History of Middle-earth Boxed Set 2 by J.R.R. Tolkien & Christopher Tolkien - Fiction - Hardback

Titles in This Set
The Lays of Beleriand
The Shaping of Middle-earth
The Lost Road

Details
Condition: Brand New
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9780008669232
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Year: 2024

Overview
The History of Middle-earth Boxed Set 2 gathers three essential volumes tracing the earliest myths behind J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium: The Lays of Beleriand, The Shaping of Middle-earth, and The Lost Road. Edited by Christopher Tolkien, this hardback collection features double-sided dust jackets and reveals the drafts, poetry, maps, and commentary that shaped The Silmarillion. A must-have for serious Tolkien readers and collectors eager to trace Middle-earth's mythology from its earliest verses to its structural blueprint.

About the Books
This boxed set continues Christopher Tolkien's decades-long project of preserving and presenting his father's unpublished writings on Middle-earth. The Lays of Beleriand collects Tolkien's early alliterative poetry, including the tragic tale of Túrin and the romance of Beren and Lúthien, alongside commentary tracing how the Elder Days evolved—plus C.S. Lewis's 1929 critique of The Lay of Leithian, a fascinating window into the literary feedback that shaped later revisions. The Shaping of Middle-earth lays out the chronological and geographical scaffolding behind the legends, introducing the Ambarkanta, or "Shape of the World," alongside maps and diagrams charting the imagined universe before and after the downfall of Númenor. It also includes the original 1926 Silmarillion and the 1930 Quenta Noldorinwa, the only complete early forms of the mythology Tolkien ever finished. The Lost Road rounds out the set with Tolkien's pre-Lord of the Rings writings, featuring later drafts of the annals of Valinor and Beleriand and the unfinished time-travel story The Lost Road, linking Númenor to other ages and legends. Together, these three volumes form a rare, authoritative record of how Middle-earth grew from scattered myth into a fully realized fictional world.

Key Benefits

• Brand new hardback boxed set with striking double-sided dust jackets
• Collects three foundational texts behind The Silmarillion in one place
• Edited and annotated throughout by Christopher Tolkien
• Includes rare material such as C.S. Lewis's 1929 critique and the 1926 Silmarillion draft
• A perfect gift for devoted Tolkien fans, scholars, and collectors
• Ideal for holiday gifting, birthdays, or building out a serious fantasy library

Book-by-Book Guide
The Lays of Beleriand — Collects Tolkien's early alliterative verse on Túrin and on Beren and Lúthien, alongside C.S. Lewis's 1929 critique of The Lay of Leithian.
The Shaping of Middle-earth — Reveals the chronological and geographical framework of Middle-earth, including the Ambarkanta and the earliest complete Silmarillion drafts from 1926 and 1930.
The Lost Road — Presents late annals of Valinor and Beleriand alongside Tolkien's unfinished time-travel story linking Númenor to other ages.

About the Authors
J.R.R. Tolkien (1892–1973) was an English writer and philologist best known for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, works that established the modern fantasy genre. Christopher Tolkien (1924–2020), his third son, served as his literary executor and devoted over forty years to editing and publishing his father's unfinished manuscripts, including the twelve-volume History of Middle-earth series. His painstaking scholarship gave readers unprecedented insight into the creation of Middle-earth, from its earliest poetic fragments to its final mythic form.

Why You'll Love This Collection
This boxed set is a treasure for any Tolkien devotee, offering rare drafts, maps, and commentary rarely found elsewhere. Its handsome double-sided dust jackets make it a striking addition to any bookshelf and a memorable holiday or birthday gift for the fantasy reader who has everything.

Please Note: This is the UK edition with the ISBN as listed; the cover may vary slightly from the image shown.