A comprehensive introduction to the medieval languages and texts that inspired Tolkien's Middle-earth. Using key episodes in The Silmarillion , The Hobbit , and The Lord of the Rings , medieval texts are presented in their original language with translations. Essential for those who wish to delve deeper into the background to Tolkien's mythology.

J. R. R. Tolkien (1892-1973) is widely regarded as one of the most important writers of the twentieth century. His popularity began with the publication in 1937 of The Hobbit, and was cemented by the appearance of The Lord of the Rings in the early 1950s. However, engagement with his work was until relatively recently sidelined by literary and other scholars. Consequently, many foundational analyses of his fiction, and his work as a medievalist, are dispersed in hard-to-find monographs and obscure journals (often produced by dedicated amateurs). In contrast, over the last decade or so, academic interest in Tolkien has risen dramatically. Indeed, interpretative and critical commentary is now being generated on a bewildering scale, in part aided by the continuing posthumous publication of his work (most recently, his Beowulf translation which appeared in 2014). The dizzying quantity-and variable quality-of this later criticism makes it difficult to discriminate the useful from the tendentious, superficial, and otiose. Now, in four volumes, a new collection from Routledge's Critical Assessments of Major Writers series meets the need for an authoritative reference work to collect early evaluations and to make sense of the more recent explosion in research output. Users are now able easily and rapidly to locate the best and most influential critical assessments. With material gathered into one easy-to-use set, Tolkien researchers and students can now spend more of their time with the key journal articles, book chapters, and other pieces, rather than on time-consuming (and sometimes fruitless) archival searches.

A comprehensive introduction to the medieval languages and texts that inspired Tolkien's Middle-earth. Using key episodes in The Silmarillion , The Hobbit , and The Lord of the Rings , medieval texts are presented in their original language with translations. Essential for those who wish to delve deeper into the background to Tolkien's mythology.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK setting out the full instructions for a routine of amazing card tricks. All the tricks involve the production of the Aces in a variety of spectacular ways. The book is designed to guide the beginner in card magic through the basic handling of the cards to the successful production of the tricks.

A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK of card magic that brings together material from the same author's previous books on the subject augmented with additional information. It includes not only detailed descriptions of the tricks of three complete routines but also clear instructions on their performance. The effects can be produced without any sleights-of-hand and with a minimum of manipulation of the cards and all the handling required is fully explained.

OLD WINE IN NEW BOTTLES STUART LEE A practical handbook setting out full instructions for a routine of spectacular card tricks. The tricks are classics of card magic revised to produce new and amazing effects. The book is designed to guide the beginner in card magic through the basic handling of the cards to the successful production of the tricks. However, the re-working of these classics of card magic will also appeal to the more experienced performer. ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK with complete instructions for a routine of card tricks performed using the cards as they are removed from the manufacturer's sealed carton. The book is designed to guide the beginner in card magic through all the procedures required to produce effects that will delight, surprise, and amaze an audience. Full explanations are given of all the handling required and the tricks can be performed with the minimum of manipulation and, if wished, without the use of any sleights-of-hand.