The Shaping of Middle-earth
The fourth volume that contains the early myths and legends which led to the writing of Tolkien’s epic tale of war, The Silmarillion.
In
this fourth volume of The History of Middle-earth, the shaping of the
chronological and geographical structure of the legends of Middle-earth
and Valinor is spread before us. We are introduced to the hitherto
unknown Ambarkanta or “Shape of the World”, the only account ever given
of the nature of the imagined Universe, ccompanied by maps and diagrams
of the world before and after the cataclyusms of The War of the Gods and the Downfall of Numenor. The first map of Beleriend is also reproduced
and discussed. In The Annals of Valinor and The Annals of Beleriend we
are shown how the chronology of the First Age was moulded: and the tale
is told of Aelfwine, the Englishman who voyaged into the True West and
came to Tol Eressea, Lonely Isle, where he learned the ancient history
of Elves and Men. Also included are the original ‘Silmarillion’ of 1926, and the Quenta Noldorinwa of 1930 – the only version of the myths and
legends of the First Age that J R R Tolkien completed to their end.
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J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien, the creator of Middle-earth, was not just a writer; he was a weaver of worlds, a philologist whose deep understanding of language and mythology breathed life into epic landscapes, timeless characters, and legends that still captivate readers around the world. Born in 1892 in Bloemfontein, South Africa, Tolkien’s early years were marked by tragedy—his father’s untimely death and the loss of his mother, both of which shaped the tone of his writing. His roots in the English countryside, where he moved as a child, became the fertile ground for the stories that would define an entire genre.
The History of Middle-earth
The History of Middle-earth consists of twelve books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
Related series The History of Middle-earth (omnibus editions)
