The Ring Legends of Tolkien
An Illustrated Exploration of Rings in Tolkien's World, and the Sources that Inspired his Work from Myth, Literature and History
Published on 11. September 2025
Book
Hardback
256 pages
978-1-78840-638-3 (ISBN)
Description
Tolkien's One Ring, at the centre of one of the greatest fantasy tales ever told, is an undeniably iconic and powerful symbol in literature.
This deluxe edition of David Day's The Ring Legends of Tolkien is a handsome hardback with an embossed and foiled cover, gilt edges and ribbon marker.
Published in a larger format, this edition features some all-new artwork alongside the familiar, exquisite maps, sketches and paintings from a host of brilliant artists.
Tracing centuries of ancient folklore, The Ring Legends of Tolkien is a deep and highly informed investigation into the inspiration behind Tolkien's epic fantasy world, exploring the origins of the One Ring, as well as the extraordinary myths and legends that inspired Tolkien's works. The perfect gift for fans of Tolkien's world.
Content includes:
-War of the Rings: The Roman Republic, Venice C.1000, Gelderland 1548
- Norse Mythology: Power, Fame and Destiny, Norse Cosmology and Tolkien, Nine Worlds
- The Voelsunga Saga: The Voelsungs, Sigmund and Signy, The Apprenticeship of Sigurd
- The Nibelungenlied: The Wooing of Brunhild, The Newlyweds at Worms, The Rival Queens
- The Alchemist's Ring: Rings in Alchemy: A Secret Language, The Shaman, the Sorcerer and the Smith, Good and Bad Alchemy
Also available in the series: A Dictionary of Tolkien and An Atlas of Tolkien.
This book has not been prepared, authorized, licensed or endorsed by J. R. R. Tolkien's heirs or estate, nor by any of the publishers or distributors of the book The Lord of the Rings or any other work written by J. R. R. Tolkien, nor anyone involved in the creation, production or distribution of the films based on the book.
This deluxe edition of David Day's The Ring Legends of Tolkien is a handsome hardback with an embossed and foiled cover, gilt edges and ribbon marker.
Published in a larger format, this edition features some all-new artwork alongside the familiar, exquisite maps, sketches and paintings from a host of brilliant artists.
Tracing centuries of ancient folklore, The Ring Legends of Tolkien is a deep and highly informed investigation into the inspiration behind Tolkien's epic fantasy world, exploring the origins of the One Ring, as well as the extraordinary myths and legends that inspired Tolkien's works. The perfect gift for fans of Tolkien's world.
Content includes:
-War of the Rings: The Roman Republic, Venice C.1000, Gelderland 1548
- Norse Mythology: Power, Fame and Destiny, Norse Cosmology and Tolkien, Nine Worlds
- The Voelsunga Saga: The Voelsungs, Sigmund and Signy, The Apprenticeship of Sigurd
- The Nibelungenlied: The Wooing of Brunhild, The Newlyweds at Worms, The Rival Queens
- The Alchemist's Ring: Rings in Alchemy: A Secret Language, The Shaman, the Sorcerer and the Smith, Good and Bad Alchemy
Also available in the series: A Dictionary of Tolkien and An Atlas of Tolkien.
This book has not been prepared, authorized, licensed or endorsed by J. R. R. Tolkien's heirs or estate, nor by any of the publishers or distributors of the book The Lord of the Rings or any other work written by J. R. R. Tolkien, nor anyone involved in the creation, production or distribution of the films based on the book.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Octopus Publishing Group
Product notice
Trade binding
Dimensions
Height: 236 mm
Width: 185 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
850 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78840-638-3 (9781788406383)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
David Day was born and brought up in Canada. He has published many books in the fields of poetry, ecology, natural history, fantasy and mythology and a number of award-winning children's books. His writing has also appeared in many magazines and anthologies.
His enduring fascination with complex mythologies led him to J.R.R. Tolkien and Day is best known for his best-selling books on the life and works of that author.
It all began with the publication of A Tolkien Bestiary (1979), a lavishly illustrated book that for the first time gave readers of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings some indication of the immense scope of Tolkien's mythology
and cosmology.
Day's subsequent books include Tolkien: The Illustrated Encyclopedia (1992), The World of Tolkien: The Mythological Sources of Lord of the Rings (2002).
An Atlas of Tolkien and its companion volume, A Dictionary of Tolkien, were the first two books of a seven-volume reference library and more recently, The Illustrated World of Tolkien (2019) and The Illustrated World of Tolkien:
The Second Age (2023), celebrate more than 40 years of Day's works and delve into the lesser-known parts of Tolkien's legendarium.
His enduring fascination with complex mythologies led him to J.R.R. Tolkien and Day is best known for his best-selling books on the life and works of that author.
It all began with the publication of A Tolkien Bestiary (1979), a lavishly illustrated book that for the first time gave readers of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings some indication of the immense scope of Tolkien's mythology
and cosmology.
Day's subsequent books include Tolkien: The Illustrated Encyclopedia (1992), The World of Tolkien: The Mythological Sources of Lord of the Rings (2002).
An Atlas of Tolkien and its companion volume, A Dictionary of Tolkien, were the first two books of a seven-volume reference library and more recently, The Illustrated World of Tolkien (2019) and The Illustrated World of Tolkien:
The Second Age (2023), celebrate more than 40 years of Day's works and delve into the lesser-known parts of Tolkien's legendarium.