Secondary literature

Secondary literature, usually equal to Tolkien study, is literature about J.R.R. Tolkien, his academic work, or his Middle-earth legendarium, written by someone outside the Tolkien family. This literature includes reference works, atlases, thorough examinations, essay collections, biographical, art books, and recipe books. This category excludes, however, literature directly concerning adaptations of Tolkien's works.

Apart from numerous, singular books by various professors, linguists, Medieval scholars, et cetera, secondary literature also includes many compilative series, such as Tolkien Studies, the Mallorn and Amon Hen journals, the Cormarë Series, Journal of Tolkien Research, and Peter Roe Memorial Series, each of whose installments feature essays or reviews by different Tolkien enthusiasts, on a spectrum from scholars to common fans.

See also Category:Secondary literature.

Secondary literature is a large portion of the outstanding collection of Pieter Collier of TolkienLibrary.com. The book I Am in Fact a Hobbit (2003) by Perry Bramlett is one of few English-language works including a bibliography of such literature.

Terminology

Secondary literature is a contrast to "primary literature", which encompasses authorized works that solely or mainly present J.R.R. Tolkien's own material, such as his novels, The History of Middle-earth, publications of his lectures and Medieval writings, and The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien. Secondary literature may or may not be directly authorized by or connected to the Tolkien Estate.

Most secondary literature, of any format, falls under Tolkien study or Tolkien criticism, sometimes called Tolkienology^[1] or Tolkien research. The most involved kind of secondary literature is Tolkien scholarship, in which a Tolkien expert draws intensely on their own academic or professional experience to examine Tolkien's life or works with particular focus.

Examples

A Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien ed. by Stuart D. Lee (2014)	The Atlas of Middle-earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad (1981)	J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography by Humphrey Carpenter (1977)	The Road to Middle-earth by Tom Shippey (1982; 2003)	Proceedings of the J.R.R. Tolkien Centenary Conference (1992)
A Gateway to Sindarin by David Salo (2005)	Splintered Light: Logos and Language in Tolkien's World by Verlyn Flieger (1983)	The Art of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien by Wayne Hammond & Christina Scull (2015)	A Sense of Tales Untold by Peter Grybauskas (2021)	The History of The Hobbit by John D. Rateliff (2007)
The Great Tales Never End: Essays in Memory of Christopher Tolkien (2022)	An Unexpected Cookbook: The Unofficial Book of Hobbit Cookery (2017)	A Tolkien Compass by Jared Lobdell (2003)	A Hobbit Journey: Discovering the Enchantment of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth by Matthew Dickerson (2012)	Tolkien's Theology of Beauty by Lisa Coutras (2016)
Tolkien's Modern Reading by Holly Ordway (2021)	J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit: Realizing History Through Fantasy by Robert T. Tally Jr. (2022)	Tolkien and the Study of His Sources edited by Jason Fisher (2011)	Musical Scores and the Eternal Present by Chiara Bertoglio (2021)	Tolkien and the Great War by John Garth (2003)
Sub-creating Arda (of the Cormarë Series) (2019)	A Tolkien Bestiary by David Day (1978)	Approaches to Teaching Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and Other Works by Leslie A. Donovan (2015)	The Map of Tolkien's Beleriand and the Lands to the North by Brian Sibley & John Howe (1999)	Finding God in The Lord of the Rings by Jim Ware (2006)
The Ring and the Cross ed. by Paul E. Kerry (2013)	The Philosophy of Tolkien by Peter J. Kreeft (2005)	Middle-earth and the Return of the Common Good by Joshua Hren (2018)	More People's Guide to J.R.R. Tolkien by TheOneRing.net (2004)	Death and Immortality in Middle-earth (of the Peter Roe Series) (2017)
The Lord of the Rings and Philosophy: One Book to Rule Them All (2003)	Gifted Amateurs and Other Essays: On Tolkien, the Inklings, and Fantasy Literature by David Bratman (2023)	The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings: J.R.R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Owen Barfield, Charles Williams by Philip & Carol Zaleski (2015)	The Lord of the Rings 1954-2004: Scholarship in Honor of Richard E. Blackwelder by Wayne Hammond & Christina Scull (2006)	Myth, Magic, and Power in Tolkien's Middle-earth by James E. Siburt (2023)
Understanding The Lord of the Rings: The Best of Tolkien Criticism by Neil Isaacs & Rose A. Zimbardo (2004)	The Origins of Tolkien's Middle-earth for Dummies (2003)	J.R.R. Tolkien: The Art of the Manuscript by Marquette University (2022)	The Maps of Tolkien's Middle-earth by Brian Sibley & John Howe (2003)	Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth by Catherine McIlwaine (2018)
J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century by Tom Shippey (2000)	J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment ed. by Michael D. C. Drout (2006)	Interrupted Music: The Making Of Tolkien's Mythology by Verlyn Flieger (2005)	The Messiah Comes to Middle-earth by Phil Ryken (2017)	Tolkien in the New Century: Essays in Honor of Tom Shippey (2014)
Tolkien's World by Randel Helms (1974)	One Ring to Bind Them All: Tolkien's Mythology by Anne C. Petty (2002)	The World of the Rings: Language, Religion, and Adventure in Tolkien by Jared Lobdell (2004)	The Lord of the Rings and the Western Narrative Tradition by Martin Simonson (2008)	J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist & Illustrator by Hammond and Scull (1995)

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Topic

v • d • e For the common/new reader

The Origins of Tolkien's Middle-earth for Dummies The People's Guide to J.R.R. Tolkien by TheOneRing.net More People's Guide to J.R.R. Tolkien by TheOneRing.net An Unexpected Cookbook by Chris-Rachael Oseland The Atlas of Middle-earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit by Corey Olsen Why We Love Middle-earth by the Prancing Pony Podcast I Am in Fact a Hobbit: An Introduction to the Life and Work of J.R.R. Tolkien by Perry Bramlett The Plants of Middle-earth: Botany and Sub-creation by Dinah Hazell The Philosophy of Tolkien by Peter J. Kreeft J.R.R. Tolkien: The Making of a Legend by Colin Duriez The Complete Guide to Middle-earth by Robert Foster Who Was J.R.R. Tolkien? by Pam Pollack & Meg Belviso A Tolkien Bestiary by David Day Middle-earth: Visions of a Modern Myth by Donato Giancola The Ultimate Unofficial Guide to Tolkien's World by Antony Cummins On the Shoulders of Hobbits: The Road to Virtue with Tolkien and Lewis by Louis Markos The Battles of Tolkien by David Day Middle-earth: Journeys in Myth and Legend by Donato Giancola The Maps of Tolkien's Middle-earth by John Howe and Brian Sibley Finding God in The Lord of the Rings by Jim Ware Finding God in The Hobbit by Jim Ware Flora of Middle-earth by Walter and Graham Judd A Dictionary of Tolkien by David Day Tolkien Trivia: A Middle-earth Miscellany Realms of Tolkien: Images of Middle-earth Tolkien's World: Paintings of Middle-earth

v • d • e Biographies

J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography by Humphrey Carpenter The Inklings: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien and Their Friends by Humphrey Carpenter Tolkien and the Great War by John Garth I Am in Fact a Hobbit: An Introduction to the Life and Work of J.R.R. Tolkien by Perry C. Bramlett J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist & Illustrator by Hammond & Scull J.R.R. Tolkien: The Making of a Legend by Colin Duriez The Ring of Words: Tolkien and the Oxford English Dictionary by Peter Gilliver et al. Uncle Curro: J.R.R. Tolkien’s Spanish Connection by José Manuel Ferrández Bru Tolkien's Faith: A Spiritual Biography by Holly Ordway Tolkien at Exeter College by John Garth The Gallant Edith Bratt: J.R.R. Tolkien's Inspiration Tolkien: A Biography by Michael White Who Was J.R.R. Tolkien? by Pam Pollack & Meg Belviso J.R.R. Tolkien (Monograph series) by Gabian Geier

v • d • e Bibliographies, encyclopediae, & "complete guides"

A Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien ed. by Stuart D. Lee The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide by W. Hammond & C. Scull J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment ed. by Michael D. C. Drout J.R.R. Tolkien: A Descriptive Bibliography by W. Hammond & D. Anderson The Making of Middle-earth: The Worlds of Tolkien and the Lord of the Rings by Christopher Snyder The Complete Guide to Middle-earth by Robert Foster Tolkien's Modern Reading by Holly Ordway Dictionnaire Tolkien by Vincent Ferré The Complete Tolkien Companion by J.E.A. Tyler Tolkien's Library: An Annotated Checklist by Oronzo Cilli A Dictionary of Tolkien by David Day

v • d • e On The Hobbit

The History of The Hobbit by John D. Rateliff Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit by Corey Olsen The Art of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien by Wayne Hammond & Christina Scull The Annotated Hobbit by Douglas Anderson The Hobbit and Tolkien's Mythology ed. by Bradford Lee Eden The Hobbit Sketchbook by Alan Lee J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit: Realizing History Through Fantasy by Robert T. Tally Bilbo's Journey: Discovering the Hidden Meaning of The Hobbit by Joseph Pearce Finding God in The Hobbit by Jim Ware

v • d • e On sources of inspiration and parallels

This excludes comprehensive guidebooks Tolkien and the Study of His Sources by Jason Fisher "Something Has Gone Crack" ed. by Janet Brennan Croft The Road to Middle-earth by Tom Shippey Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings: Sources of Inspiration ed. by S. Caldecott & T. Honegger Tolkien's Lost Chaucer by John M. Bowers In the Nameless Wood by J. S. Ryan Tolkien: A Look Behind The Lord of the Rings by Lin Carter The Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien: The Places That Inspired Middle-earth by John Garth Perilous Realms: Celtic and Norse in Tolkien's Middle-earth by Marjorie Burns The Gallant Edith Bratt: J.R.R. Tolkien's Inspiration by Nancy Bunting & Seamus Hamill-Keays War and the Works of J.R.R. Tolkien by Janet Brennan Croft Tolkien and the Classical World ed. by Hamish Williams Tolkien and the Classics ed. by R. Arduini, G. Canzonieri, and C. Testi Tolkien the Medievalist ed. by Jane Chance England and Always: Tolkien's World of the Rings by Jared Lobdell Sub-creating Arda: World-building in J.R.R. Tolkien's Work, its Precursors, and its Legacies ed. by T. Honegger & Dimitra Fimi The Flame Imperishable: Tolkien, St. Thomas, and the Metaphysics of Faërie by Jonathan S. McIntosh J.R.R. Tolkien: Myth Morality & Religion by Richard Purtill Tolkien's Modern Middle Ages ed. by Jane Chance & Alfred Siewers

v • d • e On religion, theology, or spirituality

The Gospel According to Tolkien: Visions of the Kingdom in Middle-earth by Ralph C. Wood J.R.R. Tolkien's Sanctifying Myth: Understanding Middle-earth by Bradley Birzer Amid Weeping There is Joy by Cyril Jenkins Tolkien the Pagan? Reading Middle-earth through a Spiritual Lens ed. by Anna Milon Tolkien's Faith: A Spiritual Biography by Holly Ordway The Ring and the Cross: Christianity and The Lord of the Rings ed. by Paul E. Kerry The Flame Imperishable by Jonathan S. McIntosh Tolkien's Theology of Beauty by Lisa Coutras The Philosophy of Tolkien by Peter J. Kreeft Christian Mythmakers by Rolland Hein The Messiah Comes to Middle-earth by Phil Ryken The Battle for Middle-earth: Tolkien's Divine Design in The Lord of the Rings by Fleming Rutledge The Good News of the Return of the King by Michael Jahosky J.R.R. Tolkien, Owen Barfield and the Cosmic Christ by Luigi Morelli Light Beyond All Shadow: Religious Experience in Tolkien's Work ed. by Paul Kerry & Sandra Miesel Tolkien Dogmatics: Theology through Mythology in Middle-earth by Austin M. Freeman The Power of the Ring by Stratford Caldecott Seeking the Lord of Middle Earth by Jeffery L. Morrow Creation and Beauty in Tolkien's Catholic Vision by Michael John Halsall Frodo's Journey: Discover The Hidden Meaning of The Lord of the Rings by Joseph Pearce Tolkien's Sacramental Vision by Craig Bernthal The Lord of the Rings and the Eucharist by Scott L. Smith J.R.R. Tolkien: Myth Morality & Religion by Richard Purtill Finding God in The Hobbit by Jim Ware Walking with Frodo: A Devotional Journey through The Lord of the Rings by Sarah Arthur Tree of Tales: Tolkien, Literature, and Theology ed. by T. Hart & I. Khovacs Theology and Tolkien: Practical Theology ed. by Doug Estes A Hobbit Journey: Discovering the Enchantment of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth by Matthew Dickerson Chesterton and Tolkien as Theologians by Alison Milbank Finding God in The Lord of the Rings by Jim Ware & Kurt Bruner

v • d • e On application of Tolkien's work

The Ecological Augury in the Works of JRR Tolkien by Liam Campbell Approaches to Teaching Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and Other Works ed. by Leslie A. Donovan “The Sweet and the Bitter”: Death and Dying in J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings by Amy Amendt-Raduege The Hobbit Party: The Vision of Freedom That Tolkien Got, and the West Forgot by Jonathan Witt & Jay Richards Ents, Elves, and Eriador: The Environmental Vision of J.R.R. Tolkien by Matthew Dickerson & Jonathan Evans Middle-earth and the Return of the Common Good by Joshua Hren Tolkien, Enchantment, and Loss: Steps on the Developmental Journey by John Rosegrant Theology and Tolkien: Practical Theology ed. Doug Estes Myth, Magic, and Power in Tolkien's Middle-earth by James Siburt The Unofficial Lord of the Rings Cookbook by Tom Grimm An Unexpected Cookbook: The Unofficial Book of Hobbit Cookery by Chris-Rachael Island Recipes from the World of Tolkien: Inspired By the Legends by Robert Tuesley Anderson The Elven Cookbook: Recipes Inspired by the Elves of Tolkien by Robert T. Anderson The Road Goes Ever On: A Christian Journey Through The Lord of the Rings by A. K. Frailey Mount Doom: The Prophecy of Tolkien Revealed by Paul List & Ali Ghaffari Walking with Frodo: A Devotional Journey through The Lord of the Rings by Sarah Arthur

v • d • e On the Inklings

Bandersnatch: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and the Creative Collaboration of the Inklings by Diana P. Glyer The Inklings, the Victorians, and the Moderns by Christopher Butynski The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings by Philip and Carol Zaleski The Inklings & King Arthur: J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Williams, C. S. Lewis, and Owen Barfield on the Matter of Britain by Sørina Higgins Myth and Magic: Art according to the Inklings ed. Eduardo Segura & Thomas Honegger The Inklings: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien and Their Friends by Humphrey Carpenter Gifted Amateurs and Other Essays: On Tolkien, the Inklings, and Fantasy Literature by David Bratman The Company They Keep: C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien as Writers in Community by Diana P. Glyer The Oxford Inklings: Lewis, Tolkien and Their Circle by Colin Duriez Christian Mythmakers by Rolland Hein A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War by Joseph Loconte Lord of the Elves and Eldils by Richard Purtill The Inklings Handbook by Colin Duriez & David Porter Inklings on Philosophy and Worldview by Matthew Dominguez Four Christian Fantasists by Richard Sturch

Author

The following books are solo or duo-authored books. Essay collections and collaborative works are in the next table.

Editor

In this context, editors are those who envision, select (most often), and oversee a collaboration of Tolkienian writers for a single publication with a particular focus. Many such books are in the Cormarë Series or Peter Roe Memorial Series.

Decade

See also

• Works inspired by J. R. R. Tolkien
• LOTR:Canon

References