Nearly 200 stunningly realistic paintings and drawings bring the greatest fantasy epic of all time to life. Classical realism unites with contemporary storytelling as artist Donato Giancola explores the mythic grandeur and the iconic characters of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings saga.

Donato has made it his life's work to translate Tolkien's words into compelling visuals, with gorgeous oil paintings and drawings reminiscent of Rembrandt and Caravaggio. His interpretations of Middle-earth span his entire career, from private commissions to the 2001 edition of the graphic novel adaptation of The Hobbit, all collected in this massive compendium--a must-have for collectors of Tolkien and fantasy

"What struck me about J.R.R. Tolkien's work was how he filled Middle-earth with a wealth of history," says Author Donato Giancola. "From the simple beginnings of Bilbo and the dwarves in The Hobbit, to the personal trials of Frodo and the Fellowship in The Lord of the Rings, to the epic tragedies in The Silmarillion, these tales are woven together by a grand fabric of unifying mythologies, bringing depth to the cultures and characters within."

"Amazing work from an astounding talent." - George R.R. Martin

Donato Giancola teaches at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. His work has graced over 200 science fiction and fantasy novel covers, can be seen on over 100 Magic: The Gathering cards in 12 languages worldwide, and earned a long list of honors, including three Artist Hugo Awards, and six silver and two gold medals from the annual Spectrum: The Best of Contemporary Fantastic Art. He was the Artist Guest of Honor at GenCon 50 in 2017, and was named Best Cover Artist by Asimov's Science Fiction in 2017.