The book was inspirational and interesting. I love The Lords of the Rings it is one of my favorite reads, and I thought it would be interesting to read about the man behind the book. The book begins when he was young and speaks about his parents. It also describes about how his mother struggled and how they moved a great deal. He loved the country and disliked the living in the city. The author speaks about his loves, education, languages, his friendships, and his wife and family. He fought in World War I, and what he witnessed did influence his writing. Which explains some of the things he mentions in the Lord of the Rings. He also had many friends I was surprised that he and my other favorite author C. S. Lewis were such good friends. How his friend C. S. Lewis encouraged him to finish his books. Tolkien was a very fascinating man. He was also a perfectionist this was good, but also it was his downfall. The reader will also get to witness how his love for his children helped him to write more fantasy, because they were stories he would write for them. There are many other things that I wish I could mention, but then I would ruin the book for you. I can only say you will have to find out by yourself and read the book. I only hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Am sure many people have heard of Lord of the Rings (LOTR) trilogy, movie made famous by Peter Jackson. But before the movie came the book, by J.R.R Tolkien. Who is this author? How did he come out with 'middle earth and its inhabitants'?

Autobiography of J.R.R Tokien by Mark Horne tries to summaries his life and where the influence for middle earth came about.

It is also Tokien's Christian faith that made him one of the greatest writers of his generation. Tokien's life was not easy and he came out from the school of hard knocks. His writings only became famous when he was already/almost retired. Probably due to his young life, he was more private then the likes of C.S.Lewis.

I would recommend this book to budding writers and fans of LOTR. Perseverance and never give up attitude will get us some where.

In my opinion I give this book a rating 5 out of 5.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Booksneeze bloggers program. I was not asked to write a positive review and thus, the book review is 100% my own opinion.

The rolling hills of The Shire, the smoke-filled gloom of Mordor, the epic tales of selfless heroism, a vast history of a fantasy world called Middle Earth, and a hobbit. All born in the mind of one man, influenced by life's unexpected twists and turns, ups and downs and a steadfast faith in God.

From his birth in South Africa till his death in England, Mark Horne takes us on a compelling journey through the life of beloved author, J.R.R. Tolkien. The tragedies and triumphs, the hardships and good times, the friends and loved ones, and his growing faith in the Catholic Church, all of which shaped, not only the course of Tolkien's life, but also greatly influenced his works of writing; most notably the well-known and popular "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings".

As I began reading this biography, which is part of the Christian Encounter Series, I found myself pulled into the pages within mere moments. Mark Horne has a beautiful way of enticing a reader with language that is concise, easily read and understood.

As a fond lover of Tolkien's writing, there was an excitement to learn more about this man and his life, however I also had a slight fear my view of him could be tainted by what I read. This book, however, caused my appreciation of Tolkien to deepen, to feel inspired to reach higher for seemingly unattainable goals, and to count my blessings everyday. I appreciated how Mark Horne continually reminds the reader of Tolkien's faith through-out his life's journey, but doesn't bombard the reader with it either. This helps make it a good read for anyone interested in Tolkien's life, whether Christian or not.

All said and done, I was absolutely delighted with this book and looked forward to every moment I was able to sit down and read it. If you are interested in knowing more about J.R.R Tolkien, then this book is a great start to getting acquainted with this renowned author.

J.R.R. Tolkien by Mark Horne is a Christian Encounters biography. It gives an overview of Tolkien's life, faith, and writings and how they are all tied together.

Only a few of the things you will learn when you read this book are:

Tolkien was born in South Africa and lived there until he was 3 years old. But this childhood in Africa did not influence his writing as much as you would think. Instead, it was the beautiful English countryside to which his family moved that left an enduring impression on him. This can be seen in the description of Shire found in his Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Tolkien's mother's faith and his own played a crucial role in his growing-up years and influenced the rest of his life as well.

Who were the Inklings? What was their original name? And what impact did they have on each other's lives?

Read J.R.R. Tolkien to find out! You'll be glad you did.

I was really excited to have the opportunity to review this book. Tolkien is one of my favorite authors, and I am always interested in learning more about him. One of the things I appreciated most in this biography was the amount of material it presented. While most biographies are long and include every possible necessary and unnecessary detail about the person's life, this biography is short, concise, and interesting. Tolkien led a fascinating life, and this book does not bury the interesting details in heaps of boring facts.

J.R.R. Tolkien by Mark Horne is an interesting examination of the role of Christianity in Tolkien's work. Writing on Tolkien's life, family, career and achievements in the light of his Christian faith, Horne has given readers a complete and fascinating biography. Tolkien's writing reflected his Christian faith in the story lines he chose, the characters he adapted or created, and the dilemmas illustrated within his works. His personal life shows a man patient, courageous, and faithful. The overall message: a life faithfully lived, one step at a time, uses and develops one's gifts to their absolute best.

This book is a warm and elegant reflection. The personal glimpses into Tolkien's personal life are illuminating. Tolkien's ability to work for years on a project--writing, rewriting, and then reflecting, only to return and hone his prose once again--inspired me. In this age of urgent multi-tasking, his work habits speak of an admirable, enviable ability to focus and dedicate one's energy. Tolkien's determination to produce the truest product of his creative vision is energizing and affirming. To devotedly return to what you love over and over again, to carefully nurture it, to take the time it requires to enable its growth, bespeaks of what one truly believes and: "... a Christian artist can be most effective when he offers himself..."