Tolkien in the Twenty-First Century: The Meaning of Middle-Earth Today

British “Prof of Goth” Groom (English literature, Univ. of Macau; The Vampire: A New History) offers a contemporary look at J.R.R. Tolkien’s works and their impact on multimedia, popular culture, and recent literary history. Groom cites how films, radio dramas, and online games based on Tolkien’s books have created the “Tolkien industry.” The author analyzes the Tolkien phenomenon to explain its significance in the post-pandemic environment, with the goal of encouraging fans of the movies, TV series, and games to read Tolkien’s novels as well. This study begins with an overview of Tolkien’s upbringing and the political and social context of the creation and publication of The Hobbit. Groom also offers readers an understanding of how Middle-Earth influenced the music of the Beatles and more recent musical artists. The book includes extensive notes and citations.