J. R. R. Tolkienbs "Lord of the Rings" has long been acknowledged as the gold standard for fantasy fiction, and the recent Oscar-winning movie trilogy has brought forth a whole new generation of fans. Many Tolkien enthusiasts, however, are not aware of the profoundly religious dimension of the great Ring saga. In "The Battle for Middle-earth" Fleming Rutledge employs a distinctive technique to uncover the theological currents that lie just under the surface of Tolkienbs epic tale. Rutledge believes that the best way to understand this powerful bdeep narrativeb is to examine the story as it unfolds, preserving some of its original dramatic tension. This deep narrative has not previously been sufficiently analyzed or celebrated. Writing as an enthusiastic but careful reader, Rutledge draws on Tolkienbs extensive correspondence to show how biblical and liturgical motifs shape the action. At the heart of the plot lies a rare glimpse of what human freedom really means within the Divine Plan of God. "The Battle for Middle-earth" surely will, as Rutledge hopes, bgive pleasure to those who may already have detected the presence of the sub-narrative, and insight to those who may have missed it on first reading.b