Old English Verse (1972) covers the whole range of Old English poetry: the heroic poems, notably Beowulf and Malden; the ‘elegies’, such as The Wanderer and The Seafarer; the Bible stories and the lives of the saints which mark the end of pagan influence and the beginning of Christian inspiration; the Junius Manuscript; and finally King Alfred. All the many quotations are translated.

Introduction by Derek Brewer.The aim of this book is to discuss the characteristics of the traditional fairy tale in Europe and North America, and various theories of its development and interpretation. The book deals with the main collections - the Grimm brothers, Hans Andersen, Perrault and Afanes'ev - and with the development of tales in various regions of Europe, including Ireland, Wales, Scandinavia, Germany and Russia, as well as India, where it was once claimed that they orig...

A detailed and fascinating journey to the roots of The Lord of the Rings, by award-winning Tolkien expert Professor Tom Shippey.The Road to Middle-Earth is a fascinating and accessible exploration of J.R.R.Tolkien’s creativity and the sources of his inspiration. Tom Shippey shows in detail how Tolkien’s professional background led him to write The Hobbit and how he created a work of timeless charm for millions of readers. He discusses the contribution of The Silmarillion and Unfini...

The definitive critical study of Tolkien’s greatest works by the respected and world renowned Tolkien scholar Professor T.A. Shippey.Following the unprecedented and universal acclaim for The Lord of the Rings, the respected academic and world-renowned Tolkien scholar, Professor Tom Shippey, presents us with a fascinating and informed companion to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien, in particular focusing on The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and ...

Shef, the One King, is a visionary and warrior. His accomplishments have changed the history of the Dark Ages as we know it - he has defeated the English, the Pope's army and the Norse in turn. Now, he must face the reborn power of the Holy Roman Empire.While the Gods of Asgard continue to use him as a plaything Shef must defeat Bruno, the German emperor, who wields the Holy Lance which pierced Christ's side. The terrible invention of Greek Fire threatens Shef's fearsome Viking nav...

From the crack of the first musket to the hum of artificial intelligence, Masters of the Universe chronicles the extraordinary saga of Western dominance - how a handful of nations shaped the modern world, only to face the unraveling of their supremacy in the 21st century. Spanning five centuries of conquest, innovation, and ideology, this book explores the forces that propelled the West to global leadership - science, capitalism, democracy, and empire - and how those very foundations now t...

Écrit par le meilleur spécialiste de J.R.R. Tolkien, cet ouvrage présente toute l’œuvre de Tolkien, depuis Le Hobbit jusqu’au Seigneur des Anneaux, en passant par Le Silmarillion, mais aussi tous les contes (Feuille de Niggle), les essais sur la littérature… avec un souci constant de pédagogie, mettant à la portée des profanes comme des amateurs de Tolkien les problématiques les plus complexes liées à la...

The definitive Tolkien companion—an indispensable guide to The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and more, from the author of The Road to Middle-earth.This "highly erudite celebration and exploration of Tolkien's works [is] enormous fun," declared the Houston Chronicle, and Tom Shippey, a prominent medievalist and scholar of fantasy, "deepens your understanding" without "making you forget your initial, purely instinctive response to Middle-e...

The definitive critical study of Tolkien’s greatest works by the respected and world renowned Tolkien scholar Professor T.A. Shippey.Following the unprecedented and universal acclaim for The Lord of the Rings, the respected academic and world-renowned Tolkien scholar, Professor Tom Shippey, presents us with a fascinating and informed companion to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien, in particular focusing on The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and ...

In this robust new account of the Vikings, Tom Shippey explores their mindset, and in particular their fascination with scenes of heroic death. The book recounts many of the great bravura scenes of Old Norse literature, including the Fall of the House of the Skjoldungs, the clash between the two great longships Ironbeard and Long Serpent and the death of Thormod the skald. The most exciting book on Vikings for a generation, Laughing Shall I Die presents them for ...

SQUANDERED EMPIRE is a forensic account of how a once-dominant power drifted from industrial strength into fragility - not through inevitability, but through choices. It traces the long arc from imperial leverage to post-imperial complacency, showing how short-term thinking, misread incentives, and policy fashions quietly hollowed out the foundations that once made the state formidable: production, skills, strategic autonomy, and credible long-range planning.This is not a nostalgia piece a...

"Uniquely qualified to explicate Tolkien's worldview," this journey into the roots of the Lord of the Rings is a classic in its own right (Salon.com).*From beloved epic fantasy classic to record-breaking cinematic success, J.R.R. Tolkien's story of four brave hobbits has enraptured the hearts and minds of generations. Now, readers can go deeper into this enchanting lore with a revised edition of Tom Shippey's classic exploration of Middle-earth.From meditati...