Popular Author Helps Readers Discover the Christian Dimension in
Tolkien's The Hobbit
The huge success of the first of The Hobbit movies has added
to Tolkien's already enormous popularity. As fans eagerly await
part two of the trilogy, they will be excited to find out all they
can about the spiritual themes in the story's mythological world.
This book explores good versus evil in Tolkien's writings, the
spiritual quest of Bilbo Baggins, the guiding hand of God's
providence, and much more. The author specializes in taking complex
topics in religion and literature and making them accessible to
every reader. A great gift for Tolkien book and movie fans.
Find Wisdom and Inspiration in One of the Greatest Adventures
Ever Told
Let this book be your guide as you discover hidden truths embedded
in J.R.R. Tolkien's epic adventure. As one of the bestselling books
of the last hundred years, and now a blockbuster movie, the magical
charm of The Hobbit has delighted millions. But there is a
spiritual dimension that will strike an even deeper chord. The
Spiritual World of the Hobbit will take you behind the scenes,
revealing Tolkien's beliefs and motivations. From there it will
walk you step-by-step through the story itself, uncovering powerful
themes of providence, mercy, and courage that are as important in
our own lives today as they were to the hobbits in
Middle-Earth.
As you take a closer look at this timeless tale of good vs. evil,
you will be filled with wonder once again. For you will see that at
the heart of The Hobbit, Tolkien embedded images of faith
and spiritual longing that are sure to inspire us all.
"Bell not only navigates the reader capably around the Shire, but
also motivates the literary-minded reader to learn more about
Middle-earth and its Christian themes." --St. Anthony
Messenger
"As a self-proclaimed nerd and fan of all things sci-fi
and fantasy, I was excited to read this well-worn, but fresh peek
into the world of Tolkein, Bilbo and Gandalf in The Spiritual
World of the Hobbit by James Stuart Bell. Each chapter is
packed with parallel insight, describing the world of Middle Earth
and the spiritual underpinning behind not only how The
Hobbit was written, but why certain characters and places were
written the way they were. There are several great quotes and
insights on writing from Tolkien himself throughout the book, and
Bell does a wonderful job of offering character profiles for each
of the main character(s) from Bilbo to Gandalf to the elves,
dwarves and goblins. Each profile tells us the character, how each
was written into the story, and the spiritual significance in
Tolkein's allegorical world.
If you are a fan of Middle Earth, you'll love the book. If you are
a youth worker who wants to make the movie (or the cartoon version)
The Hobbit a focus for discussion or lessons, you'll love
this book. There is more information than you can use in a mid-week
gathering, but if you read through and do only the character
studies, this would a make a cool 6-week small group study to go
along with the book and/or movie. I may have learned more than I
needed to know about the spiritual significance of The
Hobbit, but I am not complaining about it and you won't either.
Huzzah!" --Youthworker Journal
"A thoughtful, interesting, and literary look at The Hobbit from a
Christian worldview. Along the way, readers will learn more
about the history of Middle Earth gleaned from The
Silmarillion and other works of Tolkien. They will also
see, through scriptural references, how many of the themes
revealed in The Hobbit are also found in the Bible."
--RedeemedReader.com
James Stuart Bell is a Christian publishing veteran and the owner of Whitestone Communications, a literary development agency. He is the editor of many story collections, including the Cup of Comfort series, the compiler of From the Library of Charles Spurgeon and From the Library of C. S. Lewis, and the coauthor or author of several books, including Inside the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and The Complete Idiot's Guide to the World of Narnia. He and his family live in West Chicago, Illinois.