{"product_id":"the-real-middle-earth-exploring-the-magic-and-mystery-of-the-middle-ages-j-r-r-tolkien-and-the-lord-of-the-rings","title":"The Real Middle Earth: Exploring the Magic and Mystery of the Middle Ages, J.R.R. Tolkien, and the Lord of the Rings","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eJ.R.R. Tolkien claimed that he based the land of Middle Earth on a real place. \u003ci\u003eThe Real Middle Earth\u003c\/i\u003e brings alive, for the first time, the very real civilization in which those who lived had a vision of life animated by beings beyond the material world. \u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMagic was real to these people and they believed their universe was held together by an interlaced web of golden threads visible only to wizards. At its center was Middle Earth, a place peopled by humans, but imbued with spiritual power. It was a real realm that stretched from Old England to Scandinavia and across to western Europe, encompassing Celts, Anglo Saxons and Vikings. Looking first at the rich and varied tribes who made up the populace of this mystical land, Bates looks at how the people lived their daily lives in a world of magic and mystery. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eUsing archaeological, historical, and psychological research, Brian Bates breathes life into this civilization of two thousand years ago in a book that every Tolkien fan will want.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBrian Bates\u003c\/b\u003e is a Professor at the University of Brighton. He is the author of the bestselling novel, \u003ci\u003eThe Way of the Wyrd\u003c\/i\u003e. His recent books include \u003ci\u003eThe Human Face, \u003c\/i\u003e co-written with John Cleese.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"St. Martin's Griffin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50334491574546,"sku":"9781403966834","price":20.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_b8fb7051-e54f-483a-975d-e3210bdde16f.jpg?v=1727889890","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-real-middle-earth-exploring-the-magic-and-mystery-of-the-middle-ages-j-r-r-tolkien-and-the-lord-of-the-rings","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}