Book of Lost Tales

ray gower

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The Book of Lost Tales Vol 1: History of Middle-earth
Edited by Christopher Tolkien
Published 1991
HarperCollins;
ISBN: 0261102222

The first of a two-book set that contains the early myths and legends which led to the writing of Tolkien's epic tale of war, The Silmarillion.
The Book of Lost Tales stands at the beginning of the entire conception of Middle-earth and Valinor for the Tales were the first form of the myths and legends that came to be called The Silmarillion.
Embedded in English legend and English association, they are set in the narrative frame of a great westward voyage over the Ocean by a mariner named Eriol to the lonely Isle where the Elves dwelt; from them he learned their true history, the Lost Tales of Elfinesse. In the Tales are found the earliest accounts of Gods and Elves, Dwarves, Balrogs and Orcs; of the Silmarils and the Two Trees of Valinor; of the geography and cosmology of Tolkien's invented world.


The Book of Lost Tales Vol 2: History of Middle-earth
Edited by Christopher Tolkien
Published 1992
HarperCollins;
ISBN: 0261102141

The second of a two-book set that contains the early myths and legends which led to the writing of Tolkien's epic tale of war, The Silmarillion.
This second part of The Book of Lost Tales includes the tale of Beren and Luthien, Turin and the Dragon, and the only full narratives of the Necklace of the Dwarves and the Fall of Gondolin, itself the finest and most exciting depiction of a battle that Tolkien ever wrote.
Each tale is followed by a commentary in the form of a short essay, together with texts of associated poems, and contains extensive information on names and vocabulary in the earliest Elvish languages.


There are numerous other versions of these tales published since about 1980.
 
I have never read these. So, my comment is in ignorance.

The cynic in me suggests it is an attempt of Tolkien junior to live off his forebears work, by essaying.
They certainly aren't novels in the direct sence.

Unless somebody can tell me different?
 

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