THE HISTORY OF MIDDLE-EARTH :

THE SHAPING OF MIDDLE-EARTH
First published in 1986, by George Allen & Unwin. Volume 4 of The History of Middle-earth series.

"Illustrates the development, depth and richness of J.R.R. Tolkien's personal mythology."

~ Vector

In this fourth volume of "The History of Middle-earth," the shaping of the chronological and geographical structure of the legends of Middle-earth and Valinor is spread before us.

We are introduced to the hitherto unknown "Ambarkanta" or 'Shape of the World,' the only account ever given of the nature of the imagined Universe, accompanied by maps and diagrams of the world before and after the cataclysms of The War of the Gods and the Downfall of Númenor. The first map of Beleriand is also reproduced and discussed.

In "The Annals of Valinor" and "The Annals of Beleriand" we are shown how the chronology of the First Age was moulded; and the tale is told of Ælfwine, the Englishman who voyaged into the True West and came to Tol Eressëa, the Lonely Isle, where he learned the ancient history of Elves and Men.

Also included are the original 'Silmarillion' of 1926, and the "Quenta Noldorinwa" of 1930—the only version of the myths and legends of the First Age that Tolkien completed to their end.

PAGE NOTES:

• Learn more about "The Shaping of Middle-earth," by reading the 'Wikipedia Entry' for this book.