The study of Tolkien’s work is a young but growing branch of literary studies. There is some very interesting scholarship being done on Tolkien right now; more and more books are being published all the time.
The first section of this page consists of books by scholars that I admire very much. If you are interested in shorter works of criticism, you might also want to check out Tolkien Studies, the foremost journal of Tolkien criticism, edited by Douglas Anderson, Michael Drout, and Verlyn Flieger. Finally, I’ve included some remarkable books relating to maps and visual art.
J.R.R. Tolkien
Humphrey Carpenter
The authorized biography; a classic.
The Inklings
Humphrey Carpenter
The lives and friendship of Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams.
J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century
Tom Shippey
The cornerstone of Tolkien scholarship.
The Road to Middle-Earth
Tom Shippey
Shippey places Tolkien’s work in its philological, philosophical, and literary context.
J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide
Wayne Hammond and Christina Scull
Comprehensive reference works for all things Tolkien.
Understanding the Lord of the Rings
Neil Isaacs and Rose Zimbardo
Seminal essays, especially valuable for early essays by Lewis and Auden.
Splintered Light
Verlyn Flieger
The classic study of language and mythology in Tolkien’s works.
Interrupted Music
Verlyn Flieger
A study of the careful construction of Tolkien’s myths.
The Philosophy of Tolkien
Peter Kreeft
An examination of the underlying philosophy of Tolkien’s works by an eminent philosopher.
The Gospel According to Tolkien
Ralph Wood
A study of the deeply Christian theology of Tolkien’s mythology.
Tolkien Studies
Volume 1, 2004
Articles by Shippey, Anderson, Drout, and Flieger, and Tolkien’s Middle-English edition of Sir Orfeo.
Tolkien Studies
Volume 2, 2005
More good essays, plus meaty book reviews and an annual bibliography.
Tolkien Studies
Volume 3, 2006
Another collection of solid essays and thorough reviews.
Tolkien Studies
Volume 4, 2007
Still more good essays, and this time with more reviews than ever.
Tolkien Studies
Volume 5, 2008
Containing the first published article by the Tolkien Professor.
J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist & Illustrator
Hammond and Scull
A study of Tolkien’s visual art.
The Atlas of Middle-Earth
Karen Wynn Fonstad
A wonderful study of Tolkienian geography.
The Maps of Tolkien’s Middle-Earth
Brian Sibley
Featuring maps drawn by John Howe.
Tolkien’s World
Featuring the art of Ted Naismith, Alan Lee, John Howe, and others.
Heard