Happy like Ulysses

First of all let me say that my comment is about the English edition Houghton Mifflin, in 3 volumes, illustrated (please!) By Alan Lee 0618260587 ISBN.
I also said that this number is that of the whole cabinet (3 books together in a cardboard container).

Needless to remember that the story itself is a masterpiece. It's a spellbinding epic journey. The author describes perfectly its landscapes, its people, their lifestyle, and at no time ... the story suffers long, since it is the story of a great adventure. I literally devoured (2 weeks French version, and I'm on the 6th page in 2 days, English version, it looks much more difficult!).
I do not regret the adaptation of Peter Jackson who allowed me to discover this classic.

Imagine the intelligence of Tolkien, who created a world: its history, its people, geography, botany, geology, its language, its legends ... or what not.
Among this multitude of details, there are all full of anecdotes that give the narrative a true realistic dimension, not just descriptive (as if that was not all invent a world!).
All that to say that we are facing a talented writer ... and additional poet!
I fully interfered in the atmosphere of Middle-earth: ah! County sweet and green meadows, small streams gurgling, and the cool shade of its trees! (It is my bucolic side)
Then the journey continues in the ruins of the dark and disturbing Moria, where our company will end up destitute. But she then passes on the elegant Lothlorien (one of my favorite chapters), where for a time she can enjoy a pleasant tranquility. To finally get to the wasteland and desolate Mordor where the daylight does not pierces its toxic clouds. (Well, there, it's my imagination that works)

I will now explain that article, because I have taken time to find what I wanted: a book with lots of boards of Alan Lee.
So, this box has 3 beautiful books in English.
Each measures 25 cm high and 19.5 wide (or 3 at the same time it works too). Their coverage is rigid.
Each book contains about 15 watercolors, in the end I even think they are the same as those watercolors of the French edition of the centenary of the birth of JRR Tolkien. So in all this has to do all round 50 illustrations (full page, of course, no stamp). Plus, of course, the illustrations on each of the 1st and 4th cover + on the same box. Phew.

The cover is glossy paper, it would be better paid with matt paper, but here is my very personal opinion and probably quite useless (and I do not have the marketing skills to argue). You can remove the glossy cover and then we are left with another cover, red cloth with a golden inscription on the back cover first (initials initials JRRT) and slice the same gilded with the title (eg, "The Fellowship of the ring "), the name of the author, illustrator and publishing.

Inside the paper has a glossy appearance, and we feel that at design / font we are not facing a paperback book. Very nice in person.
The pictures that I have tabled will be help you (describe in words because it's something ...)

Happy reading and beautiful trips in Middle-earth!
... & Enjoy!