Unfinished Tales

6W J. R. R. Tolkien. Edited by Christopher Tolkien. New York: Harper Collin’s, 2000. First US Printing

Notes

Unfinished Tales of is a collection of J. R. R. Tolkien’s incomplete narratives and essays, edited and annotated by his son Christopher Tolkien, that expands the history and lore of Middle-earth beyond The Hobbitand The Lord of the Rings. The book is organized into four sections—First Age, Second Age, Third Age, and “The Rings of Power”—and includes material ranging from detailed stories like “The Children of Húrin” and “Aldarion and Erendis” to essays on topics such as the Istari (Wizards), the Palantíri, and the origins of Rohan. Rather than smoothing the texts into a single continuous narrative, Christopher Tolkien preserves their unfinished and sometimes conflicting forms, providing extensive commentary that explains their context and development. As a result, Unfinished Tales offers readers deeper insight into Tolkien’s creative process as well as a richer understanding of Middle-earth’s history, cultures, and characters.

Description

Black cloth bindings with silver lettering to spine. Original illustrative jacket. Streaking yellow stain on small section of fore edge. Fine condition.