A Hobbit Journey

"What are the costs of military victory? Is mercy sometimes too expensive? Can torture ever be justified? Are there any moral absolutes in a world of competing faiths and cultures? Matt Dickerson's A Hobbit Journey traces these and many other issues through their surprisingly detailed presentation in Tolkien's fiction. If anyone should still doubt Tolkien's applicability and relevance to the twenty-first century, this is the book to put in their hands."
-Thomas Shippey, author of J. R. R. Tolkien: Author of the Century

"A Hobbit Journey instantly engages readers with its combination of scholarly knowledge and love for J. R. R. Tolkien's work. Matthew Dickerson resists imposing his own rigid, limiting thesis, and instead interprets the text by simply pointing out to fellow readers what is there. In doing so he illuminates the power of Tolkien's stories to challenge, delight, and transform us."
-Colin Duriez, author of Tolkien and C. S. Lewis: The Gift of Friendship, The J. R. R. Tolkien Handbook: A Guide to Middle-earth, and J. R. R. Tolkien: The Making of a Legend

"A Hobbit Journey is a grand accomplishment: a thoughtful exploration of the virtues and values that sustain the heartbeat of Tolkien's Middle-earth. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I expect that you will too."
-Diana Pavlac Glyer, author of The Company They Keep: C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien as Writers in Community

"Most fantasy novels are like amusement parks-full of familiar sights, sounds, smells, and thrills. But J. R. R. Tolkien's stories, which have inspired legions of imitators, offer much more than amusement. They are countries full of treasure that will go undiscovered and unappreciated unless we learn how to be attentive treasure hunters. Matthew Dickerson writes as one who has spent his summers in the Shire, hiked every trail in Mirkwood Forest, taken counsel from Gandalf, and argued with Gollum and Smaug. It's as though he sharpened the tools of his intellect in deep conversation with Tolkien himself. He will prove to be a thought-provoking guide through Middle-earth whether you're a frequent visitor there, or a newcomer ready for the adventure of a lifetime."
-Jeffrey Overstreet, author of Auralia's Colors and Through a Screen Darkly


Praise for the previous edition of A Hobbit Journey:

"Following Gandalf dives deep into the heart of Tolkien's imaginative vision, demonstrating that the epic of Middle-earth is not a moralistic allegory, but a seamless, incarnational myth. Matt Dickerson moves beyond clichés about good and evil to reveal Tolkien's tragic yet hopeful understanding of the labyrinthine human heart."
-Gregory Wolfe, editor of Image: A Journal of the Arts and Religion

"We are deeply indebted to Professor Dickerson for insightfully exploring the unseen reality that permeates Tolkien's world. His study combines a comprehensive knowledge of Middle-earth with an astute sensitivity to the deeply held religious convictions that shape Tolkien's understanding of nature and of man."
-Rolland Hein, author of Christian Mythmakers

"I enjoyed Matt Dickerson's Following Gandalf particularly his argument that The Lord of the Rings is, far from being militaristic, actually an anti-war statement that ultimately stresses mercy and reconciliation. [This] is a fascinating study of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy and what it can teach us about free will and moral choice in the midst of dark and confusing times. Great stuff! [It] reveals a moral depth in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings that makes it clear that this is much more than just an adventure fantasy or a fairy tale."
-Pierce Pettis, musician and songwriter

"Dickerson . . . begins his work with a strong thematic link to the very popular The Lord of the Rings movies: epic battles. Against the criticism that The Lord of the Rings glorifies war, he argues cogently that Tolkien's original written treatment of these battles provides a very different picture than the films or spin-off video games. He demonstrates how Tolkien offers a deeply nuanced understanding of the nature of war, and how the trilogy criticizes self-aggrandizing glory in battle. . . . Dickerson's exploration of the nature of the ring's evil power and his final conclusions about the pervasive theological structure behind these stories are engaging."
-Publishers Weekly

"An excellent resource for the college student with an upcoming paper or simply a Rings enthusiast. . . . Via detailed explanations and specific examples, Dickerson theorizes about how Tolkien portrays war, the importance of moral over military victory and the importance of moral responsibility that pervades all of Tolkien's writings. The result is a well-documented, in-depth study for Rings lovers looking for more than just entertainment."
-Stephanie Ottosen, CCM

"A timely and relevant exploration of how military conflict illustrates the profound inner conflict of moral responsibility. . . . Dickerson's mastery of Tolkien's oeuvre is complete. Written in a style that is both accessible to the general reader and inviting to academics, his book is a good introduction to the religious and moral themes in Tolkien's lesser-known writings."
-David L. O'Hara, Books & Culture online review (Book of the Week)

"One of the finest studies of Tolkien's keen, abiding moral sense ever published. . . . If you want to better understand how Tolkien managed to convey his own sense of faith (he was a devout Catholic) without ever resorting to didacticism, Dickerson provides an excellent survey."
-Clay Evans, Dailycamera.com

"Dickerson, who has some interesting thoughts on the structure of The Hobbit, sees the spiritual side of Tolkien's books as key to understanding them. . . . Those who want to delve beyond Peter Jackson's films will find some treasure in [Following Gandalf]."
-Alan Cochrum, StarTelegram.com

"[This book is] a literary critical study of Tolkien's moral expression in his epic tale. And it's the one we've been waiting for, for a long time. Most writers on Tolkien and religion are out to teach you the writer's own moral lessons. Dickerson is a good critic, and he wants to teach you Tolkien's. . . . This is the best entirely new critical book on Tolkien in several years."
-David Bratman, Mythprint: The Monthly Bulletin of the Mythpoeic Society

"In this engaging, light study of Tolkien's popular trilogy, writing teacher Dickerson begins with refuting the objection that Tolkien glories war and warfare, and proceeds to show some of the deep spiritual underpinnings of The Lord of the Rings. . . . For anyone interested in a good discussion of the spiritual nature of Tolkien's mythology, this, another fine offering from Brazos Press, is helpful. This inexpensive volume is recommended to academic libraries, as well as to high schools where Tolkien is studied or read."
-Daniel Boice, Catholic Library World

"It is clear from this book on Tolkien's writing that Dickerson is thoroughly familiar with the fantasy genre and with Tolkien's great epic and its backgrounds. . . . Following Gandalf is a worthy contribution to readers of Tolkien's great work. Dickerson's focus on free will and moral responsibility, so important to Tolkien's understanding of what it means to be human, is well documented in the characters of the novel. The discussion of the Christian motifs in the novel is a helpful starting point for further conversation. . . . Dickerson's book will help rescue Tolkien from superficial readings and refocus our attention on the moral and spiritual issues, which is exactly where Tolkien would have wanted it."
-Michael Travers, Faith and Mission

"One of the best of dozens of recent book-length studies of Tolkien, Matthew Dickerson's Following Gandalf focuses on the essential theme at the very heart of The Lord of the Rings: the reality and importance of free will and consequent moral responsibility. . . . Dickerson's account of the power of The Lord of the Rings is astute and refreshingly to the point."
-Sara Ciborski, Lilipoh

"Dickerson attends carefully to Tolkien's multiple modes of narration-whether distant and omniscient, close and personal, or in a mixture of the two--in describing war scenes. . . . [He] succeeds most fully in showing that Tolkien's epic is implicitly rather than explicitly Christian. . . . Dickerson provides a valuable addition to Tolkien studies."
-Ralph C. Wood, Christianity and Literature

"Dickerson shows a profound understanding of what literature is and therefore of how it should be studied. . . . Those who share Tolkien's Christian commitment will have added reasons to appreciate this study, but anyone who wants to better understand Tolkien's work will read it profitably."
-Donald T. Williams, Trinity Journal