[Miriamele]

Does anyone know anything about this release?

http://www.amazon.ca/Tales-Perilous-Realm-J-Tolkien/dp/0007257546/ref=sr_1_2/702-4471618-2943264?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186156489&sr=8-2

The release date is shown as August 6th, and yet I haven't been able to see a glimpse of the cover anywhere, or even a short blurb about this publication. I'm curious about it because there are already several editions in print of Tales From the Perilous Realm, and I'm wondering why they're brining it out in hardcover again.

[Hobbit]

I haven't seen a copy yet, Miri, but it looks like they're combining the original 4 Tales of Perilous Realms:

(borrowed from Wikipedia)

"Farmer Giles of Ham", a short story about an English farmer who encounters a dragon.
"Smith of Wootton Major",
# "Leaf by Niggle", a highly allegorical short story often published in tandem with the essay "On Fairy-Stories" as Tree and Leaf.
# The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, a collection of poems:

with the short book Roverandom.

If you've already got them, I see no reason for buying it again. But I guess it makes a nice matching set with all the other recent releases/rereleases.

Hobbit

[Miriamele]

I haven't got them already. I was thinking about buying a softcover (the black one) of Tales From the Perilous Realm, when I noticed this hardcover. So I was curious about it.

[Miriamele]

Hmmm. Well I did some more poking around and I found this description on a UK site (Jubilee Books):
Available for the first time in A-format, this is the definitive collection of Tolkien's five acclaimed modern classic 'fairie' tales in the vein of 'The Hobbit'. The four tales are written with the same skill, quality and hallmarks that made Tolkien's Hobbit a classic. Largely overlooked because of their short lengths, they are finally together in a volume which reaffirms Tolkien's place as a master storyteller for readers young and old. / Farmer Giles of Ham is fat and unheroic, but -- having unwittingly managed to scare off a short-sighted giant -- is called upon to do battle when the dragon Chrysophylax comes to town; / The Adventures of Tom Bombadil tells by way of verse of Tom's many adventures with hobbits, princesses, dwarves and trolls; / Leaf by Niggle recounts the strange adventures of the painter Niggle who sets out to paint the perfect tree; / Smith of Wootton Major journeys to the Land of Faery thanks to the magical ingredients of the Great Cake of the Feast of Good Children.

No cover image though, and oddly I could not find this book in the list of new or upcoming releases on Harper Collin's UK or Canadian websites.

[Hobbit]

Knowing Amazon's variance on publishing dates it may be that the release has been delayed.

I would've thought that it'll be a nice release just in time for Christmas.

And if you want a hardback, it's not much more than buying the two paperbacks.

Depends how urgent you are!

I've read most of them but it was a long time ago: I wouldn't say they were particularly good examples of Tolkien, though they are Tolkien: perhaps for completists.

Hobbit

[Miriamele]

Thanks Hobbit! :)

[Hobbit]

No problem, Miri: if you hear any more, or even get a copy, please let us know.

(That applies to anyone else too!)

Hobbit

[Miriamele]

Looks like the release date has been pushed back to Sept. 15th. I'm still going to keep my eye on it, since I have a strange desire to collect everything Tolkien in hardcover. :)