Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion（ISBN=9780618642670）

　　In The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion internationally acclaimed scholars Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull examine Tolkien's masterpiece chapter by chapter, offering expert insights into its evolution, structure, and meaning. They discuss in close detail important literary and historical influences on the development of The Lord of the Rings, connections between that work and other writings by Tolkien, errors and inconsistencies, significant changes to the text during its fifty years of publication, archaic and unusual words used by Tolkien, and words and passages in his invented languages of Middle-earth. Thousands of notes, keyed to standard editions of The Lord of the Rings but universally accessible, reveal the richness and complexity of one of the most popular works of fiction in our time. In addition to their own expertise and that of other scholars and critics, Hammond and Scull frequently draw upon comments by Tolkien himself, made in letters to family, friends, and enthusiasts, in draft texts of The Lord of the Rings, and in works written in later years which amplify or illuminate characters and events in the story. Extensive reference is made also to writings by Tolkien not previously or widely published, including elaborate time-schemes, an unfinished manuscript index to The Lord of the Rings, and most notably, the important Nomenclature or guide to names in The Lord of the Rings prepared for the use of translators, long out of print and now newly transcribed and printed in its entirety. With these resources at hand, even the most seasoned reader of The Lord of the Rings will come to a greater enjoyment and appreciation of Tolkien's magnificent achievement.

PREFACE
A BRIEF HIsTORY OF THE LORD OF THE RINGs
CHRONOLOGIES，CALENDARs，AND M00Ns
PRELIMINARIEs
THE MAPSOF THE LORD OF THE RINGs
FOREw0RD TO THE sECOND EDITl0N
PROLOGUE
THE FELLOwsHIP OFTHE RING
　BO0K ONE
　　A Long—expected Party
　　The Shadow of the Past
　　Three Is Company
　　A Short Cut to MushrOoms
　　A Conspiracy Unmasked
　　The Old Forest   
　　In the House of Tom Bombadil
　　Fog on the Barrow—downs
　　At the Sign of The Prancing Pony
　　Strider
　　A ICnife in the Dark
　　Flight to the Ford 
　　ROOK Twn
　　Many Meetings
　　The Council of Elrond
　　The Ring Goes South
　　A Journey in the Dark
　　The Bridge of Khazad—dfim
　　Lothl6rien
　……
CHANGES TO THE EDITIONS OF 2004-5
LIST OF WORKS CONSULTED
INDEX