β Scribed by J. R. R. Tolkien
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
Bilboβs Last Song is considered by many to be Tolkienβs epilogue to his classic work The Lord of the Rings. As Bilbo Baggins takes his final voyage to the Undying Lands, he must say goodbye to Middle-earth. Poignant and lyrical, the song is both a longing to set forth on his ultimate journey and a tender farewell to friends left behind.
Pauline Baynesβs jewel-like illustrations lushly depict both this final voyage and scenes from The Hobbit , as Bilbo remembers his first journey while he prepares for his last.
**
When it first appeared in 1990, PW called Bilbo's Last Song by J.R.R. Tolkien, illus. by Pauline Baynes, "a must for all fans of Tolkien's vast, epic fantasy." The poem, purportedly written by Bilbo Baggins (hero of The Hobbit) just before he takes ship from Middle-earth to the Undying Lands at the end of The Lord of the Rings, gives rise to Bayne's medieval-flavored paintings. "The effect is stirring, the mood elegiac and the imagery riveting," said PW. (Sept.)
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Grade 5 Up-- An illustrated version of a small poem from the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. The poem, in which Bilbo talks about leaving Middle Earth and bidding farewell to his life and friends there, is a vehicle for Baynes to immerse herself in the characters and events in this trilogy. The pages are filled with watercolor drawings skillfully depicting detailed scenes of great adventure--magical beings with glistening capes, sparkling rings, and other mystical objects that convey all the wonder and charm of Tolkien. Unfortunately, none of these wonderfully detailed drawings illustrate the words in this book. In fact, they were not intended to do so. Instead, they depict scenes from The Hobbit, The Return of the King, or The Fellowship of the Ring , necessitating complex explanatory notes for all of the illustrations, even the endpapers. The result is not a blending of pictures and words or even a picture book version of a children's poem, but a study of Tolkien--overwhelming for any reader unfamiliar with his work. Although this book pays tribute to him, it suffers from an excess of praise and loses its audience as a result. Most children would only be confused by it. --Jane Marino, White Plains Public Library, NY
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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_Bilbo's Last Song_ is considered by many to be Tolkien's epilogue to his classic work _The Lord of the Rings_. As Bilbo Baggins takes his final voyage to the Undying Lands, he must say goodbye to Middle-earth. Poignant and lyrical, the song is both a longing to set forth on his ultimate journey and
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