Over hill and under hill

For those who have read the Hobbit, I'm sure you will agree with me when I say that The Hobbit's setting is one of the most vividly described worlds to ever reach publication. From the rolling hills of the Shire to the eerie black forests of Mirkwood, Tolkien has created a new world, described in such detail, it is almost as if you are there.

 "It had a perfectly round door like a pothole, painted green, with a shiny yellow brass knob in the exact middle. The door opened to a tube shaped hall like a tunnel: a very comfortable tunnel without smoke, with panelled walls, and floors tiled and carpeted provided with polished chairs... The tunnel wound on and on, going fairly but not quite straight into the side of the hill - The Hill, as all the people for miles round called it - and many little round doors opened out of it." (The Hobbit 13) Now this continues on for a fair bit more, but I think this short selection provides more than enough of an example of the caliber of Tolkien's ability to create a wonderfully rich setting. Even from this short portion of a paragraph, a clear mental image is built through the text. A clear sign of a talented writer.

Now to write with such beautiful description is quite tough to begin with, even if you are writing about something familiar, but Tolkien takes it to a whole new level. He has created an entirely new world! And such a diverse world it is. The various locations explored in the Hobbit are so vastly different and new yet somewhat familiar and special. Reading through it, I found it hard to believe that these places were imaginary. I felt as if it was like Tolkien had been there himself, the way he described them to the last detail. This wonderful world of middle earth that Tolkien has created has survived for almost eighty years and will not be leaving any time soon.