forums.cubicle7.co.uk
archive

I can't find and I'm completly sure exists, books about the relation between Middle Earth and our own historical cultures. Can you help me recommending some good books?

I think there's as much or more relationship between ME cultures and mythical/fictional cultures, not just historical ones.

For example, I've only recently discovered "The House of the Wolfings". You'll be amazed at the parallels.

Thanks, Elfcrusher. I'll take a look. I have to admit I more interested right now in the historical relations but I know there are more also myth/poetic influences.

I'll defer to Tolwen and Beran on that one.

I'm sure others will have better suggestions, but the best source I've found for information on this is Tolkien's Letters. He doesn't have a lot to say about this theme in general terms, but there's snippets you can work with - Gondor being on a similar latitude to Venice, costumes worn in Rohan being similar enough to Anglo-Saxons on the Bayeux Tapestry, Numenorean garb having some relationship to Egyptian costuming and the like.

Jon raises a great point with The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien. This is probably one of your best choices.

Some additional books that discuss the background & historical parallels:

1. The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide by Christina Scull & Wayne G. Hammond.

2. The Annotated Hobbit by Douglas A. Anderson.

3. Tolkien: A Look Behind the Lord of the Rings by Lin Carter.

This last is a bit dated but still includes a great summary of the professor's sources, such as the Norse myths, etc.

Nice, Mim. I'm getting the Letters. Thanks

The Letters are a much better, and indeed more moving, read than I anticipated. Well worth the price of admission.