Description: "[Although Amendt-Raduege] supports her arguments with a wide array of scholarly sources, her clear prose and explanations render this text truly accessible to the general reader. . . . Such a volume serves an important function at any time in the human experience. Amendt-Raduege has crafted a powerful, extended meditation on facing the end of life, preparing for a good death, avoiding a bad one, and memorializing those who have passed from this world. General fans of The Lord of the Rings as well as specialists will appreciate this book." -- Journal of Tolkien Research "Amendt-Raduege has produced an insightful and comprehensive study on the thematic and contextual importance of death in Tolkien's work.... The strength of [her] book lies in its series of interconnected close readings. She devotes a significant amount of attention to each character and culture of Middle-earth, parsing their differences and similarities. Additionally, the robust historical context, which draws on both medieval and twentieth-century history, enhances the significance of her conclusions. The Sweet and the Bitter is an impressive achievement: focused, nuanced, and comprehensive, and it marks what I hope will continue to be a growing area of research in Tolkien studies." -- Fafnir: Nordic Journal of Science Fiction and Fantasy Research "Amendt-Raduege's treatment of Tolkien's use of death and dying reminds the reader that death is not trivial, no matter how common or abundant it may feel. She employs literary criticism, but her work is not bloated with technical jargon. The book is a piece of scholarship, and yet accessible to the curious fan of Middle-earth and its unique influences."--Journal of Faith and the Academy

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