A Hobbit Journey: Discovering the Enchantment of J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth

by Matthew Dickerson

Overview

The Lord of the Rings trilogy has delighted millions of fans worldwide in book and movie form. With the theatrical release of the two-part film The Hobbit slated for 2012 and 2013, attention will once again turn to J. R. R. Tolkien's classic works. In a culture where truth is relative and morality is viewed as old-fashioned, we welcome the chance to view the world through hobbit eyes: we have free will, our choices matter, and living a morally heroic life is possible.

In this engaging and thought-provoking book, Tolkien expert Matthew Dickerson shows how a Christian worldview and Christian themes undergird Tolkien's Middle-earth writings and how they are fundamentally important to understanding his vision. This revised and expanded edition of Following Gandalf includes new material on torture, social justice, and the importance of the body.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781441240323
Publisher:	Baker Publishing Group
Publication date:	09/01/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Matthew Dickerson (PhD, Cornell University) is a professor at Middlebury College in Vermont, a writer, and the director of the New England Young Writers' Conference at Bread Loaf. His previous works include From Homer to Harry Potter; The Mind and the Machine; Narnia and the Fields of Arbol: The Environmental Vision of C. S. Lewis; and Ents, Elves, and Eriador: The Environmental Vision of J. R .R. Tolkien.
Matthew Dickerson (PhD, Cornell University) is professor of computer science and environmental studies at Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont, and a popular speaker on Tolkien. He directs the New England Young Writers' Conference at Bread Loaf and is the author of From Homer to Harry Potter; The Mind and the Machine; Narnia and the Fields of Arbol; and Ents, Elves, and Eriador.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. On Hobbits, the Treatment of Prisoners, and the Ethics of War
2. Epic Battles
3. Frodo and the Wisdom of the Wise
4. Military Victory or Moral Victory?
5. Human Freedom and Creativity
6. The Gift of Ilúvatar and the Power of the Ring
7. Moral Responsibility and Stewardship
8. The Seen and the Unseen: Salvation and Social Justice
9. A Shift in Tone: Free Will and the Hand of Ilúvatar
10. Ilúvatar's Theme and the Real War

Editorial Reviews

What are the costs of military victory? Is mercy sometimes too expensive? Can torture ever be justified? Are there any moral absolutes in a world of competing faiths and cultures? A Hobbit Journey traces these and many other issues through their surprisingly detailed presentation in Tolkien’s fiction. If anyone should still doubt Tolkien’s applicability and relevance to the 21st century, this is the book to put in their hands.”
—Thomas Shippey, author of J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century

“J.R.R. Tolkien’s stories are countries full of treasure that will go undiscovered and unappreciated unless we learn how to be attentive treasure hunters. Matthew Dickerson writes as one who has spent his summers in the Shire, hiked every trail in Mirkwood Forest, taken counsel from Gandalf, and argued with Gollum and Smaug. It’s as though he sharpened the tools of his intellect in deep conversation with Tolkien himself. He will prove to be a thought-provoking guide through Middle-earth whether you’re a frequent visitor there or a newcomer ready for the adventure of a lifetime.”
—Jeffrey Overstreet, author of Auralia’s Colors and Through a Screen Darkly

“A Hobbit Journey instantly engages readers with its combination of scholarly knowledge and love for J.R.R. Tolkien’s work. Matthew Dickerson resists imposing his own rigid, limiting thesis and instead interprets the text by simply pointing out to fellow readers what is there. In doing so, he illuminates the power of Tolkien’s stories to challenge, delight, and transform us.”
—Colin Duriez, author of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis: The Gift of Friendship and J.R.R. Tolkien: The Making of a Legend

From the Publisher