This is a review of the hardcover boxed set of The Lord of the Rings, which includes the three volumes of the original work (ISBNs 978-90395048931-4, 978-0-395-48933-8, 978-0-395-48930-7).I purchased this set to replace an aging/worn paperback set after looking through various editions for one that would combine durability, reading ease, and affordable cost. Several hardcover editions of The Lord of the Rings are too large/heavy for comfortable lap reading (I have read my paperbacks to my son and intend to revisit the books with him again in the future). Others were simply too costly, either due to second-hand pricing in the collector’s market or the up-front cost for purchase. Although I can appreciate the desire of some readers to own high quality illustrated (or leather-bound) sets, I am personally uncomfortable paying triple digit prices for a book that is intended to be read, with all the wear & tear that comes with doing so. And although I greatly admire the Tolkien themed artwork of artists like Alan Lee and Ted Nasmith, I prefer to keep their work outside of the text so as to let the imagination wander.At $65, this set was well priced and met my other criteria. The volumes come snugly packed in a sturdy cardboard box adorned with the artwork from the dust jackets. The books themselves feel solid yet are still lightweight enough to carry on the go. I do not anticipate the outside warping or bending with average use. Pages appear to be bound with glue so this may not be a set to get if you are hoping to pass them along to your great grandchildren, although they should endure through many readings. Dust jacket artwork has illustrations from Alan Lee that are definitely “retro” and distinct enough from the imagery of the films to avoid filling your mind with images of Elijah Wood (the films are a fine adaptation and I have read Saruman’s dialogue in Christopher Lee’s voice ever since). I usually toss dust jackets on hardcover books, but the designs are good enough that I may keep them. The book covers underneath are brown with the title of the volume in gold and an impressed image of Sauron’s eye and the ring. There are no interior illustrations outside of the maps and Tolkien’s sketches of the door at Moria and Balin’s tomb.The pages inside are fairly solid, with only the faintest outline of text on the following page visible. As someone who despises thin paper like you might find in most Bibles, the page thickness in these volumes is greatly appreciated. The text inside is easy to read and of a sufficient size/spacing for most readers (I wear glasses and can read it just fine – much better than with my old paperbacks), although I would look elsewhere if large print is needed. The maps are included as foldouts with red and black ink and are an absolute delight (although a delicate touch is needed to avoid detaching them from the book).My understanding from other reviews is that these volumes are not the most “correct” edition of the text and therefore might have some minor errors or deviations from Tolkien’s preferred spelling. I have not noticed any major issues, but also have not yet thoroughly read through all three volumes. If having the most up-to-date version of the text is important to you, then I would look elsewhere. For “casual” readers who might enjoy reading the books every couple of years but who do not care to engage in the debate over whether Balrogs have wings, these volumes should work just fine.All in all, I am greatly pleased with the quality of these books given the price. This is a solid set that I can see enjoying many read throughs with and will certainly have a better chance of surviving to pass on to my children than my old paperbacks.These editions also match up pretty closely with the HMH hardcover 75th anniversary edition of The Hobbit if you desire a collection of similar height (photos included for comparison - although that is of inferior quality).