The Lord of the Rings

Date of Reading: 31/08/2007

Author: J. R. R. Tolkien

Publisher: Harper Collins

Place: London

Year: 1995

          Magnificent! There is nothing much more to say.

         I have read 'Harry Potter' series before and so this one appeared as a perfect prequel - a world where Men rule, Elves are free and powerful (nothing like the H. Potter series), and Dwarfs and Hobbits also thrive among others. [The book does have a prequel - 'The Hobbit'].

          One can't help notice some similarities: Wizards always seems to be the trouble makers - the Dark Lord as usual has a coming back. One might even believe in the Buddhist rebirth philosophy. Dumbledore could be the reincarnation of Gandalf, and Harry of Frodo. Sam can take the part of Ron and well, it's a pity that there are no powerful women characters.

          Novel was originally published in three volumes - 'The Fellowship of the Ring', 'The Two Towers' and 'The Return of the King'. I have got it all in a single volume which as assumed is really huge. Movies are brilliant too, in fact I like them better than the book. Last one swept the Oscars - won all eleven of the Academy Awards for which it was nominated, tying it with Benhur and Titanic for the most Academy Awards received for a film. No wonder it is the third best-selling novel ever written, with over 150 million copies sold.

           Sauron, the Dark Lord, has gathered to him the Rings of Power - the means by which he will be able to rule the world. All he lacks in his plan for dominion is the Ruling Ring which has fallen into the hands of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins. Hobbits are small, peaceful people who lived in a place called Shire.

          Bilbo leaves the Ring which can make the wearer invisible, to his heir Frodo. Gandalf, the wizard, advises him to leave home and destroy the Ring by putting it into the Crack of Doom in Mordor. Sam, his gardener and his friends, Merry and Pippin accompanies and a Fellowship of the Ring is formed for this venture. Besides them, it includes Gandalf, Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, and Boromir. At the end of the first book, Boromir dies and the Fellowship is broken. Frodo and Sam continues the journey alone.

          'The Towers' is all about battles and the last book witnesses the victory of Frodo and the fall of Sauron. Aragorn is crowned as the King and the four friends return to Shire. After spending two years to complete his book of adventures, Frodo leaves to haverns with Bilbo and Gandalf.