or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
More Buying Choices
22 used & new from £2.32
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
J R R Tolkien: A Biography
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images
Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book.

J R R Tolkien: A Biography (Paperback)

by Humphrey Carpenter (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
RRP: £6.99
Price: £5.47 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £1.52 (22%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Want guaranteed delivery by Wednesday, November 11? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details
16 new from £2.32 6 used from £2.32
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Paperback (New Ed) 25 used & new from £0.01

Special Offers and Product Promotions

Frequently Bought Together

J R R Tolkien: A Biography + The Letters of J.R.R.Tolkien + The Inklings: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien and Their Friends
Price For All Three: £18.95

Show availability and shipping details

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

The Letters of J.R.R.Tolkien

The Letters of J.R.R.Tolkien

by J.R.R. Tolkien
5.0 out of 5 stars (5)  £7.67
The Inklings: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien and Their Friends

The Inklings: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien and Their Friends

by Humphrey Carpenter
5.0 out of 5 stars (3)  £5.81
The Road to Middle-Earth: How J. R. R. Tolkien Created a New Mythology

The Road to Middle-Earth: How J. R. R. Tolkien Created a New Mythology

by T.A. Shippey
5.0 out of 5 stars (3)  £6.69
J.R.R.Tolkien: Author of the Century

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

by T.A. Shippey
5.0 out of 5 stars (7)  £5.98
The Monsters and the Critics and Other Essays

The Monsters and the Critics and Other Essays

by J.R.R. Tolkien
5.0 out of 5 stars (2)  £5.98
› Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 400 pages
  • Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd; New edition edition (2 Jan 2002)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0007132840
  • ISBN-13: 978-0007132843
  • Product Dimensions: 17.6 x 11 x 2.6 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 123,377 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Customers Viewing This Page May Be Interested in These Sponsored Links

  (What is this?)
   Tolkien Rare Books & Art opens new browser window
www.markfaithbooks.com  -  1st editions, rare printings signed copies, largest choice 
   Jrr Tolkien Bio opens new browser window
www.Ask.com  -  Find the Best Results for Jrr Tolkien Bio 
   Cheap Books opens new browser window
www.AbeBooks.co.uk  -  Find all your books cheap & second hand at AbeBooks. 
  
 

Product Description

Review

'One of the most interesting and readable biographies of a literary figure' Times 'Rich and beautifully told' Sunday Times 'Absolutely fascinating' Daily Mail


Product Description

The only authorised biography, and the only one written by an author who actually met J.R.R. Tolkien, with a redesigned cover to match the distinctive paperback editions of The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales. In the 25 years since Tolkien's death in September 1973, millions have read The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion and become fascinated about the very private man behind the books. Born in Bloemfontein in January 1892, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was orphaned in childhood, brought up in near-poverty and almost thwarted in adolescent romance. He served in the First World War, surviving the Battle of the Somme, where he lost some of his closest friends, and returned to academic life, achieving high repute as a scholar and university teacher, eventually becoming Merton Professor of English at Oxford. Then suddenly his life changed dramatically. One day while marking essay papers he found himself writing 'In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit' -- and worldwide renown awaited him. Humphrey Carpenter was given unrestricted access to all Tolkien's papers, and interviewed his friends and family. From these sources he follows the long and painful process of creation that produced The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion and offers a wealth of information about the life and work of the twentieth century's most cherished author.
See all Product Description

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
 
tolkien - biographies and reference
tolkien
middle-earth
magic carpet ride
epics
20th century european fiction

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

J R R Tolkien: A Biography
83% buy the item featured on this page:
J R R Tolkien: A Biography 5.0 out of 5 stars (9)
£5.47
The Silmarillion
5% buy
The Silmarillion 4.5 out of 5 stars (144)
£4.97
The Lord of the Rings (3 Book Box set)
4% buy
The Lord of the Rings (3 Book Box set) 4.5 out of 5 stars (166)
£11.97
J.R.R.Tolkien: Author of the Century
4% buy
J.R.R.Tolkien: Author of the Century 5.0 out of 5 stars (7)
£5.98
Explore similar items
 

Customer Reviews

9 Reviews
5 star:
 (9)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A personal, illuminating view of Tolkien's life and writing, 28 May 2002
By Zeeshan Hasan (Dhaka, Bangladesh) - See all my reviews
If you've loved Tolkien's books all your life, and wondered what kind of person it takes to come up with works of genius like The Lord Of The Rings, The Hobbit and The Silmarillion, this book will be just what you wanted.

Carpenter makes illuminating connections, linking Tolkien's early fascination with languages to the fact that the author first studied languages with his mother (who died while he was quite young). That nostalgic attachment to language led him to a lifetime of study of all sorts of Scandinavian and Germanic myths and epics, which ultimately inspired him to create his own mythology.

Carpenter also mentions that Leaf By Niggle, one of Tolkien's short stories, expressed his own bittersweet feelings about having spent most of his life writing the Silmarillion and Lord Of The Rings; especially given that advancing age made it increasingly unlikely that they would be finished in his lifetime. This was news to me, so I tracked down the story in a secondhand copy of The Tolkien Reader... it was really quite touching.

I'm planning to read The Letters Of J.R.R. Tolkien by Carpenter and Christopher Tolkien next. I'm pretty sure I won't be disappointed.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Really great!, 17 Sep 2003
I haven't read all Tolkien byographies out there, but I have read some, and I think this is the best by far. Not only is it precise and somewhat more 'unbiased' than others (it's clear that the author deeply appreciates Tolkien and his works, but unlike others, he didn't turn the biography into a giant praise to JRRT's genius), but it's also entertaining and easy to read, something which can't be said of many biographies. If you want to know more about JRRT as a person and a scholar, and not just as the LotR author, you really should read this.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Utterly fantastic..., 18 Jan 2004
By A Customer
This is one heck of a good read. The perfect formula-
this book + a comfy chair/sofa + the LOTR movie soundtrack + an hour or so to yourself= a very enjoyable hour!

I can't believe how well this book is written; my addiction to it almost mirrors that of my addiction to the classic trilogy. What I found incredibly refreshing, however, was how the author does not restrain from giving us the truth. So, for example, it doesn't give Tolkien a major ego boost (if one could do that to a person 31 years dead) but instead it gives him praise when it's due, and criticism when it's due, e.g. when it comes to his grades in his early education.

A great read, anyone who wants a deeper insight into the life of my favourite author should buy this immediately. Plus, Amazon did a great service of delivering this. Buy it from here, now!

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Tolkien Biography
A privileged insight into a creative mind that will continue to astound millions for generations to come.
Published 7 months ago by L. Baker

5.0 out of 5 stars A Biography of the best AUTHOR IN THE WORLD!
Do you like Tolkien's books? Do you want to know about the life of this brilliant author? If yes than you must read this biography. Read more
Published on 5 Mar 2005 by caruanaluca

5.0 out of 5 stars The Real Biography
I have finished reading this book yesterday at night. Today I am going to begin reading all Tolkien book in my library once again! Read more
Published on 25 April 2003 by Mikayel Abazyan

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended
Fantastic insight detailing the highs and lows of the life of one of the greatest writers of all time.
Published on 27 Aug 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Interesting
This was the first biography I have ever read and if they are all this good I will be reading more. I am a bit biased because Tolkien is the greatest writer ever, but it is... Read more
Published on 24 Dec 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars A excellent book if you want to know more about the man.
A very interesting book, a must for all those you want to know more about Tolkien and his life.
Published on 1 Aug 1999

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Look for similar items by subject












i.e., each product must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...

Feedback

Ad

Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.