J.R.R. Tolkien is arguably the most influential and popular of all fantasy writers. Although his position and status have long been controversial, his popularity has not faded. His best-loved works, _The Hobbit_ and _The Lord of the Rings_, have sold millions of copies around the world and continue to enthral readers young and old. This lively collection of original essays examines _The Hobbit_ and _The Lord of the Rings_ in the light of children's literature theory and approaches, as well as from adult and fantasy literature perspectives. Exploring issues such as gender, language, worldbuilding, and ecocriticism, the volume also places Tolkien's works in the context of a range of visual media, including Peter Jackson's film adaptations.