Mannish Traditions

[Miguel]

He abandons, unfinished, most of the writing and rewriting he had done for his mythology

So, in a parallel universe this is complete and LOTR would be the unfinished work, awesome

 

[Olorgando]

So, in a parallel universe this is complete and LOTR would be the unfinished work, awesome

Hmm. If ceteris paribus applies to this parallel universe, then JRRT would be an author with a small-to-tiny following for a book that mystifies all but hardcore fans of mythology. On the plus side, there would be no PJ films (though I repeat droningly that it could have been worse, and taken as films in their own right, as films-only "Middle-earthers" are bound to do with no "canon" issues, at least the LoTR series are grund-breaking films, and the TH series are OK).

 

[Miguel]

for a book that mystifies all but hardcore fans of mythology

I'm ok with that.

 

[Olorgando]

for a book that mystifies all but hardcore fans of mythology

I'm ok with that.

Fine, but can you imagine a TTF (or the host of other JRRT site that sprang up around 2001 as "Fellowship" neared its premiere, of which Council of Elrond and Arwen-Undomiel seem to be among the faltering remnants) only dealing with the Silmarillion? Tom B. and winged Balrogs are two of the most-discussed items of Tolkieniana - both are from LoTR - and no Hobbits?!?

 

[Miguel]

and no Hobbits

Not necessarily.

 

[Olorgando]

Not necessarily.

Certainly not visible, participating in any of the action of the First and Second Ages. War with Morgoth in the FA, Númenor for the Edain and Sauron's spreading influence in Middle-earth, then the whole forging of the Rings of Power and the following wars to the end of the Second Age, including the destruction of Númenor and Sauron's first, temporary defeat. No place for Hobbits in all that.

 

[Miguel]

Certainly not visible, participating in any of the action of the First and Second Ages. War with Morgoth in the FA, Númenor for the Edain and Sauron's spreading influence in Middle-earth, then the whole forging of the Rings of Power and the following wars to the end of the Second Age, including the destruction of Númenor and Sauron's first, temporary defeat. No place for Hobbits in all that.

Didn't Hobbits reach the west at some point?. Was it 1st, 2nd or 3rd age?. No participation in combat didn't mean they weren't around as seen in LOTR.

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

TA 1050 - Perianath are first mentioned in records, with the coming of the Harfoots to Eriador.

1150 -- The Fallohides enter Eriador. The Stoors come over the Redhorn Pass and move to the Angle, or to Dunland.

c. 1300 - The Perianath migrate westward; many settle at Bree.

1601 - Many Perianath migrate from Bree, and are granted land beyond Baranduin by Argeleb II.

 

[Miguel]

TA 1050 - Perianath are first mentioned in records, with the coming of the Harfoots to Eriador.

Could Rhovanion be a possible dwelling before this, or were they still in Hildórien, Wild Wood near Orocarni?.

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

Yes to the first -- at least the western parts, as we know Stoors lived on the banks on Anduin as late as Smeagol's youth. Others must have lived further north, since we know they had contact with the northern predecessors of the Rohirrim.

As to the east, no idea.

 

[Olorgando]

Could Rhovanion be a possible dwelling before this, or were they still in Hildórien, Wild Wood near Orocarni?.

The Prologue in "Fellowship" states:
"It is clear, nonetheless, from [their most ancient legends, hardly looking back father than their wandering days], and from the evidence of their peculiar words and customs, that like many other folk Hobbits had in the distant past moved westward. Their earliest tales seem to glimpse a time when they dwelt in the upper vales of Anduin, between the eaves of Greenwood the Great and the Misty Mountains."
One might deduce, with all due caution, that "wandering days" could mean that they had a (semi-) nomadic way of life before crossing the Misty Mountains.

Then the description a little later about the the three different "breeds" of the Hobbits (echoing the three Houses each of the Eldar and of the Edain).

The Harfoots had much to do with the Dwarves in ancient times, and long lived in the foothills of the mountains. … They were the most normal and representative [and smallest] variety of Hobbit, and far the most numerous. They were the most inclined to settle in one place [least nomadic?], and longest preserved their ancestral habit of living in tunnels and holes.

The Stoors lingered long by the banks of the Great River Anduin, and were less shy of Men. ...

The Fallohides, the least numerous, were a northerly branch. They were more friendly with the Elves than the other Hobbits were, and had more skill in languages and song than in handicrafts; and of old the preferred hunting to tilling. ...

Dwellers in the foothills, dwellers on the river banks, northern hunters - stuff for a fanfic?

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

My impression was that "wandering days" referred to their time in Eriador, after crossing the Mountains. Much wandering during that period.

 

[Olorgando]

... Others must have lived further north, since we know they had contact with the northern predecessors of the Rohirrim. ...

Appendix B Tale of Years for the Third Age gave me a bit of a pause regarding this bit of "knowledge", also part of my "mental furniture" about Middle-earth to date.
There is almost nothing here about Men except for the Dúnedain and their enemies for almost the first 2000 years TA. The first mention of others is:
"1977 Frumgar leads the Éothéod into the North." (Due to the destruction of Angmar)
This is about 900 to 800 years after the Hobbits had crossed the Misty Mountains westward (and over 500 before Eorl leads the Éothéod south again, to become the Rohirrim).
So whatever contact there can have been between Hobbit ancestors and Rohirrim ancestors in Rhovanion must by the time of the War of the (One) Ring have been over 2000 years ago! The mind boggles; mine does, certainly. 😳😲😵🥴