The Real Middle Earth: Exploring the Magic and Mystery of the Middle Ages, J.R.R. Tolkien, and the Lord of the Rings

'The Real Middle-Earth...' by Brian Bates does a good job on informing the readers about the Anglo-Saxon times and influences England was under for a few centuries. It's obvious that the author is fascinated with the times and their spirit himself and he shares his knowledge on the subject very generously. Bates manages to unite the past and the presence by means of culture and human nature that still wants to experience the unusual and spiritual and he uses interesting examples not only from the Germanic and Celtic cultures but also from these quite distant in time and place ones to make his point. Some of his interpretations of the poems are rather unusual but he is clever enough to make them look convincing. My favorite part of this book are his frequent references to various languages, esp. Anglo-Saxon, showing how Modern English still reflects the distant past and how, subconsciously, modern people still use the old patterns of thinking and seeing the world. If you already have some knowledge about the Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic cultures, you'll enjoy reading this book; if you don't know anything yet, you'll soon want to discover them.

I really enjoyed this book. He took all the Lord of the Rings concepts and explained what norse myths they had originated from. He writes in an easy way and obviously loves his subject. I would recommend it.

The Real Middle Earth is a largely forgotten civilization stretching from Old England to Scandinavia and across western Europe, a culture made up of the early European tribes of Celts, Anglo-Saxons and Norsemen. It is a time and culture which foreshadowed Tolkien's imagined world on which he based his `Lord of the Rings'. The Real Middle Earth begins by looking at the daily lives of the people of the time, their customs, culture, and governmental structure. We see how these people lived and are offered an insight into their beliefs and customs. Next we enter the magical forests of Real Middle Earth, looking at places such as Runnymede, which in Anglo-Saxon times was known as Rune-mede... the place of the casting of runes. We read of the `Towers of Doom', the `Dragon's Lair', `Elves Arrows' and `Plant Magic'. Next we are introduced to the `Wells of Wisdom', the `Raven's Omen' and shape-shifting into magical beasts, the `Web of Destiny' and the Celtic, Germanic and Norse Seeresses. Both the magical implements and rituals of the day are discussed. The Real Middle Earth is an outstanding book, well-written and offering insight into the soul of the great cultures of Northwestern Europe. For fans of Tolkien this book shows you the real history behind his imagined world. For those interested in the history of the peoples of Northwestern Europe, the Real Middle Earth offers a unique and enjoyable presentation of the history and insight into soul of these great cultures. Highly Recommended.

This excellent book turns the anthropological magnifying glass back on the West. This is about "our (if you are of anglo celtic ancestry) Dreamtime". If we understood our cultural heritage as well as this book articulates it then may be we wouldn't have treated others (such as indiginous peoples) so poorly. A very important book that should be studied in High Schools...

Reviewer: A reader from England This is a superb book. Vividly written, it explores the magical and spiritual beliefs of people who lived in the 'real' Middle-earth. This was the Anglo-Saxon and Norse cultures of a thousand years ago and more, which so inspired Tolkien. The author Brian Bates is well-known for previous books on this subject (especially his best-selling novel The Way of Wyrd). It is different from other books purporting to compare Tolkien with ancient mythology, because the world it reveals is one in which people saw their EVERYDAY LIVES as being charged with a mysterious power they called Wyrd. It was manifested by a magical landscape, in which trees, plants and animals all had powerful symbolic presences. Elves, dragons, giants and dwarves were encountered in reality as well as in dreams and stories. Shapeshifting, spellcasting and healing are explored as they happened in real life.Bates also explains really well how such a magical outlook on life relates to our own perspectives. In a time where The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter confirms the potency of magic for our lives, we see how we once had a wisdom lost over the centuries as first Christianity and then science became dominant world views. But Bates does not paint a utopia - he makes clear that life was hard in Anglo-Saxon times. Yet he shows what the usual history or mythology books are missing - the magic at the heart of life in those times. The book is refreshingly written, free from academic pomposity and dry argument. He offers vivid anecdotes, examples, and beautiful descriptions which make the reader feel present in those times. And for those readers who want to follow up topics in more detail, there is an excellent list of sources, with guidance for the specialist academic books that cover the material best. I agree with previous reviewers that the book is not a lot about Tolkien directly. But I and other Tolkien fans who have read it, found it very illuminating about the source of his ideas, and much more original than the many books that just endlessly discuss The Lord of the Rings.