The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth by Robert Foster and Ted Nasmith - Non Fiction - Hardback

Details
Condition: Brand New
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9780008537814
Publisher: HarperCollins
Age Range: Adult

Overview
The Complete Guide to Middle-earth is the definitive A-Z encyclopedia of J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium, gathering the names, places, languages, and events of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion into one authoritative hardback reference. Compiled by Robert Foster and illustrated throughout by acclaimed Tolkien artist Ted Nasmith, this edition pairs meticulous scholarship with vivid full-color artwork. It's the essential companion for any reader wanting to trace lineages, timelines, and locations across Middle-earth with confidence, clarity, and genuine visual delight.

About the Book
First published decades ago and now reissued in a lavish illustrated hardback, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth remains the gold-standard reference for Tolkien's world. Every entry is organized alphabetically, distilling essential facts about characters, races, kingdoms, and events tied to The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion. The book goes well beyond a simple glossary: it includes detailed genealogical tables tracing the houses of Elves, Dwarves, and Númenóreans, plus a unique Chronology of the First Age that helps anchor the deep history behind later events. Throughout the book, more than fifty full-color paintings by Ted Nasmith bring iconic locations like Rivendell, Minas Tirith, and Cirith Ungol to life, many of which appear exclusively in this edition. Spanning 512 pages, this reissue sits alongside HarperCollins' illustrated editions of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales. Whether you're revisiting Tolkien's novels for the tenth time or diving in for the first, this guide clarifies who's who and what's what without ever spoiling the joy of discovery. It's equally at home on a scholar's desk, a collector's shelf, or a fan's coffee table, offering both quick answers and long, absorbing browsing sessions. For readers who love getting lost in the details of a richly built world, this is the reference that rewards returning to again and again.

Key Benefits

• Comprehensive A-Z reference covering The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion
• Compiled by Tolkien scholar Robert Foster for accuracy and depth
• More than 50 full-color paintings by acclaimed artist Ted Nasmith, many exclusive to this edition
• Includes genealogical tables and a unique Chronology of the First Age
• Sturdy 512-page hardback built to be a lasting shelf reference
• Pairs perfectly with HarperCollins' illustrated Tolkien editions for a unified collection

About the Author
Robert Foster is best known for compiling this definitive lexicon of names, places, and lore from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, drawing on close study of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion to create an enduring scholarly reference. Ted Nasmith is a celebrated Canadian artist renowned for his atmospheric, richly detailed depictions of Tolkien's world, with artwork featured across numerous official Tolkien publications, calendars, and this illustrated edition, where his paintings bring the guide's locations, characters, and landscapes to vivid, memorable visual life.

Why You'll Love This Book
This hardback encyclopedia makes a perfect gift for the Tolkien fan who has everything else, a thoughtful holiday or birthday present, and a rewarding addition to any home library, book club, or classroom shelf for fantasy discussions, rereads, and cozy winter reading sessions curled up by the fireplace.

Please Note: This is the UK edition with the ISBN as listed; the cover may vary slightly from the image shown.