CHRIS
SMITH
Chris Smith was born ten years after the first publication of The Lord of the Rings. He read the novel in the year The Silmarillion was first published, sold thousands of copies of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books during his many years as a bookseller, and was appointed editor of Tolkien’s works in the same year that production began on the first installment of Peter Jackson’s acclaimed, award-winning film trilogy.
Research for the book Weapons and Warfare of Middle-earth took Chris Smith to the United States and New Zealand, where the films were made. There he interviewed all the key members of the creative team, including the artists, armorers, and weapons makers, as well as Peter Jackson himself.
Chris Smith lives in Kent with his partner and their two cats, and dreams of a world without weapons or war.