In The History of The Lord of the Rings, the author's son and literary heir, Christopher Tolkien, examines the creation of that epic from its inception to its finished form. At the core of these books are many early drafts and unpublished passages by Tolkien, which add greatly to a thorough understanding of his masterpiece. Combining his father's unique vision with his own privileged insight and editorial commentary, Christopher Tolkien's The History of The Lord of the Rings is a set of four volumes that no fan can afford to overlook.

The Book of Lost Tales 1 by J.R.R. Tolkien Our Price: $7.99 The Book of Lost Tales was the first major work of imagination by J.R.R. Tolkien. It stands at the beginning of the entire conception of Middle-earth and Valinor, for these tales were the first form of the myths and legends that came to be called The Silmarillion. In these Tales are found the earliest accounts and original ideas of Gods and Elves, Dwarves, Balrogs, Orcs, and of the geography and cosmology of Middle-earth. This edition is also available in a trade paperback edition.

The Book of Lost Tales 2 by J.R.R. Tolkien Our Price: $7.99 Volume Two contains the Tale of Tinuviel, the story of Turambar, The Fall of Gondolin, and the story of the Necklace of the Dwarves. Like Volume One, each tale is followed by a short essay by Christopher Tolkien, the author's son and literary executor. This is also available in a trade paperback edition.

The Lays of Beleriand (History of Middle-earth #3) by J.R.R. Tolkien Our Price: $7.99 To the delight of J.R.R. Tolkien's legions of readers, Christopher Tolkien continues to mine his father's wealth of previously unpublished material. The Lays of Beleriand presents a crucial early prelude to the classic Lord of the Rings saga.

The Shaping of Middle-earth (History of Middle-earth #4) by J.R.R. Tolkien Our Price: $28.45 This is the fourth volume of The History of Middle-earth, edited by Christopher Tolkien, the first two comprising The Book of Lost Tales Parts One and Two and the third The Lays of Beleriand. Volume Four is also available in a mass market edition.

The Lost Road and Other Writings (History of Middle-earth #5) by J.R.R. Tolkien Our Price: $7.99 In this fifth volume of The History of Middle-earth, Christopher Tolkien brings Middle-earth to its status at the writing of The Lord of the Rings. Entertaining and informative, The Lost Road and Other Writings offers fresh insights into the evolution of one of the world's most enduring fantasies.

The Return of the Shadow History of the Lord of the Rings #1 (History of Middle-earth #6) by J.R.R. Tolkien Our Price: $28.45 In this sixth volume of The History of Middle-earth the story reaches The Lord of the Rings. In The Return of the Shadow (an abandoned title for the first volume) Christopher Tolkien describes, with full citation of the earliest notes, outline plans, and narrative drafts, the intricate evolution of The Fellowship of the Ring. Volume Six is also available as a trade paperback.

The Treason of Isengard History of the Lord of the Rings #2 (History of Middle-earth #7) by J.R.R. Tolkien Our Price: $28.45 The Treason of Isengard is the seventh volume in Christopher Tolkien's History of Middle-earth and the second in his account of the evolution of The Lord of the Rings. It is also available as a trade paperback.

The War of the Ring History of the Lord of the Rings #3 (History of Middle-earth #8) by J.R.R. Tolkien Our Price: $28.50 In The War of the Ring, Christopher Tolkien takes up the story of the writing of The Lord of the Rings with the Battle of Helm's Deep and the drowning of Isengard by the Ents. This eighth volume on the development of Tolkien's Middle-earth brings to conclusion the three books that deal specifically with the creation of The Lord of the Rings. Volume Eight is also available as a trade paperback.

The End of the Third Age (History of the Lord of the Rings #4) by J.R.R. Tolkien Our Price: $11.40 The End of the Third Age is comprised of the first section of the hardcover volume published as Sauron Defeated, the ninth volume of The History of Middle-earth. It completes Christopher Tolkien's account of the creation of The Lord of the Rings begun in the earlier volumes, The Return of the Shadow, The Treason of Isengard, and The War of the Ring. The book is illustrated with changing conceptions of Kirith Ungol and Mount Doom, as well as previously unpublished drawings of Orthanc and Dunharrow.

Sauron Defeated: The End of the Third Age History of the Lord of the Rings #4 (History of Middle-earth #9) by J.R.R. Tolkien Our Price: $28.50 This ninth volume in the history of Middle-earth brings to a conclusion the four books dealing The Lord of the Rings. It includes a never-before-published alternate ending to the masterpiece, Tolkien's long-lost time travel story, a description of the fall of Numenor, and the debut of Adunaic -- Tolkien's 15th invented language. Illustrated with plans and drawings.

Morgoth's Ring The Later Silmarillion #1 (History of Middle-earth #10) by J.R.R. Tolkien Our Price: $24.00 The tenth volume of Christopher Tolkien's acclaimed History of Middle-earth series focuses on J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion. In the first of two companion volumes, the myths and legends of the Elder Days are described as they were The Lord of the Rings was completed.

The War of the Jewels The Later Silmarillion #2 (History of Middle-earth #11) by J.R.R. Tolkien Our Price: $24.00 In The War of the Jewels, the story returns to Middle-earth and the ruinous conflict of the High Elves and the Men who were their allies with the power of the Dark Lord. With the publication in this book of all of J.R.R. Tolkien's later narrative writing concerned with the last centuries of the First Age, the long history of The Silmarillion, from its beginnings in The Book of Lost Tales, is completed.

The Peoples of Middle-Earth (History of Middle-earth #12) by J.R.R. Tolkien Our Price: $24.00 In this book you'll find the chronology of Middle-earth's later ages, the Hobbit genealogies, and the Western language or Common Speech.