Joseph Pearce takes a controversial approach to Tolkien's imaginative literature. Unlike the conventional view that his fantasy writing was an escape from reality, Pearce argues that Tolkien saw his great epics about Middle-earth as a leap into reality. Understanding Tolkien's view of life, faith and the supernatural is crucial to fully appreciating the deep levels of meaning in his three major works: The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion. J.R.R. Tolkien had no more than seven books published during his lifetime, yet he became a towering literary figure round the world. This study considers him in the context of his time and also his beliefs. It examines his influence upon other story tellers such as C.S. Lewis and the influence upon him of the writers group called the Inklings.