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  • © 2015

The Keys of Middle-earth

Discovering Medieval Literature Through the Fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien

Palgrave Macmillan
  • A wealth of new material, both primary and secondary, has been published since the first edition's publication.
  • New edition will include discussion of the Silmarillion, The Legend of Sigurd and GudrĂșn and The Fall of Arthur
  • Acccessibly written, a great addition for Tolkien enthusiasts

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Table of contents (4 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xv
  2. How to Use This Book

    • Stuart Lee, Elizabeth Solopova
    Pages 1-1
  3. Introduction

    • Stuart Lee, Elizabeth Solopova
    Pages 2-67
  4. The Editions

    • Stuart Lee, Elizabeth Solopova
    Pages 68-70
  5. The Texts

    • Stuart Lee, Elizabeth Solopova
    Pages 71-355
  6. Back Matter

    Pages 356-380

About this book

A comprehensive introduction to the medieval languages and texts that inspired Tolkien's Middle-earth. Using key episodes in The Silmarillion , The Hobbit , and The Lord of the Rings , medieval texts are presented in their original language with translations. Essential for those who wish to delve deeper into the background to Tolkien's mythology.

Reviews

Praise for the previous edition:

"[The Keys of Middle-earth] provides a wide range of texts with insightful introductions and commentary on each of the texts that have been chosen for elucidation." Professor Shaun F.D. Hughes, Director of Graduate Studies, Department of English, Purdue University, USA

"The Keys of Middle-earth is a much-needed book... The texts, in Old English, Old Norse, and Middle English, are faithfully presented... textual notes are remarkably thorough." John R. Holmes, Notes and Queries Summary

"Either as a student's text or as an instructor's resource, The Keys of Middle-earth provides an excellent introduction to a number of important medieval texts complete with a judicious, but not overwhelming, awareness of recent scholarship within a compelling context of a modern literary phenomenon - the imaginative world of J. R. R. Tolkien." Miranda Wilcox, The Medieval Review

"'As an anthology of medieval texts it is first rate. The texts, in Old English, Old Norse, and Middle English, are faithfully presented and despite the authors' modest disclaimer that their book cannot accommodate a "full discussion of textual issues" (55), textual notes are remarkably thorough. With equal modesty they call their textual notes "highly selective," but their selection is impeccable. Commentary is just as painstaking: major critical controversies are fully represented. And as an encouragement to further study in three medieval languages, which the authors identify as its main purpose (19), the book is eminently successful." John R Holmes, Tolkien Studies

Authors and Affiliations

  • University of Oxford, UK

    Stuart Lee, Elizabeth Solopova

About the authors

Dr Stuart Lee is a member of the English Faculty at Oxford University, UK, where he teaches Old English, the poetry of World War one, and the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien. He is also a member of Merton College. He has published articles on Tolkien and edited A Companion to J. R. R. Tolkien (2014).

Dr Elizabeth Solopova is Research Fellow at the English Faculty, Oxford University, UK, where she teaches Old and Middle English literature. She has published articles and books on Tolkien, medieval literature, manuscripts and the history of the English language.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access