After putting it off for decades, I made myself a pledge last year to read The History of Middle-earth: 12 volumes, 12 months — a book a month. Was it worth it? In order to write this post, I find myself looking through each of the 12 volumes to refresh my memory, and locate the bits I marked with pencil. The standard format for a chapter in the histories is to present one of Tolkien’s tales, sometimes with a brief introduction, followed by endnotes, then a commentary by the editor (his son Christopher). There are occasional chronologies, maps and family trees. There’s the odd chapter on language or etymology, which were sometimes so technical that I skimmed over them. Some of Tolkien’s writing takes the form of poetry, and there are even one or two poems in Old English, which I didn't even attempt (but it’s nice to have them included for those that can read it).
Do you even know what you're Tolkien about?
Do you even know what you're Tolkien about?
Do you even know what you're Tolkien about?
After putting it off for decades, I made myself a pledge last year to read The History of Middle-earth: 12 volumes, 12 months — a book a month. Was it worth it? In order to write this post, I find myself looking through each of the 12 volumes to refresh my memory, and locate the bits I marked with pencil. The standard format for a chapter in the histories is to present one of Tolkien’s tales, sometimes with a brief introduction, followed by endnotes, then a commentary by the editor (his son Christopher). There are occasional chronologies, maps and family trees. There’s the odd chapter on language or etymology, which were sometimes so technical that I skimmed over them. Some of Tolkien’s writing takes the form of poetry, and there are even one or two poems in Old English, which I didn't even attempt (but it’s nice to have them included for those that can read it).