Barbara Remington

Barbara Remington (23 June 1929 – 23 January 2020)^[1] was an American artist and illustrator. Born in Minnesota, she was probably best known for her cover-art for Ballantine Books' first paperback editions of J. R. R. Tolkien's novels The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and for her Tolkien-related poster A Map of Middle-earth.^[2]

Career

In an interview about her association with Tolkien's works, Remington mentions that she had not been able to get hold of the books before making the illustration, and had only a sketchy idea from friends what they were about. Tolkien, the author, could not understand why her illustration included what he thought were pumpkins in a tree, or why a lion appeared at all (the lions were removed from the cover of later editions). Remington became a huge Tolkien fan, and would have "definitely drawn different pictures" had she read the books first.^[3]

The popularity of the artwork led to a large edition of the poster as well as work for similar genre fiction such as The Worm Ouroboros by E. R. Eddison. She also illustrated a number of children's books.^[2]

Remington illustrated "Scuttle The Stowaway Mouse",^[2] written by Jean and Nancy Soule in 1969. This is a great example of Remington's ability to understand and transform the characters into her own. Her imagination and eye for every small detail is impeccable. Remington illustrated the book “Boat” in 1975. It’s a story told in art (no words). Beautifully drawn with incredible attention to details. All done in pencil and ink.

Remington died at her home in Thompson, Pennsylvania, on January 23, 2020. She was 90 years old.^[1]

References

External links

• Interview, on the Tolkien Collector's Guide website
• Brief notes, on the Tolkien Collector's Guide website
• Examples of her work, from a 2005 exhibition

• v
• t
• e

The Lord of the Rings

• J. R. R. Tolkien

About

• Volumes
  • The Fellowship of the Ring
  • The Two Towers
  • The Return of the King
• Stories
  • "The Shadow of the Past"
  • "The Council of Elrond"
  • "The Scouring of the Shire"
  • "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen"
• Translating
  • List of translations
  • Russian
  • Swedish
• Reception
  • Literary
  • Fandom
    • Oxonmoot
    • Tolkienmoot
  • Works inspired
  • Tolkien's impact on fantasy

Analysis

Elements	Artwork Family trees Heraldry Languages Quenya Sindarin Maps Poetry A Elbereth Gilthoniel Namárië Song of Eärendil The Man in the Moon Stayed Up Too Late The Road Goes Ever On A Walking Song Proverbs
Themes	Addiction to power Anachronism Ancestry as guide to character Architecture Christianity Death and immortality Decline and fall Economy England Environmentalism Forests Heroism Luck and fate Magic Mental illness Moral dilemma Music Naming of weapons Northern courage Paganism Plants Psychological journeys Quests Race Sexuality Sound and language Time Trees Women
Influences	Antiquarianism Beowulf Celtic Classical world First World War Norse Medieval Modern sources Modernism Philology Shakespeare
Techniques	Character pairing Frame stories Impression of depth Narrative structure Interlacing Prose style Ambiguity

Peoples

Maiar	Balrogs Sauron Wizards Gandalf Radagast Saruman
Free peoples	Dwarves Balin Gimli Elves Galadriel Glorfindel Half-elven Arwen Elrond Legolas Thranduil Ents Treebeard Hobbits Bilbo Frodo Merry Pippin Sam Men Beornings Drúedain Dúnedain Aragorn of Gondor Boromir Denethor Faramir of Rohan Éomer Éowyn Théoden Wormtongue
Monsters	Barrow-wight Gollum Nazgûl Witch-king of Angmar Old Man Willow Orcs Shelob Trolls Wargs Watcher in the Water
Other	Eagles Goldberry Tom Bombadil

World

Geography	Eriador Bree Old Forest Rivendell The Shire Bag End Gondor Harad Lothlórien Mirkwood Moria Mordor Rohan Isengard
Battles	Helm's Deep Pelennor Fields Morannon
Objects	Mithril Palantírs Phial of Galadriel Rings of Power One Ring List of weapons and armour

Related
works

• The Hobbit
• The Adventures of Tom Bombadil
  • Errantry
  • Fastitocalon
  • The Sea-Bell
• The Road Goes Ever On
• Bilbo's Last Song
• The Silmarillion
• Unfinished Tales
• The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien
• The History of Middle-earth
• The Children of Húrin
• The History of The Hobbit
• Beren and Lúthien
• The Fall of Gondolin
• The Nature of Middle-earth

Adaptations and derivative works
Books	Bored of the Rings (1969) The Last Ringbearer (1999) Muddle Earth (2003)
Illustrations	A Map of Middle-earth Pauline Baynes Barbara Remington John Howe Alan Lee Margrethe II of Denmark Ted Nasmith
Theatre	Fellowship! (2005) Lord of the Rings (2006)
Music	Music Inspired by Lord of the Rings (1972) Symphony No. 1 The Lord of the Rings (1988) Led Zeppelin "Ramble On" (1969) "Misty Mountain Hop" (1971) "The Battle of Evermore" (1971)
Radio	The Lord of the Rings (BBC, 1955) The Lord of the Rings (NPR, 1979) Hordes of the Things (1980) The Lord of the Rings (BBC, 1981) Der Herr der Ringe (1992) ElvenQuest (2009–2013)
Film	Animated The Lord of the Rings (Bakshi, 1978) The Return of the King (Rankin/Bass, 1980) The War of the Rohirrim (2024) Peter Jackson series The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) The Two Towers (2002) The Return of the King (2003) Music "Concerning Hobbits" "Into the West" "May It Be" Approach Production Peter Jackson's interpretation Picturing Tolkien Other Sagan om ringen (1971) Khraniteli (1991) Hobitit (1993) The Rings of Power (2022) music Fan-made The Hunt for Gollum (2009) Born of Hope (2009)
Video games	Journey to Rivendell Game One Game Two: Shadows of Mordor War in Middle Earth Vol. I (1990) Vol. I (SNES) Riders of Rohan Elendor Vol. II: The Two Towers The Fellowship of the Ring The Two Towers The Return of the King War of the Ring The Third Age Game Boy Advance The Battle for Middle-earth Tactics The Battle for Middle-earth II The Rise of the Witch-king Conquest Aragorn's Quest War in the North Lego The Lord of the Rings Guardians of Middle-earth Shadow of Mordor Shadow of War Gollum Return to Moria The Lord of the Rings Online Mines of Moria Siege of Mirkwood Rise of Isengard Riders of Rohan Helm's Deep Mordor Minas Morgul War of Three Peaks Fate of Gundabad Before the Shadow
Tabletop role- playing games	Middle-earth Role Playing The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game The One Ring Roleplaying Game Adventures in Middle-earth
Board games	Middle Earth War of the Ring Gondor: The Siege of Minas Tirith Sauron Lord of the Rings Risk: The Lord of the Rings: Trilogy Edition War of the Ring
Card games	Middle-earth Collectible Card Game The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game
Other games	Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game Lego The Lord of the Rings