Anyone familiar with J.R.R. Tolkien's epic tale, The Lord of the Rings, knows the literary merits of this wonderful adventure fantasy. Yet, interestingly, Tolkien's overriding ambition was not to write a great story, but rather to create an entire mythological system for the English people. With its intricate mix of legend and lore, archetype and symbol, the trilogy awoke something deep in human consciousness through its universal language of mythic images. In this book, David Day delves into the inspirations and sources for the Ring stories, exploring an ancient storytelling tradition that dates back to the dawn of Western culture and encompasses Norse mythology, Arthurian legend, Celtic and Saxon myths, the classical tradition, German romance, and Biblical tales, as well as specific works like the medieval epic, the Nibelungenlied, and Wagner's operatic adaptation, The Ring of the Nibelung. Alan Lee's evocative color and black-and-white illustrations capture the magic of these mythic characters and themes with a particular grace and elegance.