Publisher's Synopsis
The extraordinary history of Middle-earth comes to life in this essential five-volume collection from the beloved author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
The History of Middle-earth chronicles the creation of the mythology, languages, and histories that form the foundation for Tolkien's most beloved works-The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion. With painstaking documentation and analysis, Christopher Tolkien guides readers through his father's legendarium.
The Book of Lost Tales, Part One & Part Two collect the early myths and legends that led to the writing of Tolkien's epic tale of war, The Silmarillion.
The Lays of Beleriand includes two of Middle-earth's most crucial stories-that of Tu´rin Turambar, a hero living under a ruinous family curse, and Lu´thien, an elven princess whose love for a mortal man is mirrored ages later in the romance of Arwen and Aragorn-and sheds light on the creation of Tolkien's mythology.
The Shaping of Middle-earth traces the development of Middle-earth's earliest lore, from the sundering of the world to Beleriand and the events of The Silmarillion.
The Lost Road and Other Writings chronicles the original destruction of Nu´menor and includes essays on the complex languages of Middle-earth along with an extensive account of Elvish vocabularies.
