THE RETURN OF THE KING 70th Anniversary

 

Today marks 70 years since The Lord of the Rings was published in full, by way of The Return of the King being published. 

Since that The Lord of the Rings is one novel (not a series of them), I always choose to recognize its significant anniversaries when The Return of the King was published, not The Fellowship of the Ring. 

There are a bevy of editions to choose from, however, the appropriate 70th Anniversary Edition should be showcased in this post. 

The description reads:


"Three-volume, deluxe slipcased hardback set of The Lord of the Rings, illustrated throughout by acclaimed Tolkien artist, Alan Lee. Features exclusive new paintings and dozens of drawings appearing for the very first time, together with three removable art cards and two foldout maps.

Since it was first published, The Lord of the Rings has been a book people have treasured. Steeped in unrivalled magic and otherworldliness, this work of sweeping fantasy has touched the hearts of young and old alike. Across its many editions, in the region of 100 million copies have been sold around the world. And no edition has proved more popular than the Centenary edition illustrated by award-winning artist, Alan Lee.

Now, for the first time since its publication in 1992, this illustrated edition has been revised and expanded, with a number of brand-new paintings and more than 50 illustrations added by the artist.

Readers will be able to follow the complete story of the Hobbits and their part in the quest of the Ring – beginning with Bilbo’s Long-expected Party and culminating in the dramatic climax between Frodo and Gollum atop Mount Doom – while also enjoying more than fifty full-page colour paintings and numerous illustrations which accompany this epic tale.

This new hardback set of this beautifully illustrated work features brand-new cover designs by the artist. The three volumes have additionally been enhanced for the first time with sprayed edges, and are housed in a custom-built, illustrated slipcase stamped in silver foil with designs created exclusively by Alan Lee. They are accompanied by three removable art cards, and two foldout maps of Middle-earth drawn by Christopher Tolkien."

I'm very glad this Alan Lee edition is presented as 3 books, as opposed to 1 one large one. Often times, more deluxe or prestigious editions of The Lord of the Rings is presented as a 1-book edition, as opposed to the easier-to-read 3-book format. Depending on reading preferences, I believe that 1-book editions of The Lord of the Rings are best suited for hardback or deluxe (if not illustrated) and as eBook. 

There's also The Hobbit + The Lord of the Rings boxed set, as a lower-cost alternative. 

...and lastly (and most affordable), there's also the Collector's Editions. 

Just some of the newer and notable editions worth checking, should anyone be after a set. The Lord of the Rings is a fantasy book that's been beloved for many years by many people. To this day, it remains the greatest fantasy novel of all time. Though others have gotten pretty close to it over recent, Tolkien's epic remains 'King.' 

As this is the anniversary specific to The Return of the King, think of and look into the matters of Numenor, Arnor and Gondor. Lots of interesting lore there, most notably in the Appendices. 

However you choose to celebrate, have a great 'King's Day!'