Classic hardback edition of the third volume of The Lord of the Rings, now featuring Tolkien's original unused dust-jacket design. Includes special packaging and the definitive edition of the text, with fold-out maps. The Companions of the Ring have become involved in separate adventures as the quest continues. Aragorn, revealed as the hidden heir of the ancient Kings of the West, joined with the Riders of Rohan against the forces of Isengard, and took part in the desperate victory of the Hornburg. Merry and Pippin, captured by orcs, escaped into Fangorn Forest and there encountered the Ents. Gandalf returned, miraculously, and defeated the evil wizard, Saruman. Meanwhile, Sam and Frodo progressed towards Mordor to destroy the Ring, accompanied by Smeagol -- Gollum, still obsessed by his 'preciouss'. After a battle with the giant spider, Shelob, Sam left his master for dead; but Frodo is still alive -- in the hands of the orcs. And all the time the armies of the Dark Lord are massing. Now, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its first publication, the text has been fully restored with almost 400 corrections -- with the full co-operation of Christopher Tolkien -- making it the definitive version, and as close as possible to the version that J.R.R. Tolkien intended. Also included are the original red and black maps as fold-out sheets, and -- for the first time -- a fully revised and enlarged index.

約翰·羅納德·魯埃爾·托爾金（1892—1973）是牛津大學教授，古英語專傢，寫瞭不少小說，其中最著名的是《霍比特人》（又譯作《小矮人曆險記》〈1937〉）與《魔戒》（1954—1955）。

托爾金是日耳曼人後裔，他的父係祖先十八世紀從薩剋森移居英國，父親是銀行職員，母親傢族則是當地人。童年托爾金的傢境窘迫，四歲時父親客死他鄉，十二歲時，母親死於糖尿病，這在當時是不治之癥。他與弟弟成瞭孤兒，由法蘭西斯神父撫養。