The History of the Lord of the Rings: Box Set (The History of Middle-Earth) - Softcover

Tolkien, J. R. R.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0261103709 ISBN 13: 9780261103702

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2002

Synopsis

A boxed set of four paperbacks detailing the creation of The Lord of the Rings from its inception to its finished form, featuring brand new cover art.

At the core of these books are a great many early drafts and unpublished passages which add greatly to one’s understanding of his great masterpiece:
· The Return of the Shadow examines how Bilbo’s ‘magic’ ring from The Hobbit evolved into the supremely dangerous Ruling Ring of the Dark Lord, the unforeseen moment when a Black Rider first rode into the Shire, and how the central characters underwent many changes of name and personality.
· The Treason of Isengard traces the great expansion of the tale into new lands and new peoples south and east of the Misty Mountains. In brief outlines and pencilled drafts are seen the first entry of Galadriel, the earliest ideas of the history of Gondor, and the original meeting of Aragorn and Éowyn.
· The War of the Ring takes up the story with the Battle of Helm’s Deep, the journey of Frodo, Sam and Gollum to the Pass of Cirith Ungol, describes the war in Gondor, and ends with the parley between Gandalf and the ambassador of the dark Lord before the Black Gate of Mordor.
· The End of the Third Age concludes the study of The Lord of the Rings with Frodo’s rescue from the Tower of Cirith Ungol, and gives a very different account of the Scouring of the Shire. It includes the unpublished Epilogue, in which, years after the departure of Bilbo and Frodo, Sam attempts to answer his children’s questions. This edition is extracted from the book Sauron Defeated and is exclusive to this boxed set.

About this title

From the Back Cover

A boxed set of four paperbacks detailing the creation of The Lord of the Rings from its inception to its finished form, featuring brand new cover art.

J.R.R. Tolkien’s ' The Lord of the Rings, ' now firmly acknowledged as the most popular book of the twentieth century, has captivated generations of readers with the ‘reality’ of its fantasy. In ' History of The Lord of the Rings, ' the author’s son and literary heir, Christopher Tolkien, examines the creation of ' The Lord of the Rings ' from its inception to its finished form. At the core of these books are a great many early drafts and unpublished passages by Tolkien which add greatly to one’s understanding of his great masterpiece.

Combining his father’s unique imagination with his own privileged insight, ' The History of The Lord of the Rings ' is a series of four volumes – including one edition unique to this collection – no fan of ' The Lord of the Rings ' can afford to overlook.

“One marvels anew at the depth, breadth and persistence of J.R.R. Tolkien’s labour. No one sympathetic to his aims, the invention of a secondary universe, will want to miss this chance to be present at the creation.”
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

About the Author

Christopher Tolkien is J.R.R.Tolkien’s third son and literary executor. In an unprecedented feat of literary study spanning 15 years, he has brought together his father’s many unpublished stories and background notes to form the groundbreaking The History of Middle-earth, combining his father’s unique imagination with his own privileged insight.

‘Affords us an almost over the shoulder view into the evolving creative process and genius of J.R.R.Tolkien ... the superb, sensitive and extremely helpful commentary and editing done by Christopher Tolkien makes all this possible.’ Mythlore

Edition details

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0261103709
• ISBN 13: 9780261103702
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 1696