Tolkien's Lord of the Rings: Old hat or still a reading tip?

The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien is the most famous fantasy work of our time—adapted multiple times for the screen, published in countless editions, and accompanied by an enormous range of franchise merchandise around this classic fantasy adventure. But is it still worth reading today, in 2023, or has the story become outdated and turned into an overly commercial product? My personal look at the vast cosmos of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.

I’m usually put off when a book is commercially very successful, just as I tend to steer clear of the Spiegel bestsellers—very rarely have I found a real gem among them. I read The Lord of the Rings back when fantasy literature as a genre wasn’t as broad as it is today, and there wasn’t yet a distinction between subgenres such as high fantasy, urban fantasy, and so on. I always found the story beautiful and loved its classic fantasy setting, especially the wonderfully atmospheric world Tolkien created. Still, the book never held quite the same significance for me as it does for many others. Another fantasy series won that race for me.

The Lord of the Rings now encompasses not only the main trilogy and its prequel The Hobbit but also numerous additional works, many of which were published by J. R. R. Tolkien’s son Christopher Tolkien, who carefully managed his father’s literary estate. Then came the famous and elaborate film adaptations by Peter Jackson, and more recently, Amazon’s television series adaptation.

A few years ago, I read The Lord of the Rings again. The wonderful thing about widely read classics is that they’re often available in splendid editions. Accordingly, I looked around and eventually decided to have a custom luxury edition bound, based on the highly praised single-volume edition translated by Margaret Carroux. Naturally, I reread the book at that time and thoroughly enjoyed it. Yes, The Lord of the Rings is a fantastic book—with its beautiful setting and finely crafted world, it’s simply a timeless classic that hasn’t lost any of its magic.

Later, I also picked up The Hobbit—in a beautiful limited leather-bound edition from Klett-Cotta Verlag, which is now out of print and has significantly increased in value. I actually liked The Hobbit a bit better; it’s a wonderfully complete story with a satisfying arc that contains everything one expects from a well-crafted fantasy book. For anyone who doesn’t want to invest too much time and is unsure where to start, this one is definitely highly recommended.

Not too long ago, I discovered a facsimile of the first edition of The Hobbit. The original print run consisted of 1,500 copies. A few months ago, one of those originals was auctioned for 12,000 euros. For those who don’t want to spend that kind of money but still want to experience the look and feel of the original edition, a replica is available in bookstores. I bought one, and I must say, I find this classic and simple style absolutely delightful—with understated yet very atmospheric black-and-white illustrations drawn by Tolkien himself. Reading this beautiful, classically designed book was a real pleasure; it draws you fully into that old-fashioned yet enchanting world, and it’s easy to imagine Tolkien reading it aloud to his children.

Over the years, numerous other books have been published. For example, three small volumes containing Tolkien’s poems and fairy tales, all beautifully designed. Or Beren and Lúthien, a story presented in its various versions, allowing readers to see how Tolkien’s tales evolved over time.

The film adaptations by Peter Jackson are especially famous. I haven’t watched them in ages, though I really feel like revisiting them—but in the evenings, books usually win out. Several well-known illustrators have painted countless works based on Tolkien’s stories, most notably Alan Lee and John Howe. Their beautiful illustrations bring the novels’ mood and atmosphere vividly to life. Both artists went on to work as conceptual illustrators for Peter Jackson’s film trilogy and helped design its iconic sets. There’s also the five-part Arte documentary series In the Footsteps of the Hobbits, which explores both the making of the films and Tolkien himself. Northern England, for instance, was a major inspiration for Tolkien, who often went hiking there and found the roots of his world in those landscapes. The book A Journey Through Middle-earth presents numerous sketches and concept designs by John Howe—a gorgeous volume perfect for browsing and dreaming.

Beyond that, there are countless products inspired by Tolkien’s world—from replicas of the One Ring to board games and even a special Monopoly edition set in Middle-earth. You can even buy Bilbo’s or Gandalf’s pipes. Most of these things I find rather kitschy—mere merchandising trinkets that don’t appeal to me much.

However, the Lord of the Rings set for the trading card game Magic: The Gathering is truly remarkable. I’ve loved this game ever since childhood—it’s a nostalgic relic for me. When the set was released, I couldn’t resist ordering the Commander decks. Featuring new, high-quality artwork, the cards are stunning and atmospheric, offering their own visual interpretation of the novels. Unfortunately, they’re quite expensive, so I’m waiting for a reprint before picking up a few more of these beautiful cards.

Conclusion: The Lord of the Rings remains a beautiful and highly worthwhile read. The classic yet deeply atmospheric setting, the exciting story, and the enchanting, fairy-tale-like characters and races—all immerse the reader in a fascinating world. Personally, I don’t need more than the beautiful books themselves and can easily do without the film adaptations and the many products surrounding The Lord of the Rings (except for the Magic: The Gathering cards—they got me there). One doesn’t need to buy into the commercial circus. Wonderful literary classics never go out of style; they’re always worth reading—whether now or a hundred years from now.