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The Real Middle-Earth:

Exploring the Magic and Mystery of the Middle Ages, J.R.R. Tolkien and "The Lord of the Rings"
Front Cover
15 Reviews
St Martins Press, 2003 - Literary Criticism - 292 pages
J.R.R. Tolkien claimed that he based the land of Middle Earth on a real place. The Real Middle Earth brings alive, for the first time, the very real civilization in which those who lived had a vision of life animated by beings beyond the material world. Magic was real to them and they believed their universe was held together by an interlaced web of golden threads visible only to wizards. At its center was Middle Earth, a place peopled by humans, but imbued with spiritual power. It was a real realm that stretched from Old England to Scandinavia and across to western Europe, encompassing Celts, Anglo Saxons and Vikings. Looking first at the rich and varied tribes who made up the populace of this mystical land, Bates looks at how the people lived their daily lives in a world of magic and mystery. Using archaeological, historical, and psychological research, Brian Bates breathes life into this civilization of two thousand years ago in a book that every Tolkien fan will want.

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Review: The Real Middle-Earth: Magic and Mystery in the Dark Ages

User Review  - Stacy - Goodreads

Probably very interesting for Tolkien fans who know nothing about England in the Dark Ages; I found it meandering and lacking in significant insight. Read full review

Review: The Real Middle-Earth: Magic and Mystery in the Dark Ages

User Review  - Diggle30 - Goodreads

I really enjoyed this book. To me it gives a fascinating insight into a time in history that we know so little about. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in the period or those interested in ... Read full review

All 14 reviews »

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References from web pages

Bradford Lee Eden - The Real Middle-earth: Exploring the Magic and ...
The Real Middle-earth: Exploring the Magic and Mystery of the Middle Ages, jrr Tolkien, and "The Lord of the Rings," by Brian Bates. ...
muse.jhu.edu/ journals/ tolkien_studies/ v002/ 2.1eden.html

Additions and Changes to A Chronological Bibliography of Books ...
Bates, Brian: The Real Middle Earth: Exploring the Magic and Mystery of the Middle Ages, jrr Tolkien and the Lord of the Rings. London: Sidgwick & Jackson ...
www.forodrim.org/ bibliography/ tolkadd.html

Brian Bates libri - I Libri dell'autore: Brian Bates - webster.it
The Real Middle Earth: Exploring the Magic and Mystery of the Middle Ages, jrr · The Real Middle Earth: Exploring the Magic and Mystery of the Middle Ages, ...
www.webster.it/ vai_libri-author_Brian+Bates-shelf_BUS-Brian+Bates-p_1.html

About the author (2003)

Brian Bates is a Professor at the University of Brighton. He is the author of the bestselling novel, The Way of the Wyrd. His most recent book is The Human Face, co-written with John Cleese.

Bibliographic information