Tolkien Studies

Tolkien Studies: An Annual Scholarly Review presents the growing body of critical commentary and scholarship on both J. R. R. Tolkien’s voluminous fiction and his academic work in literary and linguistic fields. The founding editors are Douglas A. Anderson (The Annotated Hobbit), Michael D. C. Drout (Beowulf and the Critics), and Verlyn Flieger (Splintered Light: Logos and Language in Tolkien’s World).

Current Editors: Michael D. C. Drout, Yvette Kisor, and David Bratman
E-ISSN:1547-3155
Frequency: Annual

Tolkien Studies is available on Project MUSE (https://muse.jhu.edu/journal/299) and in paperback. 

Electronic Subscriptions

Individuals may purchase electronic access to individual issues and articles on Project MUSE (https://about.muse.jhu.edu/individuals/purchase-muse-content/).

Institutions seeking electronic subscriptions or electronic & print packages should order from Project MUSE (https://about.muse.jhu.edu/librarians/).

Print Subscriptions

Individuals may order volume 20 (2023) and preorder volume 21 (2024) from our partner Duke University Press Journal Services: 

Institutions seeking print-only subscriptions should subscribe through their agents or contact Duke University Press Journal Services. For electronic & print packages, order from Project MUSE.

Questions about print subscriptions, including claims for replacement copies, should be directed to Duke University Press Journal Services.

Digital Editions

Click here to order digital editions (vols. 2 through 11 only). (Vol. 1 and later can also be purchased on Project MUSE as indicated above.)

A special supplemental issue to volume 19 has been published: J.R.R. Tolkien, “The Chronology of The Lord of the Rings,” edited, with introduction, notes, and commentary by William Cloud Hicklin; a preface by William Fliss; and a special introduction by the editors. The supplement is available in paperback and is available electronically on Project MUSE. Individuals who wish to receive the supplement in print should purchase a print subscription to volume 19 (which can be ordered as indicated above). Print subscribers to volume 19 will receive both the supplement and the regularly scheduled volume.

Print Back Issues

To order print back issues (vol 18 or later), call Duke University Press Journal Services at (888) 651-0122 or +1 (919) 688-5134. Click here to order print back issues of volume 17. Volumes 1–16 are no longer available in print.

Submission Guidelines

Tolkien Studies seeks works of scholarly quality and depth. Substantial essays and shorter, “Notes and Documents” pieces are both welcome.

Submissions should be double-spaced throughout and use parenthetical citations in the (Author page) form.  A Works Cited page should conform to the Chicago Manual of Style, 14th ed.  All citations to Tolkien’s works should follow the “Conventions and Abbreviations” of Tolkien Studies.

Electronic submissions should be sent to Yvette Kisor (ykisor@ramapo.edu) as attachments. Microsoft Word is the preferred word-processing program. Mailed, hard copy submissions are no longer accepted. 

Tolkien Studies encourages researchers to send us offprints of articles for inclusion in the yearly Bibliography and Year’s Work. These should be sent to:

Tolkien Studies
c/o Prof. Michael Drout
Wheaton College
26 East Main Street
Norton, MA 02766

Reviews

What else can one say? The reviews are full, numerous, by respected hands, and informative. . . .another magisterial addition to the growing corpus of Tolkienian scholarship.

David Doughan, Mallorn

A welcome addition to the growing library of Tolkien criticism.

Mark Hooker, Mythprint

A very important and highly readable addition to Tolkien scholarship.

Carol A. Leibiger, Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts

The best anthology of Tolkien criticism and commentary.

Mike Foster, Mythopoeic Society

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