John Howe, who played an important role as an image artist in the production of the films "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit", has created a masterpiece that depicts with great imagination all the scenes of "Middle Earth", the place where Tolkien's fantasy world unfolds, such as battles in various eras, lost kingdoms, ancient myths, the far north, and countries across the sea!
Tolkien created maps that are rich in unknown lands, far-flung lands that no one has ever traveled from before. Along with the precise and elegant drawings,
it is natural that they appear when the limits of words are reached in the process of telling a story.
The maps are a testament to how powerful images his stories create in the minds of readers, passing through the rich mirror of Tolkien's imagination.
(From "Introduction")
[Table of Contents]
Introduction
Prologue - The Creation of Middle-earth
The Shattered Chord/The Light and the Tree/Melkor and Ungoliant/The First Ring to Rule All Rings
Chapter 1: The Round Door and the Round Hill - The Peaceful Scenery of Hobbiton
The Simple Hobbit House/Inside and Outside Bag Lane House
Chapter 2: The Deep Forest, the Desolate Forest - The Primeval Forest of Middle-earth. From the Old Forest to Mirkwood.
Mirkwood/Old Man Willow/Fangorn and Huorn/Ents
Chapter 3: The House in the Wilderness and the Wandering of the Wilderness
Rhosgobel/Radagast the Brown/The Skin Changer/Istari/Saruman of Orthanc Tower/Shelob/The Moundmen and Wildlings: Those Who Live Under the Branches and Mounds
Chapter 4: High Snow and High Eagle's Nest: The Mountains of Middle Earth
The Eagle of Manwe/Tanikwetil/The Lonely Mountain/The Misty Mountains/Mount Doom
Chapter 5: The Goblin Cave
Goblin Town/Goblin of Moria/The Dark Riddle
Chapter 6: The Town of Men
Minas Tirith/The Land of Gondor: From Argonath to Harrond/Lake Narrow/The Town of the Valley: The Land of Rhovanion/The Valley of Ruins/The Sign of the Prancing Pony/The Hand, Harad, and Umbar
Chapter 7: The Sea of Grass
The Land of Rohan - Land of the Horse King/Meduseld/The Riders/Helm's Deep/The Battle of Rohan
Chapter 8: Battles Lost, Glory Won
The War of Middle-earth/Dagor, Nirnaeth Arnoediad - Battle of the Endless Tears/Battle of the Pelennor Fields/The Long Defeat
Chapter 9: Those Who Dig Deep into the Earth
The Kingdom of the Dwarves/Khazad-dûm/Erebor - The Kingdom Beneath the Mountain/Belegost and Nogrod - The Lost Land of the Dwarves/Dwarven Artifacts
Chapter 10: The Arrival of the Dragon
Glaurung - The Legendary Dragon/Ancalagon - The Legendary Dragon/Smaug the Gold/Scatha/The Battle of the Dragon and the Dwarves
Chapter 11: The Last Refuge
The Elven Stronghold of Middle-earth/Sakuravalle/The Forest Kingdom/The Elves of Mirkwood/Lothlórien/The Well-Defense Green City
Chapter 12: The Darkened Countries - From Angmar to Mordor
The Magic Hills/Lake of Lune/The Path of the Dead/The Gates and Towers/Barad-dur, Orodruin, and the Crack of Ruin - Heart of Darkness
Chapter 13: Lonely Headlands and Desolate Shores - The Coastline of Middle Earth
Acararbase - The Fall of Númenor/Emin Belaid (Tower Hills) - The White Tower/Grey Harbor - Mithrond of Lune Bay
Afterword - With Good Companions
