Origins of The Wheel of Time

With an introduction by Harriet McDougal, Origins of The Wheel of Time by Michael Livingston explores the inspirations behind the acclaimed series The Wheel of Time, including a biography of Robert Jordan for the first time.

Explore never-before-seen insights into The Wheel of Time, including:
- A brand-new, redrawn world map by Ellisa Mitchell using change requests discovered in Robert Jordan's unpublished notes
- An alternate scene from an early draft of The Eye of the World

This companion to the internationally bestselling series will delve into the creation of Robert Jordan's masterpiece, drawing from interviews and an unprecedented examination of his unpublished notes. Michael Livingston tells the behind-the-scenes story of who Jordan was (including a chapter that is the very first published biography of the author), how he worked, and why he holds such an important place in modern literature.

The second part of the book is a glossary to the 'real world' in The Wheel of Time. King Arthur is in The Wheel of Time. Merlin, too. But so is Alexander the Great and the Apollo Space Program, the Norse gods and Napoleon's greatest defeat - and so much more.

About the Author

Michael Livingston is the foremost academic interpreter of Robert Jordan’s literary accomplishment and legacy. He holds degrees in History, Medieval Studies and English. He teaches the military and cultural history of the Middle Ages at The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, and has been a contributor for popular media outlets like Tor. At present he also serves as the Secretary-General of the United States Commission on Military History. He is the author of Origins of The Wheel of Time, among others.