1974 The Road Goes Ever On Songs & Poems J.R.R. Tolkien Lord Of The Rings Book

"The Road Goes Ever On: A Song Cycle is a distinctive collaboration between J.R.R. Tolkien and composer Donald Swann, setting a selection of Tolkien's poems and songs to music. The pieces are drawn principally from The Lord of the Rings, together with material associated with The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, transforming verses familiar from Tolkien's Middle-earth into compositions for voice and piano. Swann developed the music with Tolkien's knowledge and assistance, making the volume an unusual example of Tolkien actively participating in the interpretation of his literary creations beyond the printed narratives themselves.

Of particular interest to Tolkien collectors are the author's own decorations, Elvish calligraphy and linguistic material incorporated throughout the work. Tolkien contributed his distinctive scripts and supplied guidance concerning the pronunciation and meaning of the Elvish language used in the songs, while Swann provides introductory commentary explaining the origins and musical treatment of the compositions. The result occupies a fascinating position within Tolkien's bibliography, combining poetry, music, invented languages and artwork in a form closely connected with the mythology and cultures of Middle-earth.

Published in London by George Allen & Unwin Ltd, this example is the 1974 Fourth Impression of a work first published in Great Britain in 1968. It remains in its striking original dustjacket, reproducing Tolkien's calligraphic decoration across the front and retaining the publisher's printed price of £3.50 on the inner flap. An attractive vintage Tolkien publication, The Road Goes Ever On is particularly desirable as a companion volume to The Lord of the Rings and The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, and as an unusual record of Tolkien's direct involvement in bringing the songs of Middle-earth into musical form."