I got this for my birthday and just finished it this morning. Not to sound cocky, but I thought I pretty much knew everything there was to know about the Tolkien productions on Radio, Stage and Cinema. I was pleasantly surprised to find some new nuggets in here. Since there's pretty much a chapter on each medium, by book, obviously something like PJ's LotR gets a fairly brief overview that's been covered in much more detail in other books. However, something like the BBC Jackanory Hobbit, or the first Radio Plays of The Hobbit and LotR get more coverage than you would expect. There's also a nice section of Tolkien inspired music, fan films, computer games etc. The book is sprinkled throughout with artwork from the likes of Howe, Lee and Nasmith, but also Jenny Dolfen, Anke Eissman and others.Elentári wrote:No one seems to have mentioned this book yet, so here it is!
Middle-earth Envisioned
New book reveals previously unprinted artwork and documents the portrayal of Middle-earth across the decades...
There is also an online excerpt viewable on the TORN page linked above.Over the decades, lots and lots of people have tried their hand at envisioning Middle-earth — in artwork, stage plays, musicals, television adaptations, comics, games, fan-art and, of course, animated and live action film.
Middle-earth Envisioned is a new, illustrated book From New York Times bestselling author Brian J. Robb and Paul Simpson, TV guide writer/reporter and the former editor of the Star Trek magazine, that comprehensively documents these portrayals of Middle-earth.
One minor caveat. The version I have could really have done with a revised edition, since it finishes pretty much after the release of An Unexpected Journey, and still refers to the third movie as "There and Back Again". Still, all in all, well worth having in your collection.
