Ever since The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien was first published in 1937 the popularity of the vast, imaginative world he created has only increased over time. What is about Middle-Earth and the characters which populate it that has captured the imaginations of millions of people around the world? Today, there is a vast and growing Tolkien industry, including books, films, games and a highly anticipated forthcoming TV series, which is being billed as the most expensive ever made. This book explores this phenomenon and investigates why Tolkien's works still inspire people fifty years after his death.