Description

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Go on a beautifully illustrated journey through the Second Age of Middle-earth’s history.

The Second Age has long been a “dark age” for readers of J. R. R. Tolkien, as none of his fiction provides an all-encompassing narrative of the events of that 3,500-year period of Middle-earth’s history. Only through the efforts of Tolkien’s son Christopher has the public been able to appreciate the full grandeur of the Second Age, which is revealed in Tolkien’s meticulous notes and unfinished works. The Second Age is made up of two great narrative channels: on the one hand the rise and cataclysmic downfall of the island kingdom of Númenor and its aftermath, and on the other the forging of the Rings of Power and the rise of the new dark lord, Sauron. Illustrated World of Tolkien: The Second Age includes more than 120 illustrations depicting the characters and events of this period—along with insightful commentary from renowned Tolkien scholar David Day—making it an essential addition to the library of every Lord of the Rings fan.

This work is unofficial and is not authorized by the Tolkien Estate or HarperCollins Publishers.

About the Author

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David Day is the author of a dozen books on the world of J.R.R. Tolkien, beginning with A Tolkien Bestiary, the first illustrated guide to Middle-earth. Together with Tolkien: The Illustrated Encyclopedia and Tolkien’s Ring, his books have been translated into twenty languages and have sold in excess of 3 million copies. A Canadian living in Victoria, British Columbia, Day has also published more than thirty other books of mythology, history, fantasy, fiction, and poetry, for both adults and children.

Praise For…

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This book invites browsing and Tolkien enthusiasts will enjoy the literary journey.
— Lesley Farmer