The Peoples of Middle-earth (1996) is the 12th and final volume of The History of Middle-earth, edited by Christopher Tolkien from the unpublished manuscripts of his father J. R. R. Tolkien. Some characters (including Anairë, the wife of Fingolfin) only appear here, as do a few other works that did not fit anywhere else.[1]
Each volume of The History of Middle-earth bears on the title page spread an inscription by Christopher Tolkien in Fëanorian letters (in Tengwar, an alphabet J. R. R. Tolkien devised for the High-Elves), that describes the contents of the book. The inscription in Volume XII reads: "This is the last volume of the work of Christopher Tolkien in which he has collected a great part of all that his father John Ronald Reuel Tolkien wrote of Middle-earth and Valinor. In this book is traced the devising of the history of the later ages in the Northwest of Middle-earth after the Great Battle and the Fall of Morgoth."
Part One: The Prologue and Appendices to The Lord of the Rings
This section focuses on covering the development of the Prologue and Appendices of The Lord of the Rings as well as the Akallabêth, along with themes and ideas associated with them. It is by far the most substantial section of the book, consisting of nearly 300 of the book's 480 text pages. It includes early drafts of the novel's Prologue and the appendices on languages, family trees, and calendars, as well as the history of the Akallabêth, "The Tale of Years" (chronologies of the Second and Third Ages), the heirs of Elendil, and the making of Appendix A.
Part Two: Late Writings
Materials mostly postdating 1969, consisting of the essays "Of Dwarves and Men", on the development of the languages of these races; "The Shibboleth of Fëanor", on the linguistics of the Elvish language of Quenya and giving etymologies for the names of the princes of the Noldor; "The Problem of Ros", exploring the suffix "-ros" found in certain names such as Elros and Maedhros; and some "last writings" addressing the subjects of the Istari (Wizards), Glorfindel of Gondolin and Rivendell, and Círdan the Shipwright.
Part Three: The Teachings of Pengoloð
A brief narrative going back to the Book of Lost Tales period, presenting information provided by Pengoloð of Gondolin to Ælfwine of England in regard to the sundering of the Elven tongues.
Part Four: Incomplete Tales
Two stories written in the 1950s.
The New Shadow
"The New Shadow" is a sequel to The Lord of the Rings, set a little over a century later in the time of King Eldarion, Aragorn's son. The editor mentions (p. 409) that Tolkien wrote three versions of the beginning of this story, but all were abandoned after a few pages.
Tal-Elmar
"Tal-Elmar" is set in the Second Age and tells of the Númenórean colonization of Middle-earth from the point of view of the Wild Men. The title character and protagonist, one of the ancient inhabitants of the lands of Gondor, is partly descended from Númenórean settlers.
References
^Whittingham, Elizabeth A. (2017). The Evolution of Tolkien's Mythology: A Study of the History of Middle-earth. McFarland. ISBN978-1-4766-1174-7.
: "An in-depth overview of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Peoples of Middle-earth, the final volume of The History of Middle-earth". 6 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine
January 24, 2023
peoples, middle, earth, fictional, races, middle, earth, middle, earth, peoples, 1996, 12th, final, volume, history, middle, earth, edited, christopher, tolkien, from, unpublished, manuscripts, father, tolkien, some, characters, including, anairë, wife, fingol. For the fictional races of Middle earth see Middle earth peoples The Peoples of Middle earth 1996 is the 12th and final volume of The History of Middle earth edited by Christopher Tolkien from the unpublished manuscripts of his father J R R Tolkien Some characters including Anaire the wife of Fingolfin only appear here as do a few other works that did not fit anywhere else 1 The Peoples of Middle earthEditorChristopher TolkienAuthorJ R R TolkienCountryUnited KingdomLanguageEnglishSeriesThe History of Middle earthSubjectTolkien s legendariumGenreHigh fantasyLiterary analysisPublisherGeorge Allen amp Unwin UK Publication date1996Media typePrint hardback and paperback Pages512 paperback ISBN978 0261103481Preceded byThe War of the Jewels Followed byRoverandom Contents 1 Contents 1 1 Part One The Prologue and Appendices to The Lord of the Rings 1 2 Part Two Late Writings 1 3 Part Three The Teachings of Pengolod 1 4 Part Four Incomplete Tales 1 4 1 The New Shadow 1 4 2 Tal Elmar 2 References 3 External linksContents EditEach volume of The History of Middle earth bears on the title page spread an inscription by Christopher Tolkien in Feanorian letters in Tengwar an alphabet J R R Tolkien devised for the High Elves that describes the contents of the book The inscription in Volume XII reads This is the last volume of the work of Christopher Tolkien in which he has collected a great part of all that his father John Ronald Reuel Tolkien wrote of Middle earth and Valinor In this book is traced the devising of the history of the later ages in the Northwest of Middle earth after the Great Battle and the Fall of Morgoth Part One The Prologue and Appendices to The Lord of the Rings Edit This section focuses on covering the development of the Prologue and Appendices of The Lord of the Rings as well as the Akallabeth along with themes and ideas associated with them It is by far the most substantial section of the book consisting of nearly 300 of the book s 480 text pages It includes early drafts of the novel s Prologue and the appendices on languages family trees and calendars as well as the history of the Akallabeth The Tale of Years chronologies of the Second and Third Ages the heirs of Elendil and the making of Appendix A Part Two Late Writings Edit Materials mostly postdating 1969 consisting of the essays Of Dwarves and Men on the development of the languages of these races The Shibboleth of Feanor on the linguistics of the Elvish language of Quenya and giving etymologies for the names of the princes of the Noldor The Problem of Ros exploring the suffix ros found in certain names such as Elros and Maedhros and some last writings addressing the subjects of the Istari Wizards Glorfindel of Gondolin and Rivendell and Cirdan the Shipwright Part Three The Teachings of Pengolod Edit A brief narrative going back to the Book of Lost Tales period presenting information provided by Pengolod of Gondolin to AElfwine of England in regard to the sundering of the Elven tongues Part Four Incomplete Tales Edit Two stories written in the 1950s The New Shadow Edit The New Shadow is a sequel to The Lord of the Rings set a little over a century later in the time of King Eldarion Aragorn s son The editor mentions p 409 that Tolkien wrote three versions of the beginning of this story but all were abandoned after a few pages Tal Elmar Edit Tal Elmar is set in the Second Age and tells of the Numenorean colonization of Middle earth from the point of view of the Wild Men The title character and protagonist one of the ancient inhabitants of the lands of Gondor is partly descended from Numenorean settlers References Edit Whittingham Elizabeth A 2017 The Evolution of Tolkien s Mythology A Study of the History of Middle earth McFarland ISBN 978 1 4766 1174 7 External links Edit Speculative fiction portaltolkien online com An in depth overview of J R R Tolkien s The Peoples of Middle earth the final volume of The History of Middle earth Archived 6 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Peoples of Middle earth amp oldid 1110636079, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
