Middle-Earth Art & Language Books

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Chronicles: Art & Design
Author: Daniel Falconer
Intro by: Richard Taylor of WETA Workshop
Hardcover
December 14, 2012
Harper Design
$30.00 US
272 pages
ISBN: 0062200909
ISBN-13: 978-0062200907
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Chronicles: Art & Design is a sumptuous celebration of the creative vision of Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. The book is packed with more than 1,000 images of concept artwork, photographs and development paintings by the artists working behind the scenes to bring Middle-earth to life, who each provide detailed and entertaining commentary that reveals the story behind the vision. As a bonus feature unique to this book, there is a special fold-out map printed in glow-in-the-dark ink and a giant four-page fold-out of Bilbo's contract. Complied by Weta Workshop senior concept designer Daniel Falconer, this is the first in a series of lavish hardcover books written and designed by the award-winning team at Weta, who are working closely with the production team to guarantee that these books will be bursting with insider information and stunning visual imagery.

The Art of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Editors; Wayne G. Hammond, Christina Scull
Hardcover, 144 pages
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
$30.00 US
272 pages
ISBN: 0547928254
ISBN-13: 978-0547928258
J.R.R. Tolkien’s complete artwork for The Hobbit, presented for the first time in celebration of the 75th anniversary. When J.R.R. Tolkien wrote The Hobbit, he was already an accomplished amateur artist, and drew illustrations for his book while it was still in manuscript. The Hobbit as first printed had ten black-and-white pictures, two maps, and binding and dust jacket designs by its author. Later, Tolkien also painted five scenes for color plates, which comprise some of his best work. His illustrations for The Hobbit add an extra dimension to that remarkable book, and have long influenced how readers imagine Bilbo Baggins and his world. Written and edited by leading Tolkien experts Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull, The Art of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien showcases the complete artwork created by the author for his story—including related pictures, more than one hundred sketches, drawings, paintings, maps, and plans. Some of these images are published here for the first time, others for the first time in color, allowing Tolkien’s Hobbit pictures to be seen completely and more vividly than ever before.

Languages of Tolkien's Middle-Earth 
Author: Ruth S. Noel
Paperback, 207pp.
Mirage Press
May 1974
97 pages
Limited Edition: 500 made
This is a book on all of Tolkien's invented languages, spoken by hobbits, elves, and men of Middle-earth -- a dictionary of fourteen languages, an English-Elvish glossary, all runes and alphabets, and material on Tolkien as a linguist.

An Introduction to Elvish, Other Tongues, Proper Names and Writing Systems of the Third Age of the Western Lands of Middle-Earth as Set Forth in the Published Writings of Professor John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
Jim Allan
Paperback, 303 pages
Brans Head Books
November 1978
ISBN: 0905220102
ISBN-13: 978-0905220109
This is a book on all of Tolkien's invented languages, spoken by hobbits, elves, and men of Middle-earth -- a dictionary of fourteen languages, an English-Elvish glossary, all runes and alphabets, and material on Tolkien as a linguist.

Languages of Tolkien's Middle-Earth
Author: Ruth S. Noel
Paperback, 207pp.
ISBN: 0395291305
Houghton Mifflin
May 1980
This is a book on all of Tolkien's invented languages, spoken by hobbits, elves, and men of Middle-earth -- a dictionary of fourteen languages, an English-Elvish glossary, all runes and alphabets, and material on Tolkien as a linguist.

Art of Fellowship of the Ring
Written By: Gary Russel
192-page hardcover
Jan 2002
$35
8" x 11"
This book is an official and definitive guide to the award-winning art of Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring. Through numerous images, interviews, and on-location research, author Gary Russell explores artistic processes that led to a final realization of Peter Jackson's extraordinary film. This book features over 500 black and white and color images of sketches, conceptual drawings, paintings, stills and promotional materials, including work by Alan Lee and John Howe, along with many others. Extensive interviews with individual creators are also included.

Art of Two Towers Hardcover
Written By: Gary Russel
192-page hardcover
04/15/2003
$35
8" x 11"
A companion to Art of Fellowship of the Ring, this authoritative and insightful book is packed with more than five hundred full-color images, many exclusive to this volume, and shows development of imagery in Two Towers from concept drawings to wide-screen glory. With illuminating captions telling story of each image in words of artists and designers responsible for look of the film, including renowned artists Alan Lee and John Howe, and contributions from Peter Jackson, Richard Taylor, Grant Major, Ngila Dickson, Paul Lasaine, and others, this book is a must for all fans. In this essential reference to architecture and costumes of Jackson's onscreen Middle-earth, the stunning large-format art, from sketches to paintings to three-dimensional maquettes and digital art, is lovingly reproduced with lavish production values to create a spectacular keepsake for these film's millions of fans.

Art of Return of the King
Written By: Gary Russel
224-page hardcover
Jan 2004
$35
8" x 11"
Art of Return of the King illustrates creative development of film from sketch to special effect and features 600 images, most appearing nowhere else. This fully authorized hardcover book includes pencil sketches by Alan Lee and John Howe, costume designs by Ngila Dickson, magnificent full-color paintings by Jeremy Bennett, and prop designs, concepts, sculptures and digital artwork from Weta Workshop and Weta Digital. From Minas Tirith to Mount Doom, from Army of the Dead to Shelob the monstrous spider of Cirith Ungol, all spectacular landscapes, characters and creatures are covered in stunning detail, including concepts that did not make it into final film. To accompany this wealth of imagery, detailed and informative commentaries appear by all featured artists and designers, together with a special afterword by Peter Jackson. Their personal thoughts and explanations offer unique and fascinating insight into how Return of the King was brought to life.

Art of The Lord of the Rings
Written By: Gary Russel
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
224-page hardcover
December 2004
$35
8" x 11"
A dual-edition full-color book for the millions of fans who have taken The Lord of the Rings to heart through the celebrated film trilogy. Many of the images included in this volume, depicting pivotal scenes and characters, were previously embargoed and have never appeared in book form. The work of Alan Lee and John Howe—the two artists most closely associated with Tolkien’s world—is featured, along with that of many other talented artists and designers. The artists’ own descriptions of the design process used in creating the look of the films both enlighten and enliven this essential book.

Lord of the Rings: Sketchbook
Written By: Alan Lee
192 pages, Hardcover.
$30
This Sketchbook provides a wealth of background information and will be of interest to those who know and love Tolkien's work, from books to films to DVDs, as well as to budding artists and illustrators interested in how to approach book illustration. Alan Lee, Oscar-winning conceptual artist for this movie trilogy, discusses his approach to depicting Tolkien's imaginary world. This book presents more than 150 of Lee's celebrated illustrations to show how his imagery for these films progressed from concept to finished art. In addition, it contains 20 full-color plates and numerous examples of conceptual art produced for Peter Jackson's film adaptation.

Middle Earth: The World of Tolkien Illustrated
Lin Carter and David Wenzel
Paperback, 64 pages
Centaur Books : Distributed by Como Sales; 1st edition
1977
ISBN-10: 0878180141
ISBN-13: 978-0878180141
Drawings in black and white and in color illustrate the world of the hobbit.

A Middle-Earth Album
Hardcover
Publisher: Thames and Hudson
1979

Greg and Tim Hildebrandt: Tolkien Years
Paperback, 128pp.
ISBN: 0823051242
Publisher: Watson-Guptill Publications, Incorporated
July 2001
Book & Poster
The million-selling Lord of the Rings Calendars created during 1970s by renowned fantasy artists Greg and Tim Hildebrandt are now considered artistic masterpieces. Greg and Tim Hildebrandt: Tolkien Years tells untold story behind creation of these cherished illustrations, written by an author with real first-hand knowledge of creative genius behind these paintings. Written by Gregory Hildebrandt, Jr., Greg Hildebrandt's son, this fascinating book tells a story through eyes of young Gregory of how at ages 5, 6, and 7 he posed for various "little people" characters known as Hobbits. Gregory reminisces about his key role in development of these calendar paintings, and the unique creative ingenuity of his father and uncle. Tolkien Years provides Tolkien-lovers with a fantastic treasury of art. Not only are all paintings from best-selling 1976, 1977, and 1978 calendars included, but this reference also features original sketches for paintings; photographs and sketches of costumes worn by inhabitants of Middle-Earth; and an incredible pull-out poster of a never-before-published painting specially created for this book.

Greg and Tim Hildebrandt: Tolkien Years
Hardcover, Signed
Watson-Guptill Publications, Incorporated
July 2001
Book & Poster

Greg and Tim Hildebrandt: Tolkien Years
Pub. Date: September 2002
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Format: Paperback , 144pp
ISBN-13: 9780823051052
ISBN: 0823051056
See Description Above.

J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator
Author: Wayne G. Hammond,  Christina Scull (Editor)
Paperback, 208pp.
ISBN: 0618083618
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
October 2000
Edition Description: 1st Houghton Mifflin
J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973), renowned author was an artist in pictures as well as in words. Though he often remarked that he had no talent for drawing, his art has charmed his readers and has been exhibited to large and appreciative audiences. In fact, his talent was far more than he admitted, and his sense of design was natural and keen. This book explores Tolkien's art at length, from his childhood paintings and drawings to his final sketches. At its heart are his illustrations for his books, especially his tales of Middle-earth. Also examined are pictures Tolkien made for his children (notably in his 'Father Christmas' letters and for story of Mr. Bliss), his expressive calligraphy, his love of decoration, and his contributions to typography and design of his books. J.R.R. Tolkien, Artist and Illustrator includes 200 reproductions, many in color and over half published for first time.

Realms of Tolkien: Images of Middle-Earth
J. R. R. Tolkien  Ted Nasmith (Illustrator)  Inger Edelfeldt (Illustrator)
Hardcover, 1st ed., 144pp.
ISBN: 0061055328
Publisher: Harper San Francisco
October 1996
Realms of Tolkien includes paintings by many well-known interpreters of Tolkien's world: Alan Lee, renowned for his atmospheric interpretations of folklore and legend, and of course for his stunning illustrations for Lord of the Rings; John Howe's powerful representations of landscapes and peoples of Middle-earth; Ted Nasmith's classically accurate and dramatic pictures; and Inger Edelfeldt's beautiful and unusual illustrations. This exciting new collection also features many talented amateur artists from all around the globe, demonstrating a wealth and variety of artwork that the writings of J. R. R. Tolkien have inspired, including Dutch artist Cor Blok, whose work was much admired by Tolkien himself. In full color throughout, Realms of Tolkien is a perfect gift book for Tolkien fans of all ages, and a work of art in itself. Each picture is accompanied by a page of text from relevant passage in Tolkien's fiction, describing scenes the artist has chosen to depict. Also included is a short piece about each artist describing the influence of Tolkien on their life and work.

Middle-Earth: Visions of a Modern Myth
Donato Giancola
October 2010
Underwood Books, Inc.
Hardcover , 88pp
$25.00 US
ISBN-13: 9781599290478
ISBN: 1599290472
From the brush of Donato Giancola, one of the world's most recognized and lauded fantasy artists, comes a book filled with new illustrations that apply his legendary Renaissance craftsmanship to J. R. R. Tolkien's fantastic Middle-Earth. Dramatic lighting and deft draftsmanship reminiscent of master painters like Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and Vermeer explain Donato's popularity with millions of fans, as well as the numerous Hugo and Chesley Awards he has received. This long-awaited, moving, and beautiful voyage through Middle-Earth — a must-have for eager genre readers everywhere — offers a refreshingly new exploration of literature's most beloved fantasy realm. From Helm's Deep to Mount Doom, Donato takes readers on a colorful tour filled with warriors, wizards, dragons, and dwarfs. Throughout he exhibits his astonishing technical virtuosity with every scene he brings to life, while also demonstrating the delight and wonder familiar to all true devotees of Middle-Earth.

Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Hardcover, 112pp.
Houghton Mifflin
September 1992
Revised
In this sumptuous collection of Tolkien's art, we gain a new understanding of visual aspects of his remarkable imagination. This memorable collection will delight Tolkien enthusiasts with its beauty and its range. It contains 48 full-color reproductions of Tolkien's paintings and colored drawings, as well as original pen-and-ink drawings, some published here for first time. Long out of print, this volume is now re-issued with a revised text by Christopher Tolkien. Pictures will provide a unique and fascinating insight into Tolkien's visual conception of many places and characters familiar to readers of The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion. Examples of his art range from delicate watercolors depicting Bag-End, Rivendell, Forest of Lothlorien, Smaug and Old Man Willow to drawings and sketches of the Mines of Moria Gate and Minas Tirith in Gondor. Together they form a comprehensive collection of Tolkien's own illustrations for his most popular books. Also included are many of his beautiful designs showing patterns of flowers and trees, friezes, tapestries and heraldic devices associated with Middle-earth. In their variety and scope they provide abundant visual evidence of richness in his imagination. Christopher Tolkien's text gives detailed notes on sources for each picture.

Pictures by J. R. R. Tolkien 
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Hardcover, 103pp.
Allen & Unwin
November 1979
1st American edition