Verlyn Flieger and Douglas A. Anderson are both well-known Tolkien scholars, co-founders (with Michael Drout) of Tolkien Studies. Flieger's most recent books include Interrupted Music: The Making of Tolkien's Mythology (2005) and the Extended Edition of Smith of Wootton Major (HarperCollins UK, 2005). Anderson's most recent books include The Annotated Hobbit (HarperCollins UK, 2003) and the anthology Tales before Tolkien: The Roots of Modern Fantasy (Ballantine US, 2003; mass market edition 2005).
'This book must be read... it goes far to explain the nature of Tolkien's art and justify his success' The Cambridge Review