Ever since the 1937 publication of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, Middle-Earth and the characters which populate it have captured the imaginations of millions of people around the world, resulting in a vast and growing Tolkien industry that includes books, films, TV shows, and games. What is the source of its appeal? Sharing biographical anecdotes about Tolkien and scrutinizing his many books, Nick Groom explains his striking relevance for some of the most pressing issues that now confront us.