 Cover of the 2004 collection, which contained selections from both the earlier collections. | |
| Author | Rose Zimbardo and Neil D. Isaacs |
|---|---|
| Subject | J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth writings |
| Genre | Literary criticism |
| Publisher | Houghton Mifflin |
Publication date | 2004 |
| Media type | Paperback |
| ISBN | 978-0-618-42253-1 |
Understanding The Lord of the Rings is a collection of scholarly essays on J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth writings, mainly concerning his fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings. It was edited by Rose Zimbardo and Neil D. Isaacs, and published in 2004. Apart from two new essays, it consisted of a selection of essays from two earlier collections by the same editors: their 1968 Tolkien and the Critics, and their 1981 Tolkien: New Critical Perspectives.
The collections have been welcomed by scholars, who have commented that the 1968 book in particular was "a milestone" in Tolkien scholarship. The 1981 book was described as a good overview of Tolkien scholarship, while the 2004 book was called a "splendid anthology". The Journal of Tolkien Research wrote that the 1968 and 2004 collections both had an importance "beyond doubt" in the history of Tolkien studies.