This comprehensive compendium informs casual readers of "The Hobbit" or "Lord of the Rings" as well as students of Tolkien's life and many works. The important aspects of the author's mythology is throughly detailed - from the evolution, history and geography of 37,000-year-old "Middle Earth" to the hundreds of memorable characters and creatures that live in Tolkien's works. Over 200 illustrations and 20 pages of timelines, genealogy charts and topographical maps describe and detail the natural features, peoples and nations, and flora and fauna of Tolkien's world. The text also includes a biographical dictionary of every character and creature in Tolkien's mythology, detailing each one's lineage, physical appearance, personal attributes, dates of birth and death and major events. This illustrated guide celebrates Tolkien's work and attempts to makes sense of Tolkien's complex and magical universe.