Product Description

J.R.R. Tolkien is famous for his unique literary creation, exemplified in "The Hobbit", "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Silmarillion". He also produced a vast amount of further material that expands upon the stories that were published, and which gives added life to the tales of the hobbits, Gandalf and the quest of the Fellowship as told in "The Lord of the Rings". It was to this task of literary construction that Tolkien's youngest son and literary heir, Christopher, applied himself to, producing the series of twelve books, "The Complete History of Middle-Earth". This hardback edition brings together volumes six to nine of "The History of Middle-earth": "The Return of the Shadow", "The Treason of Isengard", "The War of the Ring" and "Sauron Defeated". Together these books give a complete account of the writing of "The Lord of the Rings", and provide the reader with numerous additional scenes, together with rare maps and illustrations, which never made it into the final book, including the epilogue in its entirety.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #43109 in Books
• Published on: 2003-01-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover

Amazon.co.uk Review
Tolkien completists will just have to have this beautiful History of Middle Earth II in their collection. This luxuriously presented limited edition book is the middle part of the History of JRR Tolkien's vast fantasy epic Lord of the Rings and contains early drafts, alternative versions of events that took place in the story along with maps and illustrations not found in the original. Exhaustive research by Tolkien's son Christopher has resulted in a rich and detailed account of the most popular book ever written and this edition, presented in an embossed slip case and printed on gold-edged india paper, does true justice to the lasting nature of the subject matter. It may seem pricey and is really only for Tolkien completists, but this handsome edition will be treasured for years to come. Part One of the History is already available and Part Three is publishing in Autumn 2001. --Jonathan Weir

Review
'One marvels anew at the depth, breadth and persistence of J.R.R. Tolkien's labour. No one sympathetic to his aims -- the invention of a secondary universe -- will want to miss this chance to be present at the creation.' Publishers Weekly

About the Author
Christopher Tolkien, born on 21 November 1924, is the third son of J.R.R. Tolkien. During the Second World War he served in the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm as a pilot. At the end of the war he returned to Oxford University, and became a fellow of New College and tutor in English in 1964, lecturing in the University on early English and northern literature. Appointed by J.R.R. Tolkien to be his literary executor, he has devoted himself since his father's death in 1973 to the editing and publication of unpublished writings, notably The Silmarillion and the collections entitled Unfinished Tales and The History of Middle-earth. Since 1975 he has live in France with his wife Baillie.

Customer Reviews

For the serious student and avid lover of Middle-earth
With this mammoth release, we get the literary backstory, so to say, of J. R. R. Tolkien's turmoil and travails of the composition of one of the most complex fantasies every constructed. Gather all twelve previously published volumes into three huge books, these tell the final story of Tolkien's world, in all its grandeur and heart breaking beauty. The hefty price tag that is attached is to be expected, seeing it covers twelve expensive single volumes. The first two volumes deal with the earliest form of THE SILMARILLION, the next are the epic LAYS that were never completed, and showing Tolkien was a poet of very accomplished calibre. THE SHAPING deals with the geography and physical history, while THE LOST ROAD shows us an unfinished novel and several other unearthed treasures. The real meat, to literary historians who are not specialized in Tolkien and to the causal fan, is the volumes VI-IX, which deal with the creation of THE LORD OF THE RINGS, one of the most significant volumes ever released the world, online with Homer, Virgil, and Dante. This is a graduate level look at what goes in the making of a literary masterpiece. The last of the volumes deal with Tolkien's attempt to recast THE SILMARILLION in sometimes radical departures from the accepted structure. The last volume is THE PEOPLES OF MIDDLE-EARTH, which are the appendices of THE LORD OF THE RINGS, and several interesting tidbits, included a Numenor story and THE NEW SHADOW, the aborted sequel to THE LORD OF THE RINGS.

This publication is for the serious student and lover of J. R. R. Tolkien's work. The causal fan will find this much too expensive and much too expansive. For those only marginally interested the volumes dealing with THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy novel should be looked at. But those who love Middle-earth and want to marvel at Tolkien's work, this is a must-have purchase. It's a very rare opportunity to see the creation of a work of such massive import to our international societies. Tolkien's commitment to this birthing process of a beautiful work of art truly stands out as one of the great efforts of Man to give homage to his God, as Tolkien saw it (read his essay on Faerie Stories), and I see it as well. Get it and become immersed - though beware this detailing the construction of this elaborate universe, which means these are rough drafts and various other things that didn't make it into publication in Tolkien's time, adding a huge amount of material to Tolkien's fandom to consider. Christopher's editorial notes are a must have. Thanks to the Tolkien family and to Christopher for their support of their father (who died in 1973) and of his son for the publication of this work. A very unique moment in literary history indeed.

At last the missing parts!!
If you have read the Silmarillion,Hobbit and Lord of the rings and still need to know more about the history of Middle Earth then this is for you! Do not be put off, this book contains 481 pages of carefully edited work covering the whole of middle Earth, ranging from: alternative beginings to lord of the rings, whole sections covering the Shire and its people, the house of Elrond, the mines of Moria and the journey of the ring south. Some of the main events in lord of the rings and the Silmarillion are given more depth and character, which in turn gives an insight to J.R.R Tolkin's vast imagination and lingistic brilliants. This series of three books is a must have for any true Tolkin fan and you will not be dissapointed!!

Christopher does his father proud
Lord of the Rings is the most sucessful fantasy book ever written. Many people have read Lord of the Rings and to those people i say read the complete history of middle earth. It adds depth to an already impressively detailed world. Every bit of Tolkien read compliments every other bit. We must be grateful to Christopher Tolkien for the completion of his father's works. JRR Tolkien had an imagination to vivid for one lifetime.