The Book of Lost Tales 1 (History of Middle-Earth) (Pt. 1)

The book of Lost Tales, Part II includes further tales of the First Age of Middle Earth including: Beren and Luthein, the tale of Turambar (the children of Hurin), the fall of Gondolin, and sketches of the tale of Earendel. Also described are Tolkien's outlines for fleshing out the mythology and developing the right framing devise (a problem he would struggle with all his life).

For me, the clear stand outs here are The tale of Tinuviel and The tale of the Fall of Gondolin. The tale of Tinuviel is primarily of interest for its differences, particularly with regards to Beren as Elf or Man, and Tevildo Prince of Cats (precursor of Sauron, it's interesting what details stick in the later writing). One of my favorite parts of the Silmarillion is the story of the Fall of Gondolin. Here, in the Lost Tales, the story is greatly expanded and beautifully conceived. This tale, of all of them, is sure to take your breath away. The level of detail is extraordinary and while some elements of the plot are different, the main elements are already in place and the most striking (and pleasant) difference is the length. To my mind, this is the tale to read, even if you cannot bring yourself to read any other!

The tale of Turambar is interesting in its differences to The Children of Hurin, The Narn (Unfinished Tales) and the Silmarillion, but as this work is well published, I didn't find it as enthralling. However, I did find the close mirroring of the Vulsunga saga/Nibelungied fascinating, particularly for how closely at times the Tale follows it thematical and in plot at times. What is most interesting here is how this was woven into the tale more tightly and with increasing subtlety as the story of Turin developed towards its final form.

With regard to Christopher Tolkien's notes and commentary: they can be helpful and interesting. Most of the time I skipped the notes altogether. The commentary is very good, however, and really brings to light Tolkien's struggles with the Tales as well as casting a light on his circumstances at the time of the composition. The commentary also attempts to explain the progression of the tales through their various drafts, which at times is confusing, but often very interesting to see how Tolkien's thought developed.

The book of Lost Tales is definitely worth a try for anyone wishing to immerse themselves fully in Middle Earth.

It takes great strength of mind to be able to stick through this book, but if you're a true Tolkien fan, you'll love every minute of it. The Book of Lost Tales Part II continues the story of Eriol, a great mariner who finds his way to the lost island of Tol Eressëa, The Lonely Isle, where dwell a lost tribe of Elves. He continues to learn the stories of the ancient world they have to tell him, of the great heroes of the world after its corruption by the Dark Lord Melkor.
For readers of the Silmarillion, many of the stories are familiar. They are told, however, in greater detail than that which is set down in the Silmarillion, and contain several interesting literary differences. (Nearly all of which are expounded on by Christopher Tolkien, who is, of course, the son of John Ronald Reuel Tolkien.) Some are as small as name changes, some are opposing details about the events surrounding a character.
I enjoyed reading this book, partly because I am a Tolkien aficionado, and partly because it satisfies the fantasy itch in a lot of people, myself included. The Book of Tales 2 begins (sort of) where Book 1 left off. The stories that the editor, Christopher Tolkien sets forth are less whole and complete than those found in book 1, but this is by no means the fault of Christopher Tolkien. His father, beloved author and scholar J.R.R. Tolkien was perfecting and re-shaping these tales to his death in 1973.
Nonetheless, the stories are enjoyable to read. In Book 2, we read such stories as the Tale of Tinúviel (Or, Lúthien) the elf-maiden who forsook her immortal life for the love of a mortal man, Beren, much as the more popular union between Arwen and Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings books themselves. Of course, the most startling and shocking idea was that in this early version of the story, Beren was not a man at all, but an elf! He was but of another race of elves, which caused the high price of a Silmaril for Lúthien's hand in marriage by her father. There are several different elements of the story changed as well, such as Lúthien's need to save her love from the house of Tevildo, (a feline precursor to Sauron?), the evil cat-like creature who enslaved Beren. Of course, all these changes and many more are commented on, and highlighted by the ever-thorough editor.
Also found is the story of Turin Turambar, the man who roamed Middle-Earth with much sorrow and woe, who won both misery and renown for his great skill and his misdeeds. An extremely sad (and long!) tale.
After this, the tale of the great fall of Gondolin, the great city of refuge, hidden from Morgoth until it was brought down by treason from within. Hence from this destruction escaped Ëarendil, the great mariner of whom great tales are told of later. The tale of the Nauglafring, the Necklace of the Dwarves is told following this tale, with different changes in it as well.
Following this is the tale of Ëarendil. This differs so much from the original story that most of us know from reading the Silmarillion that it's not nearly as wonderful of a story to read.
Finally, there is the history of Eriol, or Ælfwine, the man who first came to the Lonely Isle and learned these great stories from the Wise that dwell there. Most astounding and odd in this history is the idea that Tolkien had apparently conceived; that the lands where the Elves dwelled came over time to be England! The Lonely Isle was dragged from its place by Ulmo, but his rival Ossë took hold of it to drag it back, and broke of a part, which became Ireland. In this case, one must wonder where the land and time of Middle-Earth itself, with its hobbits, wizards and orcs came to pass, if that land eventually became England!
For my part, I find that these stories are fun to read, but if you are interested in the true substance of the tale, your best bet is to read the Silmarillion. The stories are often condensed, but they are in their finished state (as much as can be finished), and there are no footnotes to go and read.
Following the end of tales is an index on names, the etymologies, the development of names, etc.
Reading this book really gives you a feeling for how much work and effort went into the creation of the books we all enjoy, The Lord of the Rings. But little do we realize that there was a good three thousand years of history prior to that story - and Tolkien wrote it all.
If you have an enthusiasm for the works of Tolkien, the tales prior to the Rings trilogy, and the history of Middle-Earth, than you should read this book if you can. I'd recommend reading the Silmarillion first, even if you have already read it once; Christopher Tolkien compares the two many, many times. Also be forewarned that this book can be a little dry and long-winded. But for true Tolkien aficionados, it's worth every minute.

"The Book of Lost Tales, Part 1" is the first of two volumes containing the very first versions J.R.R. Tolkien wrote of the legends that ultimately formed "The Silmarillion". He began writing these stories during World War I, and his quest for perfection in their form and presentation was so rigorous that he was unable to publish any version of "The Silmarillion" before his death in 1973. His son Christopher edited "The Silmarillion" for publication and followed it up with thirteen more volumes of his father's writings on Middle-earth and Valinor: "Unfinished Tales" and the mammoth twelve-volume series "The History of Middle-earth," of which "The Book of Lost Tales" comprises the first two volumes.
"The Silmarillion" itself fails to appeal to many readers of "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings," and the thirteen tomes that followed it will have even less appeal to such readers (except perhaps for the four volumes that show how Tolkien went about writing LotR). However, for Tolkien aficionados the History series (affectionately abbreviated HoMe) is essential reading, and "The Book of Lost Tales, Part 1" is not only its beginning but one of its most important volumes. In it are found versions of the early stories of "The Silmarillion" (the birth of the Two Trees, the coming of the Elves to Valinor, the flight of the Noldoli or Gnomes, later renamed the Noldor by Tolkien, into exile, and the making of the Sun and Moon) which are far fuller than any later versions written by Tolkien, but the plots and nomenclature of which are still far from evolving into their final forms. Reading these stories is necessary to gain a full appreciation of the beauty of Valinor and of the Trees, the Elves' longing for which underlies all of Tolkien's work.
Even those readers who dislike "The Silmarillion" should seek out this book in their local libraries for the sake of the first few pages of Christopher Tolkien's introduction, in which he explains the peculiar nature of "The Silmarillion" and why it inevitably has a different sort of appeal than that of "The Lord of the Rings," and thus may put off readers who enjoy the latter work. For Tolkien fans, "The Book of Lost Tales, Part 1" is highly recommended reading.

It takes great strength of mind to be able to stick through this book, but if you're a true Tolkien fan, you'll love every minute of it. The Book of Lost Tales Part II continues the story of Eriol, a great mariner who finds his way to the lost island of Tol Eressëa, The Lonely Isle, where dwell a lost tribe of Elves. He continues to learn the stories of the ancient world they have to tell him, of the great heroes of the world after its corruption by the Dark Lord Melkor.
For readers of the Silmarillion, many of the stories are familiar. They are told, however, in greater detail than that which is set down in the Silmarillion, and contain several interesting literary differences. (Nearly all of which are expounded on by Christopher Tolkien, who is, of course, the son of John Ronald Reuel Tolkien.) Some are as small as name changes, some are opposing details about the events surrounding a character.
I enjoyed reading this book, partly because I am a Tolkien aficionado, and partly because it satisfies the fantasy itch in a lot of people, myself included. The Book of Tales 2 begins (sort of) where Book 1 left off. The stories that the editor, Christopher Tolkien sets forth are less whole and complete than those found in book 1, but this is by no means the fault of Christopher Tolkien. His father, beloved author and scholar J.R.R. Tolkien was perfecting and re-shaping these tales to his death in 1973.
Nonetheless, the stories are enjoyable to read. In Book 2, we read such stories as the Tale of Tinúviel (Or, Lúthien) the elf-maiden who forsook her immortal life for the love of a mortal man, Beren, much as the more popular union between Arwen and Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings books themselves. Of course, the most startling and shocking idea was that in this early version of the story, Beren was not a man at all, but an elf! He was but of another race of elves, which caused the high price of a Silmaril for Lúthien's hand in marriage by her father. There are several different elements of the story changed as well, such as Lúthien's need to save her love from the house of Tevildo, (a feline precursor to Sauron?), the evil cat-like creature who enslaved Beren. Of course, all these changes and many more are commented on, and highlighted by the ever-thorough editor.
Also found is the story of Turin Turambar, the man who roamed Middle-Earth with much sorrow and woe, who won both misery and renown for his great skill and his misdeeds. An extremely sad (and long!) tale.
After this, the tale of the great fall of Gondolin, the great city of refuge, hidden from Morgoth until it was brought down by treason from within. Hence from this destruction escaped Ëarendil, the great mariner of whom great tales are told of later. The tale of the Nauglafring, the Necklace of the Dwarves is told following this tale, with different changes in it as well.
Following this is the tale of Ëarendil. This differs so much from the original story that most of us know from reading the Silmarillion that it's not nearly as wonderful of a story to read.
Finally, there is the history of Eriol, or Ælfwine, the man who first came to the Lonely Isle and learned these great stories from the Wise that dwell there. Most astounding and odd in this history is the idea that Tolkien had apparently conceived; that the lands where the Elves dwelled came over time to be England! The Lonely Isle was dragged from its place by Ulmo, but his rival Ossë took hold of it to drag it back, and broke of a part, which became Ireland. In this case, one must wonder where the land and time of Middle-Earth itself, with its hobbits, wizards and orcs came to pass, if that land eventually became England!
For my part, I find that these stories are fun to read, but if you are interested in the true substance of the tale, your best bet is to read the Silmarillion. The stories are often condensed, but they are in their finished state (as much as can be finished), and there are no footnotes to go and read.
Following the end of tales is an index on names, the etymologies, the development of names, etc.
Reading this book really gives you a feeling for how much work and effort went into the creation of the books we all enjoy, The Lord of the Rings. But little do we realize that there was a good three thousand years of history prior to that story - and Tolkien wrote it all.
If you have an enthusiasm for the works of Tolkien, the tales prior to the Rings trilogy, and the history of Middle-Earth, than you should read this book if you can. I'd recommend reading the Silmarillion first, even if you have already read it once; Christopher Tolkien compares the two many, many times. Also be forewarned that this book can be a little dry and long-winded. But for true Tolkien aficionados, it's worth every minute.

This is a wonderful book that looks not only at an awesome story, but also into how it was written. Some people have and will find this a dificult book to read, but it is a book you must go into with a little understanding.
To begin with I would highly recomend reading the "classics" of Tolkiens works. Read the Hobbit first, not so much for the depth of the work (it was written with children in mind), but for the questions that will arise when you read The Lord of the Rings. When you have finished this and have seen how the Third Age ends, with new things begining and old things ending, then it is time to move on to the Silmarillion, Tolkien's crown of his writing career.
Now you learn about the beginings of the world and the sad story of the Elves.
Finally you should read the beautiful yet [sadly] undone Unfinished Tales. Not only does it contain the stories that he was changing for the Silmarillion, but it is an excellent introduction to his son Christopher's thought provoking commentary.
Now we move on to the book you are wondering about. When I first read it (I was much younger at the time)I had the impression of it being a bunch of loose stories that were eventually rewritten to become the Silmarillion. WRONG!!
This is abeautiful work that evolves right before you eyes. The book of lost tales is actually a book that was written to be a mythology for England, which Tolkien saw to be sorely lacking. It is the story of an Englishman (Eriol) who finds the land of Faery and is told a series of stories which is an history of the world and the Elves, so these tales that were "lost" to humanity were given to Eriol who wrote them down and called it The Book of Lost Tales. (This is what Tolkien also did with the Hobbit by Bilbo Baggins, LOTR by Frodo and Sam, And the Silmarillion said to be compiled by Bilbo with the help of Frodo).
The commentary by his son is very hepful in keeping things straight, and and seeing a timeline of when things were written.
All in all this is an excellent book and series.

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.

This is the second volume in "the Book of lost Tales" and also the second volume in "the History of Middle-earth". Here are all the stories that were not put in the first book, so if you liked that one than no problem, because these stories are enchanting in their own right, as well as giving us a one-of-kind glimpse into a masterpiece in progress.
Although, if you have not read the first volume than go do that first, because although these stories are somewhat unfinished there is still a continuity of sorts. These stories were seemingly written down by a traveller in elf-land who heard theh while staying in the Cottage of Lost Play. The moments at the cottage, with the children and the story-telling, are the best part of the book.
As in this entire series, Christopher Tolkien provides an in-depht commentary after each story, comparing it with the published Silmarilion and with the rest of his fathers work.
This is a look at a different style of Tolkien-writing, one that does not show in the more finnished works. I recoment it to anyone who would like a more in.depht understanding of Tolkien as an author, as well as a chance to look over his shoulder while he writes his first drafts for the stories that would enchant the world.

. . .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.

The second volume of the "Book of Lost Tales" by J.R.R. Tolkien is not for casual fans of the movies, "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit." Before tacking this volume, readers should pursue "The Silmarillion" and even "The Children of Hurin." As such, this volume is only for the most dedicated fans of Tolkien and his created worlds.

Just like the first volume, the second "Lost Tales" collection offers a good deal of insight into the mind of Tolkien himself and his creative process--but it does not offer much in the way of a good narrative and, frankly, it's not supposed to. Christopher Tolkien does a solid job of editing his father's assorted notes and musings.

In this volume, readers will discover very different takes on some of the leading tales in "The Silmarillion." Tolkien originally crafted the tale of Beren and Lúthien as much different than the one that finally emerged. There is also the first take on Túrin (here the son of Úrin who later becomes Húrin) which essentially sets the framework for what later appears in "The Silmarillion" and "The Children of Húrin." There is a fascinating account on the fall of Gondolin which is much more intense and detailed than the account in "The Silmarilllion." There are also tales that offer little and are mere fragments--Elves and Dwarves battle for cursed treasures and accounts of Eärendel and Eriol. These are of interest to the most passionate scholars and fans of Tolkien--but not for a general audience.

Fans wanting to know more about Tolkien's creative process and the birth of Middle Earth will appreciate this book more than casual fantasy readers--and I cheerfully recommend it to them. But many casual readers--who mass paperbacks are generally targeted to--will find this book stiff, frustrating and unrewarding.

`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 first volume of the "Book of Lost Tales" by J.R.R. Tolkien is not for everyone. Readers who adore "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" and even "The Children of Hurin" should take a look at the "Silmarillion" before heading to this volume. This book offers a good deal of insight into the mind of Tolkien himself and his creative process--but it does not offer much in the way of a good narrative and, frankly, it's not supposed to.

Christopher Tolkien does a solid job of editing his father's assorted notes and musings but, to be blunt, he does not show the skill that he would later develop when he did the same thing to the "Lord of the Rings" books. For example, three versions of the poem "The Cottage of Lost Play" are included one after the other in full. That's repetitive to say the least--and the poem simply is not strong enough to be included three times. In later volumes of his father's edited works, Christopher Tolkien was shrewd enough to point out the differences and not include repeated content. This book could use that type of editorial touch.

Fans wanting to know more about Tolkien's creative process and the birth of Middle Earth will appreciate this book more than casual fantasy readers--and I cheerfully recommend it to them. But many casual readers--who mass paperbacks are generally targeted to--will find this book stiff, frustrating and unrewarding.

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.

I didn't really know what I was getting into with this book. I have always been a fan of Tolkien's works, but from what I had read about this book online I knew not to let my expectations get the best of me until I had read the book. Surprisingly, I enjoyed it from a totally different prospective than as a fantasy fan. I found this book to be very interesting from the aspect of a person who enjoys to write (I'm a fantasy fiction fan; most of us that I have met have delusions of authorship. It was good for me to see the notes of one of my literary heroes, and see the various revisions that the early stages of his epic world underwent. I really enjoyed realizing that these notes were all back story and helped him to write such a richly detailed setting, and the notes that Chris Tolkien included were much appreciated. It was hard for me to imagine a young man during the World War I years sitting in a camp in rural England writing poetry about elves, but at the same time I wouldn't want to live in a world where that did not happen. The passion of Tolkien may not be expressed on every page like in other works, but with the notes and revisions the labor of love is very evident. If you are a delusional fantasy writer, I think you should definitely read this.

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.

`The Book of Lost Tales, Part One and Part Two' by J. R. R. Tolkien, edited by son, Christopher Tolkien, is, according to the editor's Foreword, some of the very earliest works written by Tolkien on the mythology of Middle Earth. Many, it is stated, were drafted in the 1920s, nearly ten years before the start of `The Hobbit'.

This is an important fact, as it means that they were not written to `fill in' details of references made in either `The Hobbit' or `The Lord of the Rings' (LOTR). It means that both of these published novels were narratives of a preexisting world of Middle Earth with a history stretching back thousands of years, to the very creation of the world. This supports the sense of historical depth one has when you read both novels. Early in the Foreword, editor Tolkien addresses this very aspect and the danger that the great depth of history felt in the novels may not transfer to documents that lay out that history. I personally do not sense that danger when I read these works. The intellectual effort required to understand the text and tie it together with all the Tolkienania that has gone before is more than enough to keep me busy. This is the basis of my title for this review, `Fantasy for Grown-ups'.

My experience is that neither `The Hobbit' nor `LOTR' books or movies had a strong appeal to the same audience as the literal and virtual comic book works such as Spiderman, Superman, Batman, Star Wars, Lara Croft (Tomb Raider), or even Indiana Jones. The world in which Middle Earth is set is much more subtly different from our world or the world of `Long ago, and far, far, away...' Even in `The Hobbit' one gets hints that the world of Middle Earth is not our comfortable sphereical planet with a different geography but the same physics, chemistry, and biology. One gets the sense that while the great `Gandalf the Gray' may be called a `wizard', he is not a wizard in the same sense as Merlin or a wizard of `Dungeons and Dragons'.

The most important difference between Middle Earth and our world is that this continent is in the center of a great disk surrounded by seas across which are the undying lands including the Elven island of Eressea and Valinor. The next major difference is that there are beings, primarily elves, which walk the earth and which are literally immortal. That is, they cannot die by natural causes. They can, however, be killed in battle, as seen in `The Two Towers' movie with the death of the elven archer allies helping to defend the Hornburg with Aragorn, Theoden, and the Rohrrim. It is also interesting to see that Gandalf possesses an immortality of an entirely different order, as he survives the great battle with the Balrog in the mines of Moria, a battle that would have killed any ordinary immortal elf.

It would have been interesting to see Tolkien deal with immortality in the same way that John Boorman did in his script for the movie `Zardoz', an easily underestimated movie. (Oddly enough, Gandalf is most like the characterization of Merlin in Boorman's movie, `Excalibur').

Another big difference is that the physics of this world is different from our world. Light, for example, simply does not behave like our notions of light. It is much more like a liquid that can be captured in the Silmarils or in the vial give by Galadrial to Frodo in Lorien. This is part of the reason neither Gandalf nor any other character, even Sauron, seems to use much `magic'. What may appear to us as magic is simply bending the different laws of physics to the will of the magician, as Sauron does in creating the One Ring.

These two books are yet another step removed from the `popular fiction' of `LOTR'. `The Silmarillion' was one step removed in being much more like Hesiod's mythology than Homer's epics. The `Unfinished Tales' were another step removed in that they were close to being stories with extensive editorial annotations. These two volumes, which are really one work in two books are reconstructions of even cruder material. Reading them may be about as much fun as reading Frazier's `The Golden Bough'.

Now, reading `The Golden Bough' can be fun for a particularly intellectual interest, but it takes just a bit extra to gain the same pleasure from these works, as they are not stories from a historical mythology which may explain genuine primitive thought and beliefs. They are make believe! They just happen to be of a type of make believe which is more different than just about any other fiction you can imagine.

The greatest insight I get from these myths on the early history of Middle Earth is on the origins of Tom Bombadil and the Ents. While neither is mentioned, there are ample hints that both are beings who sprung up from the bones of Middle Earth itself, independent of any efforts by the Valar. This explains the total difference between Bombadil and every other character in `LOTR' aside from Treebeard and the Ents. The Elves, the Wizards, Sauron, dragons, and probably dwarves, hobbits, and men all arose out of immigrants from `The Undying Lands' or were created by the Valar.

I find the single most interesting character in these pre `LOTR' stories to be the Noldor (elven) leader Feanor. He seems to have the air of Prometheus about him in that he defies the gods (the Valar) without being an evil force like Melkor / Morgoth or Sauron. When Feanor is not on the stage, my interest drops several notches.

These are the first two volumes of the twelve volume `The History of Middle Earth'. While several of the volumes seem independent, I would not venture to read any of them without having read `The Silmarillion'. They will make very little sense without this background in hand.

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.

Have you ever wanted to see the evolution of an entire mythology?
These books let you see what the Silmarrillion was before it became the Silmarillion. The stories here are much more poethic than in finnnished work, full of descriptive detail and wonderful imagery. The pace is more sedate, more calm and flowing. It has a different shape. Its just so enchanting to see the fragments that were to survive, the little details that lie at the center of it all. Its also mind-boggling to see that some of the vital turning points of the later story are completely absent.
Where the Silmarillion is presented as a story on its own, the book of Lost Tales has a framework: the stories where suposedly told to a traveled while he stayed at a house filled with enchanted children, who had strayed too far into dream. I kept looking forward to those little moments at the Cottage of Lost Play, the cosy story-telling by the fireside and all the exentric characters that have sadly gone missing later. But I swear, some of them I recognise from LotR!
The book also presents exelent commentaries by Christopher Tolkien, who shows us exactly how these stories relaete to each other and to later stories. I cant imagine how much work must have gone into these books. Its an enriching experience if you like the academic aproach.
Included here are many poems by Tolkien, wich i really love. They show such talent, such love of words. Beautiful.
Be warned that these are not a complete story, like the Silmarillion. Passages are skipped, there are many inconsistencies and it breaks of before the end. However, I heartily recomend it in addition to the Silmarrillion. You might be best of waiting with this book if you have not read the later work.
So, if you loved the Silmarillion, than this is your chance to witness magic in creation. Go right ahead, and have fun!

"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.

Do you love the fiction of JRR Tolkien? Are you interested in the very beginning of the legends? The stories that evolved into "The Silmarillion"? Then you must purchase "The Book of Lost Tales, part 1". Here you will find, thanks to the loving research and editing of Tolkien's son Christopher, the first beginnings of the stories, legends and poems that became Tolkien's life work. Begun during the First World War, the legends occupied the remaining 55 years of Tolkien's life.
You cannot begin to fully appreciate "The Lord of the Rings" without reading "The Silmarillion" -- and this volume provides the very beginning of what became "The Silmarillion".

The Book of Lost Tales 2 starts off right where the first book finished. The different tales in this book prove to be a great summary of the history of middle earth. The commentaries that the tales have are done by Christopher Tolkien. These commentaries, combined with the notes that also are in the tales, make understanding this book much easier than one would think after taking a quick glance through the tales. Overall this book was wonderful. It was difficult to read at times but it is a great book for all Tolkein fans. I would highly reccomend this for anybody who is interested in the mystical, wonderful world of Tolkein's Middle Earth.

Do you love the fiction of JRR Tolkien? Are you interested in the very beginning of the legends? The stories that evolved into "The Silmarillion"? Then you must purchase "The Book of Lost Tales, part 1". Here you will find, thanks to the loving research and editing of Tolkien's son Christopher, the first beginnings of the stories, legends and poems that became Tolkien's life work. Begun during the First World War, the legends occupied the remaining 55 years of Tolkien's life.
You cannot begin to fully appreciate "The Lord of the Rings" without reading "The Silmarillion" -- and this volume provides the very beginning of what became "The Silmarillion".

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.

This had been a great book to read! I find it fascinating, particularily the laborous accounts of the Gates of Morn, Door of Night, Valinor, and the Gods (Valar). This book however, is best read after the Silmarillion, because it is more "primitive" in design, and it often contradicts the official version, because it is the earliest stage in Tolkien's work. Regardless, This book is filled with information for the curious mind eager to delve deeper into the tales, information and detail that the Silmarillion sadly neglected. Read it now!

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 tells the tales that you didn't exactly see in the final published version of the Silmarillion. It brings new insight to the background of how Tolkien wrote these stories while he was still conceiving the very beginnings of this magical world that would evolve into the Silmarillion and the Lord of the Rings. This is for anyone for wants to know about Middle-Earth and Valinor than was explained in Tokien's earlier published works.

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.

The Book of Lost Tales shows you what wasn't included in the Silmarillion as well as some completely new stories, such as that of Eriol who learns of the origins of the Elves from his kinsmen. This shows you what Tolkien was conjuring up in the trenches during World War I. It's not really for those who are stuck only to the writing style of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. You have to read the Silmarillion first before you can completely appreciate this work.

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

. . .the work begun in "The Book of Lost Tales, Part 1" and carries the earliest versions of what would eventually become "The Silmarillion" through to their completion.
Any hobbit who owns the first volume in this series, will wish to acquire this title as well.
Highly recommended -- but does not stand alone well without the first book.

The Book of Lost Tales is one of my favorite books. I think Tolkien was an excellent writer. However, a book this size generally takes me about a day, two at the very outside, to finish. The Book of Lost Tales took me a week. The book chronicles the ancient history of Tolkien's famed Middle-Earth, from the very creation of the world to the awakening of Men (and believe me, there is a lot of information between those two), posed as a series of stories, told by the Elves at the Cottage of Lost Play to a human traveler named Eriol. It's hard to get in to, because Tolkien at his most flowery is almost beyond comprehension, and he goes on and on about the golden sands, and spends half a page describing the "golden light of sunset filtering through the elms,' but once you've gotten into it, it moves much more quickly. Those potential readers who have read The Simarillion should be warned that some names are different. Also, the last Tales in the book were left unfinished, and are represented by summaries written by Christopher Tolkien. In short, The Book of Lost Tales is enjoyable, but not your typical, read-it-on-the-airplane-trip novel.

...just VERY tedious! I am 14, and I made it thru BOLT1, but it took me a week. I can get thru LOTR in less than a wk. Anyways, if you have gotten thru the Silmarillion, you can probably make it thru BOLT1. :) It is about Eriol, a mariner, and he goes to the Cottage of Lost Play.... and a lot of the stories are comparative to Sil. :) Hope this helps.

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.

...just VERY tedious! I am 14, and I made it thru BOLT1, but it took me a week. I can get thru LOTR in less than a wk. Anyways, if you have gotten thru the Silmarillion, you can probably make it thru BOLT1. :) It is about Eriol, a mariner, and he goes to the Cottage of Lost Play.... and a lot of the stories are comparative to Sil. :) Hope this helps.

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.

There is much in these stories to digest. It can cause one to ponder many of the things that we each face in life. It could be read just as it appears on paper, or applied to the way we live our lives.

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 is a look at even more of the Tolkien milieu. This is chock full
of the mythology, looking in even greater detail than The Silmarillion
at the history of the elves and their travels, for example.

This is composed by the kid from notes and other materials that his father left around.

I guarantee that this book is the best of the lost tales series of Tolkien. It has much to offer, and goes on great detail over each of its stories. Most important for me was the detailed war of gondolin, and the tale of Tuor. When I read the Silmarillion, this tale went a little quick to give way for the voyage of earendil. I thought they gave too much attention to beren and turin and a lot less to Tuor. This tale complements the Silmarillion perfectly, and also offer new insight into other stories of Tolkien.

The Book of Lost Tales 1 is certainly not a lost book. Although the prose may sometimes be quite confusing, not to mention the subject matter, it is nonetheless a very intriguing book. It sheds light to the spark that created the conflagration that is now the entire Middle-Earth legacy. If you truly wish to unravel the history of Middle-Earth, this book is one of the tools to do so. Enjoy reading this book and the secrets it contains.

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.

For lo, and many in the camp of the fanatical followers of the writings of Tolkien were sore wroth, for the reviewer did have the temerity to say bad things about some of those writings, indicating that the style was ponderous and pretentious, with neither humor nor spark of life to be found in any character anywhere in the book, nor in any jot of the writing beside. Yet did the reviewer compound his heresy, conceding only that there was some minor interest for the true fan in seeing the development of the ideas that went into the formulating of the world that Tolkien eventually created, and that those who, upon reading "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings", do find that the best part of the entire experience is in reading the elvish poetry recited by sundry characters in those books, will undoubtedly be greatly enamored of the present work. Yet did he maintain that the vast majority of those who love those books enjoy them largely for the writing style in which they are told, and will therefore find little or nothing of value in the present work. Further, he did propose the blasphemy that the editor of this volume, one Christopher Tolkien, son of the master, did no favors to his father's legacy by publishing sloppy, immature first drafts of his father's writings for the obvious purpose of cashing in on the name of "Tolkien", and did further wonder when the volume of shopping lists, notes to remind himself of engagements, comments on the papers of his students, and other sundry scribblings of J.R.R. Tolkien can be expected to be published. And, greatest of the heresies that the reviewer was guilty of, he did suggest that perhaps there was a REASON that these tales were never published, and perhaps it would have been better if some lost tales had never been found.