The Lord of the Rings: 50th Anniversary Edition

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Houghton Mifflin, 2004, hardcover, black cloth, gilt edged, 1st prtg., 2 fold-out maps, near fine in near fine slipcase (each map has a closed tear where it attaches to the inside ... cover), speculative fiction, blm50. Read more Show Less

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Overview

The Fellowship of the Ring, part one of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic masterpiece, ?rst reached these shores on October 21, 1954, arriving, as C. S. Lewis proclaimed, "like lightning from a clear sky." Fifty years and nearly one hundred million American readers later comes a beautiful new one-volume collector’s edition be?tting the stature of this crown jewel of our list. With a text fully corrected under the supervision of Christopher Tolkien to meet the author’s exacting wishes and two large-format fold-out maps, a ribbon placemarker, and exceptionally elegant packaging, this edition is one of the finest we’ve ever produced.

Editorial Reviews

From Barnes & Noble
On the golden anniversary of The Lord of the Rings, Houghton Mifflin is releasing the finest one-volume edition of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic trilogy. The Lord of the Rings: 50th Anniversary Edition is truly unique: It contains for the first time "The Book of Mazarbul," from which Gandalf reads in Balin's Tomb in the Mines of Moria. The author himself painstakingly drew, stained, burned, and scarred the pages of this book to enhance their effect, and he repeatedly expressed his disappointment that their inclusion was deemed impractical. In addition to the facsimile book, this edition includes an appendix that enables readers to decipher the dwarfish script. This edition includes two-color foil stamping; a protective box with inset panels; a fully corrected text; two large-format two-color fold-out maps; and a ribbon place-marker.

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780618517657
  • Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
  • Publication date: 10/21/2004
  • Edition description: 50th Anniversary Edition
  • Edition number: 50
  • Pages: 1184
  • Sales rank: 47,859
  • Series: Lord of the Rings Trilogy
  • Product dimensions: 6.13 (w) x 9.25 (h) x 0.63 (d)

Meet the Author

J.R.R. Tolkien
J.R.R. Tolkien
It seems an unlikely formula for success: an Oxford professor of Anglo-Saxon, and a book that begins with a little man who lives in a hole in the ground. But The Hobbit, followed by The Lord of the Rings, created the modern genre of heroic fantasy and made J.R.R. Tolkien one of the most widely-read authors in the world.

Biography

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born on the 3rd January, 1892 at Bloemfontein in the Orange Free State, but at the age of four he and his brother were taken back to England by their mother. After his father's death the family moved to Sarehole, on the south-eastern edge of Birmingham. Tolkien spent a happy childhood in the countryside and his sensibility to the rural landscape can clearly be seen in his writing and his pictures.

His mother died when he was only twelve and both he and his brother were made wards of the local priest and sent to King Edward's School, Birmingham, where Tolkien shine in his classical work. After completing a First in English Language and Literature at Oxford, Tolkien married Edith Bratt. He was also commissioned in the Lancashire Fusiliers and fought in the battle of the Somme. After the war, he obtained a post on the New English Dictionary and began to write the mythological and legendary cycle which he originally called "The Book of Lost Tales" but which eventually became known as The Silmarillion.

In 1920 Tolkien was appointed Reader in English Language at the University of Leeds which was the beginning of a distinguished academic career culminating with his election as Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford. Meanwhile Tolkien wrote for his children and told them the story of The Hobbit. It was his publisher, Stanley Unwin, who asked for a sequel to The Hobbit and gradually Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings, a huge story that took twelve years to complete and which was not published until Tolkien was approaching retirement. After retirement Tolkien and his wife lived near Oxford, but then moved to Bournemouth. Tolkien returned to Oxford after his wife's death in 1971. He died on 2 September 1973 leaving The Silmarillion to be edited for publication by his son, Christopher.

Author biography courtesy of HarperCollins (UK).

    1. Also Known As:
      John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (full name)
    1. Date of Birth:
      January 3, 1892
    2. Place of Birth:
      Bloemfontein, Orange Free State (South Africa)
    1. Date of Death:
      September 2, 1973
    2. Place of Death:
      Oxford, England
Customer Reviews
Average Rating 4.5
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  • Posted May 25, 2011

    Books vs. Movies

    I recently completed a course at a community college in California where we reviewed The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Hobbit, and the movies (all four movies, if you count the animated hobbit film as a movie, which I do only begrudgingly). This post is the final assignment in the class. We learned a bit about the author in the class, and I have more respect for Tolkien now. What I didn't know before was that Tolkien had already created middle earth in his mind, unlike many modern fantasy writers who seem to just throw together a generic map and give it some crazy name. In Tolkien's work there is a sense that the world is much older than the stories he is telling, it is less so with other writers who sometimes create two or more worlds, which seem only as a place for the story to take place. Middle Earth has a quality that makes it more than that, it's almost a character rather than a location. My first exposure to Tolkien was in anticipation of the first movie in 2000. I read the first book before the first movie came out, then completed the other two books before the second movie came out. I also read The Hobbit at some point. I enjoyed the movies enough that I only watched them a couple of times so as to preserve the enchantment. I was a young teenager when I first read the books, and I was too young to appreciate the good writing. At the time I preferred the movies over the books because I found the names and locations to be difficult to distinguish in reading, but easy to visualize with the movies. Having taken this course I now have a reversed opinion of the books and movies. I believe the movies are as good as can be done, but the literary work is much better. However, I am not a purist when it comes to movies vs. books. Reading and watching Lord of the Rings in conjunction with each other was a great experience because it gave two points of view of the same story. I would recommend that everyone with an interest in the series compare the two. It is pretty well accepted that movie renditions are never as good as the book they are based on, and out of necessity there are things altered to fit budget and time restraints, but if you can take those facts as read there are some interesting comparisons that can be made between the two media sources. For example, the character Faramir is completely different in the movie. Some people are content to say that the movie ruined Faramir, but getting past the differences helps to get a new view of the character. I used this practice with any apparant discrepancies between the book and movies. After ranting about how they messed up in the movie, I took an objective view and it helped me to value both works higher.

    11 out of 12 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted March 11, 2009

    I Also Recommend:

    Lord of the Rings is the Best Book Ever Written

    Lord of the Rings, a powerful title for a powerful book. The best masterpiece of all times Lord of the Rings takes you to a different world where anything is possible.
    Lord of the Rings takes you to an accurately depicted land called Middle-Earth (he even draws a map for you). Here any imaginary creature imagined can be located (metaphor) including creatures like orcs, elves, dwarves, and wizards. They are cleverly described in there own unique form, and are made real in front of your eyes. He makes you hate, love, admire, and pity the characters to such extent that you won't be able to put the book down. This book contains everything: tragedy, love, treachery, action, adventure, etc., and is a book that must be read.
    This book has been made a movie, and may be discouraged to reading it, but this would be a GREAT MISTAKE. The movie is great, I don't deny it, but it doesn't explain the whole book. The book is in the top ten best sellers, and the movies also. J.R.R. Tolkien put his life in this work (it even includes songs and poems), I have never seen a more complete work in my life, nothing is missing. This is truly a masterpiece full of characters, places, and stories.

    10 out of 14 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted August 2, 2009

    Excellent Quality

    I am very pleased with this edition and would heartily recommend it to anyone looking for a single volume edition of The Lord of The Rings.

    Starting with the down side - there is very little wrong with this volume. I just finished reading the novels (not the appendixes) and found only two typos. This is much better than average for texts scanned from a paper original. I would also have preferred to have more of Tolkien's original illustrations included. The exterior of my copy had rubber cement drips from the glueing of the fold out maps. They came off but were a little disappointing in a book of this quality.

    On the positive side - The binding of the volume is consistent with its price. The leather is soft and pleasant to the touch. The ribbon page marker is a nice convenience for such a large volume. The fold out maps are very nice and a big plus for a first time reader trying to understand Middle Earth. The high gloss photographs depicting the book of Mazarbul are a nice bonus. The weight and substance of the book are fitting for the chapters of long and dreary walking. The leather and the gilt edges lend to the sense of majesty and consequence captured by the writing. A fitting tribute to the text itself.

    6 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 30, 2008

    I Also Recommend:

    ALL TIME CLASSIC

    This is an all time classic. I have read this book about once every 1-2 years now, and I love it!
    This is a beautiful edition that I got about a 2 years ago from Barnes and thought, that since I loved it so much, I would write a review about.
    I'm not one for long reviews, so here are just a couple things I like about it.
    Its beautifuly done and has a rich storyline not to mention the amazing artwork detail they have on this edition.
    It quite deeply draws you into the world of middle-earth making you want to read J.R.R. Tolkien's other works on this topic that are so richly rewarding (Hobbit, Silmarillion ect.).
    Well, I really don't want to type anymore since I'm a lazy typer, but if you think that you will like this and want to read these books, then this is for you.
    On the other hand, if you already have read and love these books, and want a sweet edition of all 3 books in one, then I strongly recommend it.
    I myself get many long hard hours of enjoyment reading it almost every year! Can't wait until my little ones will be old enough to appreciate it as well.

    6 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 7, 2008

    This is the most thrilling piece of literature known to the English language.

    I first read The Lord of the Rings when I was nine years old. I am, however, twelve years old now and have read it twice every year since. This is, by far, the most compelling book-nay work of art-that I have ever been able to come upon. The sheer depth and rich detail, alongside the intelectual storyline, are the basic characteristics to why this amazing piece of literature shall remain a masterpiece for the rest of the existence of Modern English. Thus, the lessons and moral values that can be deciphered from the within the text itself can also be considered timeless.

    6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 16, 2005

    A Must Have

    I loved this book so much, that I just had to get the Red Leather Edition and the New 50th Ann. Black edition(Though I thought it was blue from the small photo online). I also have the great green leather 'There and Back Again' (The Hobbit). When other J.R.R. books come along in Leather, I'll add that to my collection... which I hope other books such as 'The Silmarillion' will be shortly. I suggest reading the book before seeing the movie, or do somewhat of a review book/movie (i.e. to see what they left out - think of your own reasons why, besides the movie would have been more than 3 hours long per 'episode' and odd characters).

    5 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted February 16, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    Great for the Collectors

    This book is absolutely stunning, and it is without a doubt one of my favorite books that I own. The book has the Lord of the Rings put together as Tolkien originally meant for it to be. Its a timeless classic in the epic novels. I highly recommend that any person who enjoyed the series picks this book up. Its priced a little high, but if you collect the books at all it is well worth the price for what you get.

    4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 13, 2006

    What I really need from a review

    Folks, What I'm really looking for in a review here is your opinion of this particular printing of the books, not your opinion of the story. Is is worth $52 for this edition? What is the quality of the paper, print, maps, illustrations, etc. This work is pretty well known these days so I don't need another review of the story.

    4 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 5, 2005

    ...One Book to Bind them All!

    This is definitely one of the best books that was ever written. Tolkien, may he rest in peace, was one of the best fantasy writers that ever lived, and Lord of the Rings is definitely the finest piece of work he wrote. Finally, it is honored with this beautiful edition, that is worthy of such a great series.

    4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted October 1, 2011

    I Also Recommend:

    Good read

    the best fantasy book there is. definitely a classic

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted June 27, 2010

    Great new release of one of the world's greatest novels of all time

    This hardcover one-volume edition of Lord of the Rings was released for the 50th anniversary of its publication (1954). Over the years, numerous "corrections" in the spelling of certain words by well-intentioned publishers and printers led to some confusion among readers. They weren't really serious mistakes but some readers were left confused by the lack of consistency in the text. They never really took away from the beauty of the novel, but Tolkien was constantly frustrated by these constantly reoccurring errors. This is supposed to be the definitive edition with all mistakes corrected, without altering anything significant in the text or really changing what the author himself wrote.

    It's printed on good glossyish paper and the type is easy to read. I've carried the book around for a while and it isn't falling apart at the seams. It seems to be bound well enough to last a while.

    The *only* shortcoming that this edition of the Lord of the Rings has, in my opinion, is the lack of fold-out maps that appear in the collectors editions and the three volume editions of the novel (and that is what it is: a novel and NOT a trilogy). Instead, it shows four different maps, as if the original map of middle earth were divided into quarters at the center, but they overlap for convenience. It's not a bad thing but I think for the price the publisher really could have included a fold-out map or two. But that's the only drawback whatsoever and his original map of the Shire at the beginning of book one is still there intact.

    As for the novel itself, what a great, epic tale. I really only wanted this review to explain the new edition and what makes it good since so many already know the story behind the Lord of the Rings. The movies, to get off topic for a moment, were actually pretty faithful to the book in many respects. But even if you've seen the movies you haven't seen nothin' yet until you have read the book (which is quite often the case with great novels that get made into movies). My favorite character is Sam, Frodo's faithful companion. While book one starts out a bit slow, it picks up the pace considerably in book two and really gets into the action. Yes, it's long, but it's as just about as long as it needs to be.

    This hardcover edition is well worth the price, and more convenient to read than a three volume edition, where you'd have to keep flipping from one volume to the next if you were to refer to the index or appendices that follow volume three. I recommend getting this 50th anniversary hardcover edition (or at a lesser cost, the paperback version of it). I do not regret a single penny I paid for it.

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted October 14, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    Tolkien's primary work a masterpiece

    About three or four years ago, I was most certainly *not* a lover of fantasy. Sure, I had a vague interest in "Narnia" but for the most part, it wasn't a daily part of my life....until I read "The Lord of the Rings". I became intrigued when I saw the films and was surprised to discover they were originally books. I read them and was promptly hooked. Tolkien has such a unique style, and he goes into enough detail that it draws you in instead of boring you. I marvel at how his Christian faith is clearly revealed in this novel, even thought that was not his intent in the least. It goes to show how rooted he was in his faith in God. His plot, character development, originality, and creativity concerning the extensive geography involved in this book is phenomenal. I loved every sentence and would recommend this novel to *anyone*!!

    3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 28, 2005

    A must have for any Lord of the Rings fan!

    This exciting trilogy is even better in this beautiful collectors set! A must have for an fan or collector!

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 23, 2011

    a must read book

    My name is Nick. I'm a college student in California and have just completed a fiction literature class in which we covered extensively all the books from "The Hobbit" to the "Return of the King" and all the movies. Yes even the horrible 70' animated version of The Hobbit. Now as an assignment our teacher has asked us to complete an online post summarizing and reviewing my experiences in the class and of the books. Now I have to say I'm not one for books in general unless it peeks my interest and seeing as I have seen the movies before I got around to the books I found it kind of hard to get into for the class. I did how ever get the chance to find out about other interesting characters and parts that were left out of the movie completely. Tom Bombadil and the necromancer seemed to stay in my mind after reading ad actually it lead to me looking further into the world of Middle Earth. I even went to the point of reading some of the untold tail and "The Silmarillion" to better understands the ways of Middle Earth and its people. Movies aside I have to say the books seemed to be more informative and detailed then the movies were. But then again the movies did give a more realistic view and understanding of the people, the battles, and the cities that I never could have imagined. At each class we would discuss our reading. Whether we liked or disliked any particular part. Overall the class seemed to enjoy it well enough. Overall I recommend you read the books before you see the movies, if you haven't already, but I believe it gives a more personal meaning visually and intellectually. And if you get the opportunity read the other Tolkien books as well; especially "The Silmarillion". The books also brought out the creative side of many of my classmates when it came time to do presentations for the class and I believe the imagery of the movies and the imagination brought by the books had a strong influence on their assignments. My Project was a 3D map of Middle Earth using the maps from Tolkien's drawings and not of the landscapes of the movies. Which were quite different. Overall though I do recommend that you read and enjoy the books and the movies equally. They both have their ups and downs so I leave it up to you to decide.

    Nick

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 23, 2011

    Best Version Ever...

    I started reading the four book when I was 13 years old, and I could not put them down. Now, as a student at a community college in California, I have had the opportunity to take a class revolving around The Lord of the Rings. In this class, we read all four books (The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings), and watched the extended movie versions by Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema. For our last assignment, we have to write this review and post it to the web.
    I would recommend these books to anyone willing to take the time to enjoy what is probably the most creative fantasy fiction book of all time. J. R. R. Tolkien's writing is very inspirational to those who are open minded. The descriptions in the books all combine to form an wondrous journey.
    The films were extremely well done, but I recommend reading all the books first. And if you get a change, read The Silmarilion, because that tells background stories of many things that Tolkien describes in The Lord of the Rings.
    The Hobbit is about a Hobbit's journey to defeat a dragon from the Lonely Mountain, accompanied by a gang of dwarves. This book was originally published for children, but I recommend it for any age group. Even as an adult, I love to re-read this book; it sparks the imaginative part of me, and makes me feel the age that I first read it.
    The Lord of the Rings is about the journey of another hobbit, Frodo Baggins, who needs to destroy the One Ring of Power in the fires of Mount Doom. The Fellowship of the Rings is the beginning of this journey, which introduces the main characters of the Fellowship. This book could be dry for the first one hundred pages or so because of the various description details not involving any action of the story. However, the books get better. The Two Towers involves more action, and more themes involving friendship, love, and battle. The Return of the King is definitely a tear-jerker at the end.
    It is highly recommended to read the books before seeing the movies. That way, you use more of your imagination for the appearances of the characters and the different settings. Also, there are many scenes and characters in the books that are not in the movies, such as Tom Bombadil, which are a delight to have knowledge of.
    Personally, I think The Lord of the Rings should be a requirement reading for middle school to high school students. The writing is so genuine and academic, along with themes that can help change a person's perspective on many things and issues.

    2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 8, 2008

    I Also Recommend:

    SUPURB WRITING

    Tolkien has amazed me with his language and literature. The Lord of the Rings is just one of many examples of his superb ability as an author. The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, as well as The Histories of Middle Earth are all great books, but none can compare with the characterization, plot, and setting of the Lord of the Rings.
    In this book, the use of characters and their roles in the overall effect of the book is outstanding. Not only the protagonists, but also the antagonists, make up the foundation of Tolkien's land known as Middle Earth. I was amazed at the characterization and the depth at which Tolkien displays each and every character. The book portrays the ideal story of good versus evil, the story of an innocent character shaped and developed by the trials of reality and the unknown world.
    I am not one who usually gives five stars to a book, but this novel deserves more than five. I recommend this book to any reader in search for a story of adventure, action, and magic. Five stars, well earned. hIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 26, 2008

    Best fantasy works of all time

    Tolkien creates a world so deep and complex you start to believe he really thinks it's real. These books are excellent gifts!Especially this set, the artwork and the books are beautiful!I recommend this to anyone fantasy lover!

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 22, 2005

    A Beautiful way to present a Beautiful world...

    I've read The Lord of the Rings since I was very young and really love this story which is the epitome of all modern epic fantasy. I was excited to see that it was being presented in this luxurious format and quickly bought it to find it was more than I expected. This isn't some flimsy paperback that will fall apart after your fifth read... this particular volume is quite a good investment.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted June 19, 2011

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    amazing book amazing edition to my book collection!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    i love this whole book its a easy read if you are beyond a 5th grade reading level its amazing from begining to the very end i read this whole book in one day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted June 18, 2011

    I Also Recommend:

    a great edition to my collection!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    awesome novel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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