Tolkien Scholarship and Criticism

The study of Tolkien’s work is a young but growing branch of literary studies. I’ve provided a list of resources here that I have found personally useful, written by scholars whom I greatly admire – and some of whom I am privileged to call friends.

For a much more in-depth list of Tolkien scholarship and related materials, check out the open-access Tolkien Research Guide at Signum University. Signum also offers a concentration in Tolkien Studies, with a wide variety of classes on various aspects of Tolkien’s work and life.

Biography

J.R.R. Tolkien: a biography

by Humphrey Carpenter

The authorized biography; a classic.

Amazon  –  Barnes and Noble

J.R.R. Tolkien: A biography, by Humphrey Carpenter
The Inklings, by Humphrey Carpenter

The Inklings

by Humphrey Carpenter

The lives and friendship of Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams.

Amazon  –  Barnes and Noble

J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century

by Tom Shippey

The cornerstone of Tolkien scholarship.

Amazon  –  Barnes and Noble

J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century, by Tom Shippey
Tolkien and the Great War, by John Garth

Tolkien and the Great War

by John Garth

A study of how World War I influenced Tolkien’s life and later works

Amazon  –  Barnes and Noble

Study Tolkien’s war years in Signum University’s “Tolkien’s Wars and Middle-earth” class, featuring lectures by John Garth

Learn more ≫

The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

Edited by Christopher Tolkien and Humphrey Carpenter

Read a large selection of Tolkien’s letters to family, friends, and fans about his legendarium, approaches to storytelling, and general thoughts about literature and life

Amazon  –  Barnes and Noble

The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Christopher Tolkien and Humphrey Carpenter

Criticism

The Road to Middle-Earth

by Tom Shippey

Shippey places Tolkien’s work in its philological, philosophical, and literary context.

Amazon  –  Barnes and Noble

The Road to Middle-earth, by Tom Shippey
J.R.R. Tolkien Companion & Guide, by Wayne Hammond & Cristina Scull

J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide

by Wayne Hammond and Christina Scull

Comprehensive reference works for all things Tolkien.

Amazon  –  Barnes and Noble

Understanding the Lord of the Rings

by Rose Zimbardo and Neil Isaacs

Seminal essays, especially valuable for early essays by Lewis and Auden.

Amazon  –  Barnes and Noble

Understanding The Lord of the Rings, by Rose Zimbardo and Neil Isaacs
Splintered Light (Revised Edition), by Verlyn Flieger

Splintered Light

by Verlyn Flieger

The classic study of language and mythology in Tolkien’s works.

Amazon  –  Barnes and Noble

Interrupted Music: The Making of Tolkien’s Mythology

by Verlyn Flieger

A study of the careful construction of Tolkien’s myths.

Amazon  –  Barnes and Noble

Interrupted Music: The Making of Tolkien's Mythology, by Verlyn Flieger
The History of the Hobbit, by John D. Rateliff

The History of The Hobbit

edited by John D. Rateliff

Early drafts of The Hobbit with commentary and annotations by John D. Rateliff

Amazon  –  Barnes and Noble

The Gospel According to Tolkien

by Ralph Wood

A study of the deeply Christian theology of Tolkien’s mythology.

Amazon  –  Barnes and Noble

The Gospel According to Tolkien, by Ralph C. Wood
The Philosophy of Tolkien, by Peter Kreeft

The Philosophy of Tolkien

by Peter Kreeft

An examination of the underlying philosophy of Tolkien’s works by an eminent philosopher.

Amazon  –  Barnes and Noble

Academic Journals

Tolkien Studies: An Annual Scholarly Review

Edited by Michael D. C. Drout, Verlyn Flieger, and David Bratman

The flagship publication for all things related to Tolkien’s works

Publisher Homepage

Tolkien Studies, Volume 1
Journal of Tolkien Research (JTR)

Journal of Tolkien Research

Edited by Bradford Lee Eden

An open-access journal for Tolkien scholarship

Pulisher Homepage

Mallorn

The annual journal of The Tolkien Society

Publisher Homepage

Mallorn 50
Mythlore: A Journal of Mythopoeic Literature

Mythlore

Edited by Janet Brennan Croft

A scholarly, peer-reviewed journal published by the Mythopoeic Society that focuses on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and the genres of myth and fantasy

Publisher Homepage

Artwork

by Hammond and Scull

An in-depth study of Tolkien’s visual art.

Amazon  –  Barnes and Noble

J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist & Illustrator, by Wayne Hammond and Christina Scull
The Atlas of Middle-earth, by Karen Wynn Fonstad

The Atlas of Middle-Earth

by Karen Wynn Fonstad

A wonderful study of Tolkienian geography.

Amazon  –  Barnes and Noble

The Maps of Tolkien’s Middle-Earth

by Brian Sibley

Featuring maps drawn by John Howe.

Amazon  –  Barnes and Noble

The Maps of Middle-earth, by John Howe
Tolkien's World: Paintings of Middle-earth

Tolkien’s World

Featuring the art of Ted Naismith, Alan Lee, John Howe, and others.

Amazon  –  Barnes and Noble