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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Considered to be Bilbo Baggins' epilogue to The Lord of the Rings sequence, Bilbo's Last Song is his short but beautiful farewell poem to Middle-Earth. The lyrical text in this new gift edition is accompanied by some stunningly detailed colour illustrations by Pauline Baynes that are worth the cover price alone. Baynes, who famously illustrated CS Lewis'sNarnia Chronicles, was much admired by Tolkien as well as a good friend of his.
Bilbo Baggins, the famous Hobbit adventurer, composed his last song after arriving at Grey Havens to board the White Ship on its journey west. He reflects on the leaving of Middle-Earth and the voyage that would take him to the Undying Lands at the end of the sunset. Like Elrond, he had indicated to Frodo that his thoughts were turning towards departure.
There are extensive notes contained within about Baynes' illustrations, which depict two journeys. The larger ones depict the journey that brings the ring-bearers and the company of elves to the Grey Havens and the beginning of the final voyage. Another sequence of smaller vignettes show scenes from The Hobbit as Bilbo remembers his first journey on the eve of his last.
Interestingly, the copyright of Bilbo's Last Song was a gift from Tolkien to a young woman seconded from his publisher in the 1970s to help him with his correspondence--which was vast. He used to joke that if ever a diamond bracelet fell out of an envelope it would be hers. Once, when she was helping him pack up his office before he moved house, Bilbo's Last Song fell out of a book and she loved it so much that Tolkien said it could be her diamond bracelet. It was never published in his lifetime.
Suitable for readers aged 10 and over, this is a stunningly beautiful book that collectors will treasure. --John McLay
Review
"A must for all fans of Tolkien's vast, epic fantasy" --"Publishers Weekly"
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Having only recently read the poem on a website, I became incresingly aware of its intense emotion and beauty. I found myself re-reading it again and again, I must say I really fell in love with it. When I found this book for sale at Amazon I was initially afraid that it might be a disappointment. Now that it has just recently arrived, I find that it has become preciouss to me... Pauline Baynes' drawings are just wonderful, suitable for a child or an adult in the same way as "The Hobbit" itself fits both audiences. The hardcover is beautifully decorated and comes covered with a perfectly identical removable softcover. On each odd page you get a bit of the poem, while each even page is illustrated with a large drawing relating to Bilbo's departure from Middle-Earth. On the bottom of every page there is also a small illustration from "The Hobbit" which, as a set, roughly depict the main passages of J.R.R. Tolkien's wonderful book.
In the end, I must say that this book truly conveys part of the emotion of "The Lord of The Rings" and "The Hobbit", so it should appeal to anyone who's already a lover of these books.
In the end, I must say that this book truly conveys part of the emotion of "The Lord of The Rings" and "The Hobbit", so it should appeal to anyone who's already a lover of these books.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
There is a risk, if you have Peter Jackson's epic as your visualisation of Middle-earth, that you might find Ms Baynes' illustrations too primitive; they are the sort you might find in a childrens book. I found them enchanting. The 24 line poem is spread throughout the book with illustrations of Bilbo's last journey with the Elves, meeting Frodo and Sam, then on to the Grey Havens and the Blessed Realm. Illustrations from The Hobbit sit in cameo,like a memory, on each page. In this way, the pictures mingle with the poem and become part of it; the journey experienced as the poem forms and the memory of Bilbo's finest hour. It's almost as if you're inside Bilbo's mind as he journeys to leave Middle-earth forever. This is a great book to give to a Tolkien fan, and to any child who has read The Hobbit, or had it read to them.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
If you have read Hobbit and LOTR, this might be a bit of a surprise. Bilbo's farewell to Middle-earth as a short poem with illustrations from Tolkien's favourite illustrator Paulinen Baynes. The perfect little gift for Tolkien fans of all ages.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Bilbo's last Song
I'm afraid I found it over-simple & not all that good poetry. For its length, it could have better been incorporated in another work eg Tree & Leaf & hence, it is overpriced. Read more
Published 6 months ago by F. L. Baird
Cute
I'm a massive Tolkien fan, so for me this is a little gem... If you're not a huge fan of Tolkien's works you're probably better off finding the poem on the internet.
Published 10 months ago by Animagus
beautiful
Beautiful illustrations to accompany Bilbo's last song - a really lovely book which is a real delight due to Pauline Bayne's talent and meticulous eye for detail.
Published on 6 Jan 2010 by nogginthenog
Bilbo's last song
When ordering the book I thought it was going to take a long time to receive, but I actually had it really quickly!! Read more
Published on 24 Jun 2009 by Munchkin Pingu
Beautiful Poem.
The poem itself is wonderful. The drowsy inconsistent rhymes somehow making vivid pictures of ships and waves appear in your head.
Aye, the poem itself is very good. Read more
Published on 20 Jan 2004
Poor value for money
Consider when you are buying this that, for the price, you are getting one short poem by Tolkien, plus a few pictures. Read more
Published on 5 Jan 2003
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