I started reading The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring having just seen the wonderful, colorful, digitally produced movie of C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.
I expected Tolkien's book to be complicated, and a little gloomy. But what an especial surprise (amongst others) to find a beautifully and vividly described landscape.
I'm only at the moment where Fodor has entered the Old Forest with the ring and his three companions. A dangerous forest filled with watchful trees. He is on his way to Rivendell, as advised by Gandalf the wizard.
Fangron Forest Illustration by Tolkien
"But in the meantime what course am I to take?" said Frodo "Towards danger; but not too rashly, nor too straight," answered the wizard [Gandalf]. "If you want my advice, make for Rivendell..." |
Rivendell Illustration by Tolkien
With such an imaginative book - it really conjures up images of all kinds - I wondered if Tolkien himself had made any illustrations or drawings of his places and characters.
And indeed, he had. He drew, illustrated and designed several pieces after his various books.
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Left: Moria Gate. Right: Tree of Amalion Illustrations by Tolkien