The Atlas of Tolkien’s Middle-earth: by J.R.R. Tolkien, Karen Wynn Fonstad and Christopher Tolkien

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The Atlas of Middle-earth provides many detailed maps of the lands described in Tolkien's books. The maps are treated as if they are of real landscapes, drawn according to the rules of a real atlas. For each area the history of the land is taken into account, as well as geography on a larger scale; from there maps are drawn. [7] Fonstad's discussion includes suggestions as to the geology that could explain various formations, and points that are contradictory between multiple accounts. Fonstad explains in the atlas, and in her article about it, how she came to decide on such matters. For example, she compares the western Emyn Muil with its two ridges to the Weald with its pair of inward-facing downs (an anticline). [2]

Bratman, David (2013) [2007]. "History of Middle-earth: Overview". In Drout, Michael D. C. (ed.). J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia. Routledge. pp.273–274. ISBN 978-0-415-86511-1. First Age: Beleriand time. Ends with the War of Wrath, Middle-Earth reconfigured, northern realm of Morgoth destroyed, Morgoth cast away into the Void. It is hard to believe that I haven't written a review of this wonderful book. The "Atlas of Middle-earth" is one of those resources that help to open up Tolkien's work for the reader in a way that adds to one's understanding of the original works. It is helpful to have multiple maps with explanatory material there to help the reader to visualize the geography and routes of all of the major works of J.R.R. Tolkien. The main regional maps of the Third Age are big and nice to look at: Shire, Misty Mountains, Mordor and others are all portrayed in detail. Included are also maps of the pathways taken by the various protagonists in LOtR, the Hobbit, the Silmarillion, so you can see which lands and landmarks the Fellowship, Merry + Pippin, Aragorn + Gimli + Legolas, Bilbo, Turin, etc. actually passed by. You can gaze at the interiors of the Prancing Pony, Isengard, Minas Tirith, Mount Doom, et al. Introduction -- The First Age. Introduction -- Valinor -- Beleriand and the lands of the north -- The great march -- The flight of the Noldor -- Realms : before the great defeat -- Menegroth, the thousand caves -- Nargothrond -- Gondolin -- Thangorodrim and Angband -- Coming of men -- Travels of Beren and Luthien -- Travels of Turin and Nienor -- The battles of Beleriand -- The First Battle -- The Second Battle -- The Third Battle -- The Fourth Battle -- The Fifth Battle -- The Great Battle -- The Second Age. Introduction -- Refugee relocation -- Advent of the dark years -- Numenor -- Voyages of the Numenoreans -- The Realms in Exile -- The last alliance -- Kingdoms of the Dunedain (1050) -- Battles (1200-1634) -- The Great Plague (1636-37) -- Wainriders and Angmar (1851-1975) -- Deepening difficulties (2000-2940) -- Migrations of Hobbits -- Migrations of Dwarves -- Regional maps. Introduction -- The Shire -- Eriador -- Wilderland -- The Misty Mountains -- The Brown Lands, the Wold, the Downs, and the Emyn Muil -- The White Mountains -- Mordor (and adjacent lands) -- The Hobbit. Introduction -- Over Hill and Under Hill : Goblin-town -- Out of the frying pan -- Beorn's wide wooden halls -- Attercop, Attercop -- Thranduil's Caverns -- Lake-town -- Lonely Mountain -- The Battle of Five Armies -- The Lord of the Rings. Introduction -- Hobbiton and Bag End -- Along the Brandywine -- On the Barrow-downs -- At the Prancing Pony -- Weathertop -- Rivendell -- Moria -- Lothlorien -- Helm's Deep -- Isengard -- Edoras -- Dunharrow -- Minas Tirith -- The Morannon -- Henneth Annun -- The path to Cirith Ungol -- The Tower of Cirith Ungol -- Mount Doom -- The Battle of the Hornburg (March 3-4, 3019) -- Battles in the north (March 11-30, 3019) -- The Battle of the Pelennor Fields (March 15, 3019) -- The Battle of the Morannon (March 25, 3019) -- The Battle of Bywater (November 3, 3019) -- Pathways -- Bag End to Rivendell -- Rivendell to Rauros -- Rauros to Dunharrow -- Dunharrow to the Morannon -- The journey of Frodo and Sam -- The road home -- The Fourth Age -- Thematic maps. Introduction -- Landforms -- Climate -- Vegetation -- Population -- Languages -- Appendix : Tables. Mountain chains -- Inland water bodies -- Rivers -- Political decisions -- NotesI'm rereading The Lord of the Rings as I do every few years since my freshman English teacher gave the books to me in high school. Many years later I stumbled across a copy of this book in a used book store and pounced on it. Bratman, David (2007). "Studies in English on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien". The Tolkien Estate . Retrieved 29 October 2021.

Really cool book with maps of Middle-Earth across time. It also facilitates understanding the changes that happened in the various Ages. Second Age: Númenor time (foundation, rise and fall). Ends with the Last Alliance of Elves and Men defeating Sauron. Isildur cuts Sauron's finger and takes the Ring. Númenor is submerged. Sauron’s body is destroyed but his spirit survives. a b c d e Fonstad, Karen Wynn (with prefatory note by Verlyn Flieger) (2006). "Writing "TO" the Map". Tolkien Studies. 3 (1): 133–136. doi: 10.1353/tks.2006.0018. ISSN 1547-3163. S2CID 170599010.This was the part my wife was the most interested in during our reading. The entire journey of the fellowship is mapped out to the best of Fonstad's ability to determine it. The most memorable part is the stone trolls, which in The Hobbit were immediately visible by the light of their fire from the last bridge, but in The Lord of the Rings weren't found until days after crossing the last bridge. It's inconceivable that Aragorn would have spent precious time wandering in the wilderness when he knew they were being followed by the Nazgûl, but the problem remains. Fonstad suggests the presence of another river and bridge, not visible on Tolkien's map, to explain it, but provides a map and dates for both possibilities. Shelton, Luke (19 February 2021). "The Best (And Worst) Reference Books For Tolkien". Luke Shelton . Retrieved 29 October 2021. The depictions of Valinor and its relation to Middle-Earth were awe-inspiring, especially in relation to the myths and events narrated in the Silmarillion. Brisbois, Michael J. (2005). "Tolkien's Imaginary Nature: An Analysis of the Structure of Middle-earth". Tolkien Studies. Project Muse. 2 (1): 197–216. doi: 10.1353/tks.2005.0009. ISSN 1547-3163. S2CID 170238657. First and foremost, it is a historical atlas tracing the history of all the key races over time. Each significant battle is given graphic representation. Alliances and conflicts are shown as territory shifted over time.

There are also some thematic maps: where each race lived and prospered; where the Great Plague spread; political maps across the ages; climate, vegetation, languages. Campbell, Alice (2013) [2007]. "Maps". In Drout, Michael D. C. (ed.). The J. R. R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment. Routledge. pp.405–408. ISBN 978-0-415-86511-1. No surprise, but I loved this book. I love Tolkien and I love maps. It doesn't get much better than this!It is a tremendous reference for all four novels in Tolkien's epic fantasy, with hand-drawn maps of all the regions of Middle Earth from First Age to Fourth, dated route maps of both Bilbo's journey to the Lonely Mountain and Frodo's journey to Mt. Doom, and maps of all the large battles, including the ones in Lorien, Mirkwood, and Dale that are only referenced in passing in the text.

Hundreds of two-color maps and diagrams survey the journeys of the principal characters day by day -- including all the battles and key locations of the First, Second, and Third Ages. Plans and descriptions of castles, buildings, and distinctive landforms are given, along with thematic maps describing the climate, vegetation, languages, and population distribution of Middle-earth throughout its history. An extensive appendix and an index help readers correlate the maps with Tolkien's novels. Middle-earth is the fictional world created by the philologist and fantasy author J. R. R. Tolkien and presented in his bestselling books The Hobbit (1937) and The Lord of the Rings (1954–1955). [4] Tolkien provided overview maps for each book. [5] Book [ edit ] Publication history [ edit ] The maps are organised first by period, with chapters on the First, Second, and Third Ages of Middle-earth. [10] A chapter covers regional maps, and a short chapter focuses on The Hobbit. [11] A major chapter follows the action in The Lord of the Rings. [12] The book ends with a chapter of thematic maps, illustrating the landforms, climate, vegetation, population, and languages of Middle-earth. [13] Reception [ edit ] Fonstad created "the most comprehensive set" of thematic maps of Middle-earth, such as Frodo and Sam's route to Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring. [7]Karen Wynn Fonstad's THE ATLAS OF MIDDLE-EARTH is an essential volume that will enchant all Tolkien fans. Here is the definitive guide to the geography of Middle-earth, from its founding in the Elder Days through the Third Age, including the journeys of Bilbo, Frodo, and the Fellowship of the Ring. Authentic and updated -- nearly one third of the maps are new, and the text is fully revised -- the atlas illuminates the enchanted world created in THE SILMARILLION, THE HOBBIT, and THE LORD OF THE RINGS. I love maps. One of the best parts about a fantasy series for me is a map that's had some thought put into it. I love opening the cover of a book and seeing the world laid out, and trying to imagine what it looks like before I read. What's on the other side of those mountains? Who lives in a city named "Fairhaven"? Sometimes the actual world doesn't measure up to the wonder inspired by the map, but there's still that beautiful moment at the beginning when everything is new and strange.