Tolkien-related book recommendations

[Lomadia]

What books related to Tolkien's work (other than his books themselves) do you recommend reading? This can include reference books, biographies, and other derivative works.

[Lomadia]

I get so much use out of my Atlas of Middle-earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad. If you're thinking of buying it, do!

[Elanor]

Well,I have recommended this before, but I'll say it again.There and back again:an actors tale, by Sean Astin. Very good and a lot of insights into the making of the films.

[Lomadia]

Yesterday I picked up The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull, and, honestly, I don't know how I've been living without it in the five-odd years since I started reading Tolkien. The bulk of it is annotations and notes to The Lord of the Rings, which cover everything from definitions of obscure works to several-page-long discussions of such things as Tolkien's views on theology or his inspiration for a new character. The notes are exhaustive and thought-provoking; I spent three hours this morning glued to the book. It also includes a history of the writing of The Lord of the Rings; a list of the corrections made to The Lord of the Rings for the 2005 edition; and, of particular interest to me, Nomenclature, a guide written by Tolkien for translators of The Lord of the Rings discussing the origins of many of the names and why he gave the names he did to his characters, locations, and items.

[Elanor]

sounds a good buy!

[[Aeria-Gloris]]

The Journeys of Frodo by Barbara Strachey is an excellent read. A collection of fantastically detailed maps accompanied by an explanation from the author on why she came the geographical conclusions she did. A great companion to help you better picture the land, progress made and views of middle-earth.