Root and Branch, which was first published in 1999, comprises articles by Patrick Curry, Thomas Honegger and Christina Ljungberg. The first paper, by Thomas Honegger, looks at a structural instance of 'depth' in Tolkien's work by means of discussing the various occurences of the Man in the Moon. Patrick's Curry extensive study addresses the question of why Tolkien's work is simultaneously so enduringly popular with readers and so abhorrent to literary critics. Christina Ljungberg's contribution discusses parallels between Tolkien's depiction of Nature and power and the one found in Margaret Atwood's works.
This second edition is a revised reprint featuring four of the five items of the original edition.