Professor Tom Shippey, one of the most respected Tolkien scholars of our time, offers a fascinating study of the work of J. R. R. Tolkien. He argues why Tolkien, despite the "frivolity" of the fantasy genre, can lay claim to the title of "author of the century"; discusses the secret of his powerful influence on literature, what served as a source of inspiration for the Professor and what problem he solved with his texts; explains what the “literary function” of hobbits is and where the line lies between myth and reality, ancient texts and modern life; and also quite unusually interprets the connection between Tolkien’s world and Christianity. The book promises an intellectual adventure, immersing itself in philological, linguistic, historical contexts, while being written for a general reader.