The History of Middle-earth series was created by Christopher Tolkien to provide Tolkien fans and scholars with an in-depth look at his father’s creative process. In this 12-volume series, Christopher catalogs and comments upon various drafts, outlines, notes, correspondence, and other materials that all went into producing the finished (and often unfinished) stories of J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium.
Below is a list of the volumes in the History of Middle-earth series. I’ve also added a few honorable mentions that follow the spirit of the HoMe series, though they are technically not part of it.
Join me in an in-depth study of the History of Middle-earth! For the last several years, I have been working my way through the entire series as part of the free Mythgard Academy series. Dozens of people join each week to discuss the current volume with me, and all of the sessions are recorded for those who want to catch up later.
The Proto-History of Middle-earth
These volumes are not part of the History of Middle-earth series proper, but they are cut from the same cloth. If you are interested in Tolkien’s writing process, early story drafts, and thoughts about how to construct his legendarium, you definitely will want these books.
Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth
Before the History of Middle-earth, Christopher Tolkien published some of his father’s story fragments and essays (some of which later previously had been included in The Silmarillion). The success of Unfinished Tales led to the much more ambitious work of publishing the full History of Middle-earth.
The History of The Hobbit
Edited by John D. Rateliff
Christopher Tolkien intentionally did not include early drafts and documents relating to The Hobbit in his History of Middle-earth series. Rateliff’s presentation of these materials fills that gap.
The History of Middle-earth
Printed between 1983 and 1996, the History of Middle-earth is nothing less than an incredible feat of scholarship. Few, if any, other authors have received such a careful (and caring!) treatment in the presentation of their notes and papers to the public. If you want a deep dive into Tolkien’s careful construction of his legendarium, these are the books you need to read.
The Book of Lost Tales, Part I
The History of Middle-Earth, Vol. 1 – very early versions of The Silmarillion stories.
The Book of Lost Tales, Part II
The History of Middle-Earth, Vol. 2 – The rest of the early Silmarillion stories.
The Lays of Beleriand
The History of Middle-Earth, Vol. 3 – Poetic versions of the Luthien and Turin stories.
The Shaping of Middle-Earth
The History of Middle-Earth, Vol. 4 – Maps, annals, and the first “Silmarillion.”
The Lost Road, and Other Writings
The History of Middle-Earth, Vol. 5 – The Fall of Numenor, plus more Silmarillion revisions.
The Return of the Shadow
The History of Middle-Earth, Vol. 6 – Step-by-step look at the development of LOTR.
The Treason of Isengard
The History of Middle-Earth, Vol. 7 – Part two of the in-depth history of the LOTR.
The War of the Ring
The History of Middle-Earth, Vol. 8 – Part three of the history of the LOTR.
Sauron Defeated
The History of Middle-Earth, Vol. 9 – An unpublished epilogue to LOTR, and the Notion Club papers.
Morgoth’s Ring
The History of Middle-Earth, Vol. 10 – Tolkien returns to the First Age, post-LOTR.
The War of the Jewels
The History of Middle-Earth, Vol. 11 – Tolkien’s last work on the Silmarillion stories.
The Peoples of Middle-Earth
The History of Middle-Earth, Vol. 12 – Writings that became the LOTR appendices.
