The Real Middle Earth : Exploring the Magic and Mystery of the Middle Ages, J. R. R. Tolkien, and the Lord of the Rings (Reprint)

This is a paperbound reprint of a 2002 book about which Book News wrote: Bates (U. of Brighton), author of the novel The Way of the Wyrd, identifies and discusses some of the literary and historical fabric--mostly Scandinavian--that Tolkien quilted into his famous trilogy. Peoples, dragons, the enchanted earth, magical beasts, wizards, dwarves, giants, monsters, and voyages to the otherworld are among the elements. Annotation 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)