Ents, Elves, and Eriador

"The writing style is engaging, and the book presents the first fully developed study of Tolkien and the environment at the same time that it offers insights into a range of Tolkien's major and minor works."—Choice

"A fascinating ecocritical evaluation of the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien. Valuable for both Tolkien fans and those interested in ecocriticism and environmental literature. Especially useful given the popularity of the subject matter."—Northeastern Naturalist

"This book is a major new contribution to the subject of Tolkien's work in relation to the natural world and environmentalism. . . . The authors have devised an ingenious and useful distinction between agriculture for food (the domain of the Hobbits), horticulture for aesthetic beauty (that of Elves), and feraculture . . . for wilderness preservation (Ents)."—Tolkien Studies

"Dickerson and Evans's ecological thesis has one outstanding merit, which is that Tolkien himself would have recognized and thoroughly approved of what they have to say."—Tom Shippey, from the Afterword

"Reading a non-fiction book about Tolkien's environmental vision may seem like a way to spoil the sheer fun of reading The Lord of the Rings and his other books. What I found as I read this book was that I wanted to reread every word of Tolkien to see for myself what the authors have given a glimpse of. This book is for everyone who loves the work of J.R..R. Tolkien, and who loves the world around them."—Armchair Interviews

"The two authors are unabashed in their effort to use the lure of Tolkien to draw readers to the Green movement. The book constitutes an unorthodox yet largely successful combination of scholarly reading and political manifesto. Dickerson and Evans seek to rouse Tolkien fans to scour their own Shires before it is too late and Mordor triumphs."—Seven

"A well-researched, readable, and relevant study of Tolkien's ecological principles and concerns. And, as Tom Shippey comments in the afterword, Tolkien, no doubt, would approve."—Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts

"This volume is a thorough and welcome explication of Tolkien's vision of the natural world, and of the ways in which that vision is applicable to our own lives today."—Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature & the Environment

"Ents, Elves, and Eriador should...be praised for drawing attention to the multifaceted portrayal of the natural world in Tolkien's work."—Folklore

"It is an enjoyable and intellectually valuable read for its detailed examination of the landscape cultures of Middle-earth and their liminal overlapping of one another."—Studies in Medieval & Renaissnace Teaching

"Does much to show why Tolkein should be recognized as one of those who laid the foundations for and formed the environmental movement as we know it today."—Mallorn

"Dickerson and Evans provide a valuable discussion of concepts of stewardship as figured by Gandalf, Treebeard, Sam, Galadriel, and various kings and leaders, and how such examples bridge our inner world of fantasy and what we think of as the outer world of reality."—Studies in Medieval and Renaissance Teaching

"A fine introduction to Tolkein's environmental achievement."—Flourish Book Review