bilbo Bessac.
In addition, for the first time in French, an edition offers the drawings and illustrations (around thirty) created by Tolkien, making it the version that would be closest to the one imagined by Tolkien.
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien loved to draw and paint for fun, with pencil, ink, or even watercolor. His influences, according to specialists, range from Japonism to Art Nouveau, including William Morris. The first publication of Hobbitin 1937, included a series of maps and drawings, “not very good and perhaps not very adequate from a technical point of view”, thought Tolkien, but which provided readers with unique insight into this new universe. .
Founding work of so-called literature fantasywhich Tolkien himself envisioned as fairy tales for adults, The Lord of the Rings is a three-volume fantasy epic set in Middle-earth, where young hobbit Frodo Bessac inherits an evil ring forged by Sauron, the Dark Lord, to dominate the world.
Accompanied by a motley community made up of humans, elves, dwarves and hobbits, Frodo will undertake a quest as long as it is perilous in order to destroy the unique ring in the fire of the mountain of Destiny, the only way to eradicate the threat of Sauron.
The meticulousness of Tolkien’s illustrations reveals his deep commitment to creating a cohesive and visually rich world. His drawings give shape to his imagination and consolidate his status as an artist as versatile as he is visionary.
The ideal gift for enthusiasts of Lord of the Rings and for those who would like to immerse themselves in this unique universe.