The Atlas of Middle-Earth

Karen Wynn Fonstad

New York: Houghton Miffin, 1991 (revised edition); Pages: xii,210

This is the revised paperback edition of the 1973 atlas, with updated maps based on new information from Christopher Tolkien's History of Middle-Earth series. Mapped by a noted cartographer, the Atlas proved indispensable during my recent re-reading of Tolkien's books.

The book is divided seven parts, covering The First Age, The Second Age, The Third Age, various regional maps (e.g. The Shire), The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and several thematic maps (e.g. population and languages). Each chapter provides a summary of the events along with the accompanying maps. Were appropriate, there are chronological tables, with miles and hours traveled. There are also battle maps, and plans of fortresses, dungeons, and other places. The entire atlas is annotated, extensively referenced, and with a useful index.

February 19, 2002

@book{fonstad:atlas-middle-earth,
  title     = {The Atlas of Middle-Earth},
  author    = {Karen Wynn Fonstad},
  year      = {1991},
  publisher = {Houghton Miffin},
  address   = {New York},
  isbn      = {0-618-12699-6},
  note      = {Revised edition}
}