J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century is a scholarly study of J.R.R. Tolkien and his work by Professor Tom Shippey. The book was also published in an American edition: Boston: Houghton Mifflin, [March] 2000. The core of the book consists of three chapters that examine The Lord of the Rings as a linguistic and cultural map, as a twisted web of story, and as a response to the meaning of myth. Shippey presents a unique argument to explain the nature of evil and gives readers a compelling insight into the complicated interweaving of many strands as the narrative moves between characters and into the remarkable skill behind the construction of such a rich and complex story. Other chapters examine The Hobbit, explaining the hobbits' anachronistic relationship to the heroic world of Middle-earth; the fundamental importance of The Silmarillion to Tolkien's canon; and an illuminating look at Farmer Giles of Ham, Leaf by Niggle, and other lesser-known works in connection to Tolkien's life.