The Fellowship of the Ring - the first book of J.R.R. Tolkien's three-volume epic, The Lord of the Rings - is set in the imaginary world of Middle-earth, a place of high and heroic adventure populated by many strange creatures - most notably hobbits, a peace-loving "little-people" with furry feet. Hobbits are cheerful and shy, enjoy large meals and long naps, and almost never lock their doors at night. But dark forces from the enemy land of Mordor threaten these lovable beings, along with the other inhabitants of Middle-earth - dwarves, elves, and even men.
A the center of the saga is Frodo Baggins and the magical ring he inherited from his older cousin Bilbo (hero of Tolkien's earlier novel The Hobbit), a ring that has the power to corrupt even the strongest soul with a lust for power. From the wise wizard Gandalf, Frodo learns that he must abandon …
The Fellowship of the Ring - the first book of J.R.R. Tolkien's three-volume epic, The Lord of the Rings - is set in the imaginary world of Middle-earth, a place of high and heroic adventure populated by many strange creatures - most notably hobbits, a peace-loving "little-people" with furry feet. Hobbits are cheerful and shy, enjoy large meals and long naps, and almost never lock their doors at night. But dark forces from the enemy land of Mordor threaten these lovable beings, along with the other inhabitants of Middle-earth - dwarves, elves, and even men.
A the center of the saga is Frodo Baggins and the magical ring he inherited from his older cousin Bilbo (hero of Tolkien's earlier novel The Hobbit), a ring that has the power to corrupt even the strongest soul with a lust for power. From the wise wizard Gandalf, Frodo learns that he must abandon his comfortable hobbit hole in the Shire and with a band of brave companions, set off on a perilous journey to save the ring from enemy hands. They are pursued along the way by Orcs and the terrifying Black Riders commanded by Sauron the Dark Lord of Mordor; and they are hunted by the treacherous Gollum, who once owned the ring. But Middle-earth dwellers of all sorts also come to the company's aid, as their quest takes them to Rivendell, Moira, and the Elvish land of Lorien. Yet the most dangerous part of their journey is still to come - a desperate trip into the shadowy depths of Mordor to destroy the ring once and for all. "No imaginary world has been projected which is at once so multifarious and so true," wrote C. S. Lewis after The Fellowship of the Ring was first published in England in 1954. "Here are beauties which pierce like swords or burn like cold iron."
--back cover
I first read the Lord of the Rings books in my late teens (a long time ago). I couldn’t remember much, only that I didn‘t like them nearly as much as the films (by Peter Jackson).
I was wrong. They are a masterpiece. Tolkien created something truly unique. The world, the characters, the songs, the lore. The story. It‘s simply amazing to read.
The Fellowship is only a part of something bigger. I‘m looking forward to reading the next books.
Review of "The Fellowship of the Ring" on Good Reads
4 stars
"The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien is the kind of book rich in details that one can find themselves getting lost in. Imaginative, magical, engrossing, and brilliantly constructed, the individual text is part of a larger novel title "Lord of the Rings" which is a amazing work of the imagination which often overshadows what is sometimes slow pacing and one-dimensional characters.
One is struck by the level of detail Tolkien put into creating his literary world. The details are so well drawn and defined and the background so deep that one often forgets that they are reading a work of fiction and not a long-lost history or legend. This is where Tolkien's background as a linguist and folklorist really shines, utilizing standard folkloric techniques and creates rich languages for his text.
"Fellowship" follows the story of Frodo Baggins, a hobbit who inherited a mysterious golden ring from his …
"The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien is the kind of book rich in details that one can find themselves getting lost in. Imaginative, magical, engrossing, and brilliantly constructed, the individual text is part of a larger novel title "Lord of the Rings" which is a amazing work of the imagination which often overshadows what is sometimes slow pacing and one-dimensional characters.
One is struck by the level of detail Tolkien put into creating his literary world. The details are so well drawn and defined and the background so deep that one often forgets that they are reading a work of fiction and not a long-lost history or legend. This is where Tolkien's background as a linguist and folklorist really shines, utilizing standard folkloric techniques and creates rich languages for his text.
"Fellowship" follows the story of Frodo Baggins, a hobbit who inherited a mysterious golden ring from his Uncle Bilbo (the main subject of the novel "The Hobbit) which turns out to be the Ring created by the Dark Lord Sauron. I do not want to give too much away because as much as people may know the story, it is enjoyable to go along for the ride. Tolkien often noted that he did not create an allegory or metaphor of his time but that he was creating something that people would read and enjoy. The books one strength is that it shifts tone over the course of the novel so quietly that the awareness of the darkness behind everything comes upon the reader as a surprise. What makes this novel stand out is that it is not just an entertaining story but one that is "experienced" by the reader. Highly recommended.
