Questions concerning this series of books

[typhoonikan]

I am considering what to read from this series, but some basic questions first...

Is this a series that I should read from volume 1 to 12? Can I read about things that only interest me or will i be lost jumping to parts I want to read. I have read The Silmarillion and have that background.

Also, are the inconsistencies very difficult? I know for example, the Teleri are referred to as the Solomsomethings and the Vanyar are referred to the Teleri in the Books of lost tales.


And I'm really wanting to learn more about the travels of Galadriel. Which volume concerns her and her journeys across middle-earth?

Which volume concern the stand of Angmar and the rule of the Witch-king?

 

[Confusticated]

You can just read what interests you. There is infornation on Galadriel's history in Unfinished Tales. This book isn't one of the HoME volumes, but it may as well be and is a perfect example of what the HoME books are like. But yes, the HoME is full of conflicting information. Not everything is a contradiction though, and I bet there is something it in for everyone but especially for readers interested in the first age.

Off hand I'm not sure about the Witch-king in HoME.

Anything else you're looking for just ask us, and welcome to the forum.

 

[Alcuin]

History of Middle-earth is not digestible as one long text; at least, it isn’t for me. There are sections that I have read many times; sections I have read a few times; sections I have read once; sections I have read once because I soldiered through; and I think there are even a few sections I finally just gave up and set aside for a really boring day.

Volumes 1–5 are taken from material Tolkien had before he wrote The Lord of the Rings. Volumes 6–9 are cover the writing of The Lord of the Rings; volume 9 also contains several versions of the Downfall of Númenor (Akallabêth); there is also an abridged version of volume 9 that does not contain this Númenor information. Finally 10–12 contain material written mostly after The Lord of the Rings.

To me, the most enjoyable material is in the last three volumes: Morgoth's Ring (vol 10), The War of the Jewels (vol 11), and The Peoples of Middle-earth (vol 12). Different folks, though, like different books, and within the books, different sets of material.

If you really like The Lord of the Rings, volumes 6–9 are fascinating: Aragorn started as a hobbit named “Trotter” with wooden feet (or at least wooden shoes), and Frodo began as a hobbit named “Bingo”. (“And Bingo was his name, oh! B – I – N – G – O,” … ahem.) While I have never managed to plow through all of “The Notion Club Papers” in Sauron Defeated, I have read all the versions of “Downfall of Númenor” several times, as well as the end of The Return of the King and the “Epilogue” that Tolkien dropped as its final chapter after many of his private readers disdained it; personally, I think the ending from the “Epilogue” is magnificent (and lightly edited):

All the children were in bed. Lights were glimmering still in Hobbiton and in many houses dotted about the darkening countryside. Sam stood at the door and looked away eastward. He drew Mistress Rose to him and held her close to his side. “March 25th”, he said. “This time seventeen years ago, Rose-wife, I did not think I should ever see thee again. But I kept on hoping.”

“And I never hoped at all, Sam,” she said, “not until that very day; and then suddenly I did. In the middle of the morning I began singing, and father said ‘Quiet lass, or the Ruffians will come,’ and I said ‘Let them come. Their time will soon be over. My Sam’s coming back.’ And you came back,” said Rose. “I did,” said Sam; “to the most belovedest place in all the world. I was torn in two then, lass, but now I am all whole. And all that I have, and all that I have had I still have.”

They went in and shut the door. But even as he did so Sam heard suddenly the sigh and murmur of the sea on the shores of Middle-earth.

Ah! Catharsis!

If it’s helpful, Ninni M. Pettersson has posted a list called “HoMe texts arranged according to content”. The list also has, in many cases, the year(s) in which the texts were written.

 

[Bucky]

What Alcuin said.....

Except, I have no interest in Trotter or Bingo & BOLT & The Lays of Beleriand are so archaic and out of accord with the later Silmarillion stuff. (although I plan on trying them again sometime).