The Lord of the Rings trilogy has delighted millions of fans worldwide in book and movie form. With the theatrical release of the two-part film The Hobbit slated for 2012 and 2013, attention will once again turn to J. R. R. Tolkien's classic works. In a culture where truth is relative and morality is viewed as old-fashioned, we welcome the chance to view the world through hobbit eyes: we have free will, our choices matter, and living a morally heroic life is possible.

In this engaging and thought-provoking book, Tolkien expert Matthew Dickerson shows how a Christian worldview and Christian themes undergird Tolkien's Middle-earth writings and how they are fundamentally important to understanding his vision. This revised and expanded edition of Following Gandalf includes new material on torture, social justice, and the importance of the body.

Contents

Introduction
1. On Hobbits, the Treatment of Prisoners, and the Ethics of War

2. Epic Battles

3. Frodo and the Wisdom of the Wise

4. Military Victory or Moral Victory?

5. Human Freedom and Creativity

6. The Gift of Ilúvatar and the Power of the Ring

7. Moral Responsibility and Stewardship

8. The Seen and the Unseen: Salvation and Social Justice

9. A Shift in Tone: Free Will and the Hand of Ilúvatar

10. Ilúvatar's Theme and the Real War

New Release: August 2012