Part Two (The History of Middle-Earth - The Book of Lost Tales

This book picks up where the first left off, opening with the tale of Tinuviel. It then carries you through the original conceptions Turin (Turambar and the Foaloke), and then on to Tuor (the fall of Gondolin). After these stories it gets a little harder to follow as the notes that Christopher uses become much more mish-mashed.
The tale of Tinuviel is interesting because this is one that goes through many different changes.
the basic story is there but it was written at the time when the silmarills were just becoming an important part of the whole mythology. Another surprising change is that Beren, who in the Silmarillion becomes the first Man to wed an Elf is here concieved of as an elf himself. That might throw Aragorn's long lineage out of whack! Also the necomancer (a.k.a. Sauron) is here a giant cat (Tevildo lord of the cats) with his own castle.
In Turambar and the Foaloke there are relativly few changes, most of them being changes of wording and name changes. Tis is one of the most sorrowful stories that I have ever read, though it is also one of me favorite. The only thing better than reading this is picking up a copy of Unfinished Tales and reading the final version that he worked on.
The most interesting and in my view rewarding tale in here is the fall of Gonddolin. I say this because this is the only place where you can find a finished version. The version in the Silmarillion though excellent was really written to be an oral piece, therefore being much shortened. The reason it was chosen as the official published version is because it was also revised to fit in Middle-Earth's history. If you read Of Tuor and His Coming to Gondolin in the Unfinished Tales you will find the most beautiful rendering, but sadly it stands uncomplete with Tuor just reaching the gates of Gondolin. But if you read the original story you get to see where it was going, and also you read what is one of the most fantastical battle scenes that I have ever read.(Even better than Peter Jackson's amazing rendering of the Battle of Pelenor Fields in the movie version of Return of the King).
The book then moves on to The Nauglafring, a dwarven necklace which encasing the silmaril that Beren and Tinuviel took from Morgoth, that brings about the ruin of the Realm of Doriath.
We are then brought to the Tale of Earendel who was the first Elf to be alowed to enter after he reached the sacred realm of Valinor.This and the next chapter, The History of Eriol or AElfwine, mostly consist of notes of how the stories were to be written, but they were abandoned shortly after this. Incedently, Eriol was originally concieved as having written The Book of Lost Tales.
All in all this is an excellent book if your interested in learning the history behind the Silmarillion and parts of Unfinished Tales.

. . .a young soldier, fighting in the First World War, exercised his imagination beyond the realms of most mortals, and began, in this volume, the single greatest sustained work of fictional imagination of the 20th century (and possibly the 2nd millenium). JRR Tolkien truly deserves the title "Master of Middle-Earth".
In this book, "The Book of Lost Tales, Part 1", the Master's son, Christopher Tolkien (himself quite a scholar in his own right) presents the very beginnings of the legends which would grow into the Silmarillion and the other great tales, songs, poems, and adventures of Middle-Earth. This work (and the volumes to follow) represent a tremendous effort of editing, sorting and categorizing -- and all hobbits have much to be grateful for in Christopher's work.
In this volume, the astute hobbit will be able to identify the beginnings of the stories so well-loved in later years and the evolution of names, plots, literary devices, languages etc; as well as ideas and concepts which never quite got off the ground (The cottage of lost play) comes to mind.
Altogether, a highly enjoyable -- and highly recommended volume.

"The Book of Lost Tales" is a unique experience -- read it, and get to see a created mythology evolve before your very eyes. J.R.R. Tolkien created the vast backdrop of his Middle-Earth over the course of his life -- except that mythology evolved as time went on. Now the first batch of his old notes, drafts and rewrites are compiled in "Book of Lost Tales."
It presents some of the material from Tolkien's "Silmarillion"... except that these stories are different. In the tradition of some old Norse myths, the story is told to a human mariner called Eriol. Eriol makes his way to Tol Eressea, an island full of Elves, and is told about their history -- the Ainur, the creation of the world, and many other stories.
Some parts of "Book of Lost Tales" are almost indistinguishable from the stories in "Silmarillion." Others are drastically different: at some points Tolkien refers to the Elves as "fairies," the Dwarves are shown as evil, and legendary hero Beren was once written in as an Elf (which changes the story centering on him).
But this isn't a book for newbies. Instead it's for people who read and enjoyed "Silmarillion," not just "Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings." It also isn't quite as scintillating as "Silmarillion," however. Why? Because, to put it politely, Christopher Tolkien is a solid scholar, but not a very good writer. His constant analysis of Daddy's work is rather dull and long-winded, though he is to be commended for organizing and publishing them to start with.
Tolkien's writing genius, however, shines in every discarded note he wrotes. His prose here is more poetic and flowing. It's a lot less mythic and more "fairy-tale-ish." And in many of the stories, he provides a lot more detail and insight than in the later drafts.
"Book of Lost Tales" is strictly a treat for die-hard Tolkien fans, as anybody who isn't will be hopelessly lost. But oh, what a treat it is.

`if he could indeed destroy with his cunning the happiness and glory of the Gods and Elves...'

When the hateful god Melko marred the world, the Valar hid within the blessed land of Valinor, abandoning the Elves and Men of Middle Earth to slavery under his terrible rule. This was the time of great heroes who challenged Melko's impossible might. Beren and Lúthien entered Melko's hall to pluck his most prized possession from his crown. Cursed Túrin became a feared enemy of all evil creatures. Tuor fought to save a beleaguered realm. The mighty kingdoms of Gondolin - ruled by King Turgon - and Menegroth - ruled by King Thingol - long provided refuge for the few free people. Finally Eärendel risked all to beseech the Valar for aid. These heroes made terrible sacrifices to rid the world of the greatest evil it has ever known. Ashamedly, as magic faded and the Elves fled from the world, Men forgot these great deeds.

Ages later, the English mariner Eriol sailed to Tol Eressëa, the Lonely Isle, where Elves welcomed him as guest. In grand oral tradition, they recounted to Eriol the tales that should never have been lost.

Anybody who enjoyed The Book of Lost Tales Part 1, which should be read first, will love Part 2. It is also helps to first read The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, Unfinished Tales, and, most importantly, The Silmarillion.

Christopher Tolkien continues to expertly assemble and present his father's works. His precise commentaries are essential to understanding J.R.R. Tolkien's mythos.

Some of the stories in Lost Tales are much more detailed than their final versions in the Silmarillion. Lost Tales is a treasure trove of rejected content that really fleshes out the myths.

The Book of Lost Tales Part 2 has six sections.

`The Tale of Tinúviel', one of Tolkien's most popular stories, tells of the triumphant love between Beren and Lúthien. This version is shockingly different than that found in The Silmarillion, and it contains much more dialogue and plot.

`Turambar and the Foalókë' is the stirring tragedy of Túrin son of Úrin (or Húrin). Cursed as a child, Túrin rages against fate with heroic intensity. This account is wonderfully detailed.

`The Fall of Gondolin' recounts the final days of King Turgon's fair city. Ulmo (the only Valar to intervene in Middle Earth during this period) sends brave Tuor upon a divine quest to bring counsel to the doomed realm. This Lost Tales version is staggeringly well detailed. The final battle for the city (summarized in a few sentences in The Silmarilllion) here receives tremendous attention. This action-heavy scene is definitely a highlight of the book.

In `The Nauglafring', Elves and Dwarves battle over cursed gold. This early-abandoned tale flatly contradicts much of Tolkien's other work.

`The Tale of Eärendel' tells of the legendary mariner who now sails the firmament above Earth as a radiant star, bringing hope to men. J.R.R. Tolkien never wrote this story, so this section consists of outlines, poems, and heavy commentary.

`The History of Eriol or Ælfwine' delves into Eriol's life. It clearly identifies Middle Earth as our Earth; for instance, the origins of England and Ireland are spelled out and Rome is presented as an Elvish enemy. Although enlightening, this thoroughly explained setting lacks the mysterious grandeur of LoTR's Middle Earth. This tale was never finished, and Christopher Tolkien shows superhuman diligence in piecing together jumbled outlines and narrative fragments. It is densely commented and makes a slow, though worthy, read.

The Book of Lost Tales shows the devotion J.R.R. Tolkien had for his craft. It is a perfect choice for any Silmarillion fan.

-Zach Zelmar

When the English seafarer Eriol (or Ælfwine) sails across the westward ocean, he discovers the Elvish island of Tol Eressea. Eriol is enchanted by the magical land and welcomed by the blessed Elves, who reveal to him the true history of Arda, the World. This framework links various myths; between each tale Eriol reacts and requests greater knowledge.

Tolkien originally intended to release his mythologies of Middle Earth as the Book of Lost Tales, but the project never reached a publishable state. After publishing The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien's popularity grew, and he returned to his myths of Elder Days. He spent the rest of his life revising and linking these legends, which he intended to publish as the Silmarillion. Along the way he abandoned the narrative framework of Eriol's sojourn upon the Lonely Isle.

Tolkien died before completing the Silmarillion, leaving behind a chaotic collection of material. His stories were written out of order upon notebooks and loose papers. Over the years, much of the penciled writing became unreadable. Often multiple drafts of a story were written, and there was no indication as to which draft was made last.

J.R.R. Tolkien left a difficult task for his successor. Fortunately, his diligent son Christopher Tolkien was up to the challenge. With scholarly precision he delved into the myths and completed his father's work on The Silmarillion. He had to choose between many conflicting versions of the legends. Later he wrote The Book of Lost Tales to reveal what he had left out and to shed some light on his father's intentions.

Lost Tales shows the evolution of many parts in The Silmarillion. Often Lost Tales has much greater detail - it details the powers and limitations of the gods, as well as the construction of the ships of the Sun and Moon - while the Silmarillion gives briefer, more poetic descriptions, maintaining an air of mystery. Early drafts are often shockingly different; for instance, dwarves were evil beings allied with Orcs, and Beren was an Elf. In the revived Eriol story, Tolkien explicitly links Middle Earth to our Earth; for example, he spells out the origins of England and Ireland and mentions Rome, Babylon, and Troy. Each revelation is fascinating.

J.R.R. Tokien's dedication to his work becomes increasingly evident as Christopher details the evolution of his legendarium. J.R.R. would change a character's name multiple times within a draft, redraft with a new name, and then revert to the original. A single syllable of a hero's name had great significance. Each name was derived from an appropriate word, and for Tolkien language was inseparable from mythology. The lexicon included in the book demonstrates his devotion to perfecting aesthetic and consistent languages.

This amazing book will appeal to a narrow range of people: namely, those who have read and thoroughly appreciated The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, and perhaps Unfinished Tales. It is not meant for casual readers. It is a very different work than The Lord of the Rings, with a slower pace. Patient Tolkien fans will love the father's beautiful prose and the son's careful analysis. The Book of Lost Tales is an astounding creation.

-Zach Zelmar

The book of Lost Tales Part I chronicles the history of Middle Earth during the first age, through to the Hiding of Valinor and the creation of the Sun and Moon. It is a fascinating book, particularly if you are already familiar with the Silmarillion.

The problem with this book is similar to that which plagues the Silmarillion. It can be hard to get into, difficult to follow and tough going at times. Personally,I love the Silmarillion and the Unfinished Tales, Tolkien criticism/analysis and I am fascinated by history in general all of which made the first two volumes of HoME easier for me. However, the first hurdle to start and keep going is probably the hardest. The tales begin with the story of the Cottage of Lost Play and Eriol's arrival at Tol Eresea...this was my stumbling block and for years I never made it further. The framing devise and style take some getting used to. Keep going through to the actual tales and you'll find the diamonds in the rough.

What is so amazing, is how much of the final form of the history is already formed or begun in these first tales Tolkien wrote. At the same time, some of Tolkien's earliest thoughts concerning the Valar and the phases of the creation of Arda are startlingly different.

I was particularly drawn to the Music of the Ainur and the Creation of the Sun and Moon. The music has always been one of my favorite chapters in the Silmarillion, here it is greatly expanded, and though sometimes rough, the prose is exquisite. Also the religious-philosophical underpinnings of the tale are all present, and expressed in beautiful prose. Some ideas are expanded, some are different, and some new (old) ideas later discarded.

The Creation of the Sun and Moon is significantly longer in the Tales, and full of surprising detail. The first thoughts of Tolkien are at times very close to the published Silmarillion, and at other times so far afield as to be unrecognizable. Even so, many of the ideas here linger in later works, and it is fascinating to discover these kernels of insight.

This book, and the following, are highly recommended to anyone who read and enjoyed the Silmarillion. It is really for those who want to dig further into Middle Earth, as well as Tolkien's development of the mythology. I tend to read a lot of criticism and analysis of Tolkien's works, and write a bit myself. From that standpoint, The Book of Lost Tales is a Gold Mine!

As customer reviews of this series are liberally sprinkled with assertions that JRR's son Christopher is driven by ego or a desire to cash in on his father reputation, it's worth pointing out that said son (and his siblings) inherited the copyright to their father's novels and have no need to "cash in." Christopher would appear to be the ideal manager of his father's manuscripts, and he's paved a responsible path through them with "The Silmarillion" and "Unfinished Tales."
Should you finish the novels and the above books and want to know still more of the vast history, mythology, creative development, and languages of Middle Earth, of which TLOTRings' events are only a late chapter, you'll certainly enjoy much of this series. Tolkien's vision was vast -- too vast ever to be finished in a lifetime of an active professor. The arrangement of material across the volumes is sensible, and you can pick as choose as interest dictates. Tolkien's manuscripts have been culled, organized, and put in order for all to enjoy.

In Christopher Tolkien's first volume in The History of Middle Earth series he brings to light his father's original conception of what became known as the Silmarillion. This volume deals with the central theme in Tolkien's early works where an Englishman named Elfwine (or Eriol in Elvish) is told the history of the Elves after finding the "straight road" to Tol Eressea. This book deals mostly with Elvish history before the coming of men, and the later histories can be found in another great book, The Book of Lost Tales 2. I would recommend this book, along with all twelve of the other volumes, to anyone who enjoyed Tolkien's works but found them to be too short and would like more information. Also, for those interested in making a career out of writing this series is a very good example of the hardship required to write a classic work of fiction.

These are the earliest versions of the legends which were posthumously compiled as The Silmarillion. Most of the stories are MUCH more detailed than they later became, and Tolkien's style is very dense, more imitative of Old English than it later became. It is remarkable how fully Tolkien had already conceived of these legends at a very early age. Although lacking its later refinement, Tolkien's mastery of modern English as a medium for expressing the epic style of Old English works is very evident and quite enjoyable. The Fall of Gondolin and the legend of Turin Turambar are more compellingly told in their full, earlier versions. Christopher Tolkien (son of J.R.R.) deserves credit for very comprehensive annotations. I loved it, as I love all Tolkien's works.

In the second volume of The History of Middle Earth, Christopher Tolkien once again does a superb job in showing his father's early view of Elvish histories and giving his indispencible annotations. In this volume, Tolkiens main stories come into view. The Tale of Tinuviel, Turumbar and the Dragon, and The Fall of Gondolin are here told in more detail than would later be seen. The Fall of Gondolin in particular is one of my favorite stories and easily rivals anything written in LOTR. This volume gives the early versions of the Elvish history from the coming of men to War of Wrath, plus some insight on Elfwine himself. I recommend this book to any Tolkien fan and especially those that enjoy, as I do, classical literature because of this book's rich Old English style.

Part Two continues the history of the Elves and contains the oldest version of my personal favorite story "The Tale of Tinuviel". The stories in this book (which include an early version of Turumbar, The Fall of Gondolin, The Nauglafring- aka the fall of Doriath, and the story of Eriol) are recounted in grand Tolkienian style. They reveal some very interesting early ideas which Tolkien did not include in "The Silmarillion". The stories are superb in and of themselves but also offer a tantalizing 'behind the scenes' look at Tolkien's creative genius in progress. One of the most pleasurable aspects of reading this book is to watch the metamorphoses of the characters and to contemplate the elements which Tolkien altered or deleted in the later and more finished "Silmarillion". The stories in "Lost Tales 2" are even more marvelous than those of Book One. Book Two also provides a complete (though lamentable) closing to the tale of the wanderings or Eriol. Yet, to those who have read only "Lost Tales 1" there is no need to persuade. For I do not believe it humanly or divinely possible to read only Book One without inflaming the insatiable desire to experience the second half of the enchantment.

This book gives great insight to Tolkiens first ideas of Middle-Earth, the first ideas of Orcs, Elves, Balrogs, Valar and Ents. The seafarer Ælfwine (or Eriol, his name given by the Elves), comes upon the Elven island Tol Eressea, where he finds the city of Kortirion and the friendly elves Vaire and Lindo, who gives him a place to sleep and rest for several days. On the island his great lust for seafaring ceases, and he starts to learn the true story of the World from the Elves. He is told about the great Valar, the terrible Morgoth, the glory of the Early Days, and of the highest himself: Eru Iluvatar.
This is a magnificent work which combines Tolkien's magic of writing with a anazing mytology, simply a masterwork, yes i would say a second Silmarillion

This book, a compilation of notes, shows how the mind of the
greatest fanasty writer of all time came upon his tale, from
the first word to the last any reader of sophisticated taste
with a love for the unusual will find this book to their liking.
Set as a narrative of the education of a man by the Eldar of
Middle Earth, it will continually surprise with its brest of time
and place to bring about each of the individual tales. These
tales are books unto themselves, and once caught one can never
quite be free from the grasping clutch of Middle Earth upon ones
heart, mind, and soul.

Adrian Sloan

"The Lost Tales" are the early versions of the tales which were expanded and polished to become those in the Silmarillion. It is fascinating to see the evolution of these stories. (One can only imagine the level of perfection Tolkien would have reached had he ever completely finished his epic.) The Tales give a unique glimpse into the life of Elves on Tol Eressea as the human Eriol is introduced to it. This fascinating vision of life in the Western Lands is augmented with history of the Elves as told in their own oral tradition. Both books 1 and 2 are fabulous and intriguing, answering many questions and yet engendering many others. I became so enveloped in the tales that I read both books plus "The Lays of Beleriand" all at the same time! If you are interested in the internal and external history of Middle-Earth, this is a book you cannot afford to miss.

The Silmarillion is justly seen as a wondrous work. The Book of Lost Tales Part II (and part I for that matter), are just as wondrous. These early examples of mythology are written in a style which I find simply charming, and their attention to detail is great. Much of it is similar (and contradictory) to the Silmarillion, but much new information is given too, and characters who were later rejected (like Tevildo, Bodruith and Ufedhin) are put into the tales. The old english (thee, thy) can be hard, but just adds to its charm. Highly recommended.

Have you ever wondered how Tolkien wrote his wonderful stories? Then these are the books for you. Here we get to see the first steps of the creative process, the first ideas that began a world. Here are given the first drafts of the stories that were to become the Silmarillion, and even though the later stories are very different, the core of them is already there, along with many details that were to make it all the way through the process. Its fun to sitt there and recognise all the precious details.
The differences are just as great, and you will miss many of the central characters of the Silmarillion. On the other hand, you will meet many new ones.
The stories here have more details, more beautifull descriptions than the later book does, but the pace is different.
To tell you the truth, its almost worth buying the book just for the exelent commentaries and insights by Cristopher Tolkien, who shares his view of his fathers vision. Its hilarious to her him tell about hos difficult it was to figure out what went where, since these stories where scattered through many notebooks, and in some cases almost unreadable.
A word of advise, read The Silmarillion first. If you have, than this will give you a much deeper insight into the mind of a genius.

The Book of Lost Tales 2 is a fantastic continuation to the first, taking place right where it left off this book goes in deeper than the first. The Book of Lost Tales includes 6 tales that where apart of the first but explains it with greater detail. This book was edited by Christopher Tolkien, the author's(J.R.R. Tolkien) son. All of the six stories include many notes that help you with the story, and 4 of them include a commentary that Christopher Tolkien wrote. I found the commentary and notes to be very helpful and enjoyable although he refers a lot to The Simarillion so one who has not read that might not understand some of it, and infact the stories that are in The Book of Lost Tales 2 are briefly in The Simarillion, which is also a very wonderful book. These books can be at sometimes a little difficult to read given the ammount of detail and information that they give you, sometimes it is hard to organize all of it but as you read on more things fall into place.
I highly recommend this book, although suggest reading The Simarllion before hand, J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy world is quite enjoyable and his writings are full of detail. I also found the appendix and index of words quite useful and very nice to have, it tells you where all the names come from and have referances to where you can find them in this book and others. If you have read Lord of The Rings then you will find referances that are from this book and also The Simarillion that you did not get before.
Overall I thought this book was very enjoyable, although some what tedious at some points, and I recommend it to all fantasy and Lord of The Ring fans.

Christopher Tolkien's notes on the state of his father's rough drafts, combined with his conjecture on many subjects throughout the 'Tales' gives the reader a window into the mind of one of the most famous British authors of the 20th century. A must-read for any fan of J.R.R. Tolkien.

I first found myself in the world of Tolkien about two years ago, and the I find that the more of it I read the more I want to know. The sheer complexity behind the Silmarillion astounds me because its like entering into an epic, complicated, life-like history as complicated as our own. This book gives a little of how that history evolved into what it finally became, and suggests some of the possiblities for it that Tolkien had, along with other books in this series. After reading the Silmarillion I was left with a great curiosity and wanted to find out more; discovering this book helped, and reading it give me most of my answers, though it did leave far more questions. All said though, it is worth the read for any fan of Tolkien

Christopher Tolkien seems to think that changes in syntax between released versions of the stories contained in this volume is of great signifigance and interest. Unfortunately, I found it exceedingly dry and irrelivant. The "great insights" Chris seems to discover seem much more like editing decisions that all authors must make. A simple collection of J. R. R.'s works is all I was looking for

Wow! This book really suprized me! Having read LOTR I thought this book would have no comparison and guess what... I was right! LOTR was tons better but I enjoyed seeing the formation of Tolkein's ideas about everything from Balroqs to Middle Earth in general. But I warn you, the title is litteral. Some of these tales are not even finished. But the wonderful editing and commentary from Christopher Tokein made up for this. Yes, sometimes the meaningless comments on how the characters' names and such were formed gets pretty dull, but all in all this was and enjoyable book. I would definatly ONLY recomend it to people who read LOTR.

There is perhaps a little more variety in the second volume of the Book
of Lost Tales, compared to the first. You again have the story of
Luthien Tinuviel, but there are also stories with Dwarves and Dragons,
and also the detail of the fall of the city of Gondolin into Shadow.

This makes it a little more interesting, to me.

Christopher Tolkien seems to think that changes in syntax between released versions of the stories contained in this volume is of great signifigance and interest. Unfortunately, I found it exceedingly dry and irrelivant. The "great insights" Chris seems to discover seem much more like editing decisions that all authors must make. A simple collection of J. R. R.'s works is all I was looking for

Wow! This book really suprized me! Having read LOTR I thought this book would have no comparison and guess what... I was right! LOTR was tons better but I enjoyed seeing the formation of Tolkein's ideas about everything from Balroqs to Middle Earth in general. But I warn you, the title is litteral. Some of these tales are not even finished. But the wonderful editing and commentary from Christopher Tokein made up for this. Yes, sometimes the meaningless comments on how the characters' names and such were formed gets pretty dull, but all in all this was and enjoyable book. I would definatly ONLY recomend it to people who read LOTR.

There is perhaps a little more variety in the second volume of the Book
of Lost Tales, compared to the first. You again have the story of
Luthien Tinuviel, but there are also stories with Dwarves and Dragons,
and also the detail of the fall of the city of Gondolin into Shadow.

This makes it a little more interesting, to me.

I love the background lore of Middle Earth and the conversations between Frodo and Gandalf surrounding the events leading up to the Fellowship of the Ring and the Hobbit. I love this book. It is a great read.

This second volume of The History Of Middle-Earth takes us back to the mythical times of the Silmarillion. In fact it comprises very interesting sketches of tales found in the Silmarillion itself. Featuring among others the tales of Beren and Luthien, Turin Thurambar, and the full accounts of the Necklace of the Dwarves and the Fall of Gondolin. Each text is followed by explanatory comments by Christopher Tolkien and also some related poems by the author himself. Reading The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales is also highly recommended.

this book is incredible, but the store sent me a copy with a different cover than pictured here. not to sound whiny, but i really wanted the john howe artwork instead of the hideous one that i got. but still, the book rules.
thanks for screwing up the store.

This book offers more fleshed-out and satisfying versions of many of my favorite stories from the Silmarillion. The best by far was the Lay of the Children of Hurin in poetic verse- it is even more deeply moving than the version from the Sil, which now only seems to brush the surface of the story. The archaic English that Tolkien uses here is lovely and also very fitting for these epics. Read it TODAY.

This book has the definitive account of the fall of Gondolin, which is Tolkien's best portrayel of the valour of Elves in defence against Morgoth, the dark Lord, If you have read the Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings then jump right in because this book is excellent.

I am the biggest tolkien fan there is.....Stick to the books he continued to work on throughout his life; The LOTR the Hobbit, The Silmarillion and even Unfinished Tales.... Once you stray into the bounds of Christopher Tolkien's Ego you will find yourself wondering what you are doing. These notes scribbles and random thoughts of the master are unreadable...I mean all of them from volume 1 to volume 12. How many times can you re read the tale of the children of Hurin? In a row? WHO CARES!!
Do yourself a BIG FAVOR.....Re read the Hobbit and the LOTR instead. NOT WORTH YOUR EFFORT

The first item in 'History of Middleearth' is an exciting Book and very wonderful to read but U should have read the Silmarillion first and had to be interessted in Middleearth. And when, then you'll love it.