Bulfinch’s Mythology done, tonight we shall start with the next read-aloud book on our list: The Lord of the Rings, following J.R.R. Tolkien‘s advice because that’s the best way to read it anyway, he said. Everyone is very excited and looking forward much to it.
Therefore we offer for your consideration this day some of the artwork of Alan Lee that concerns scenes from The Fellowship of the Ring, the first volume of LOTR. Featured, you see Gandalf and Frodo at Bag End; below, Rivendell.

We feel that his watercolor paintings capture the atmosphere of the scenes in question very well. They enhance the imagination rather than dominating it. Much is said, and much is left unsaid, just as it should be.
Lastly, we offer Bilbo’s Trolls now turned to stone and revisited by Dúnedain Aragorn and the four hobbits Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin, also painted by Alan Lee. The hobbit standing is probably Sam reciting his Rhyme of the Troll, and you can enjoy The Professor himself singing Sam’s Rhyme if you listen to the recording.

If you want to read along, you can find the poem here. There, you will also find a sung version of Sam’s Rhyme by The Tolkien Ensemble.