The King Under the Mountain: In Search of J.R.R. Tolkien by D.J. Taylor

Rather than a mammoth life and times, In Search of Tolkien gives what this literary giant's legacy needs: a shorter, more provocative and more suggestive account of his life and work which explores hidden corners and previously unseen trails - obliquely executed and determined to bring us back to the books that are deeply loved and respected across the globe. It heads towards the heart of a writer who has managed to acquire an extraordinary international reputation. Indeed, Tolkien's many admirers have never been allowed to find out very much about him - that is, until now.