The Song of Middle-earth. J.R.R. Tolkien’s Themes, Symbols and Myths: David Harvey

Available again after being long out of print, this is the pre-eminent critical study, and exploration, of how myth and legend played such a significant role in the works of J.R.R. Tolkien.

The Song of Middle-earth takes a fresh look at The Lord of the Rings, digging deep into the foundations of Tolkien`s world to reveal the complex tapestry of history and mythology that lies behind his stories.

The charge that Tolkien`s work was merely derivative - that he extracted elements from other mythologies and incorporated them into his own fiction - is dismissed in favour of a fascinating examination of the rich historical background to Middle-earth.

From the mythic tradition of the Tales told in The Book of Lost Tales: I to the significance of oral storytelling throughout the history of Middle-earth, this book examines the common themes of mythology found within Tolkien`s work.

In doing so, The Song of Middle-earth demonstrates how Tolkien`s desire to create a new mythology for England is not only apparent in his writing, but also realised.