Tolkien On Fairy-Stories

This volume presents a critical, expanded edition of J.R.R. Tolkien's landmark essay "On Fairy-stories," which outlines his theories on fantasy, sub-creation, and the human imagination. Editors Verlyn Flieger and Douglas A. Anderson employ a scholarly approach to examine the evolution of Tolkien's ideas. Readers will find the corrected final text of the essay alongside substantial, previously unreleased draft materials and notes dating from 1943. These archival texts are accompanied by extensive editorial annotations, historical commentary, and an exploration of how these theoretical concepts directly shaped the writing of his major creative works, including The Lord of the Rings.