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The History of Middle-Earth #8
The War of the Ring
The War of the Ring takes up the story of The Lord of the Rings with the Battle of Helm's Deep and the drowning of Isengard by the Ents, continues with the journey of Frodo, Sam and Gollum to the Pass of Cirith Ungol, describes the war in Gondor, and ends with the parley between Gandalf and the ambassador of the Dark Lord before the Black Gate of Mordor. Unforeseen developments that would become central to the narrative are seen at the moment of their emergence: the palantír bursting into fragments on the stairs of Orthanc, its nature as unknown to the author as to those who saw it fall, or the entry of Faramir into the story ('I am sure I did not invent him, I did not even want him, though I like him, but there he came walking through the woods of Ithilien').
The book is illustrated with the plans and drawings of the changing conceptions of Orthanc, Dunharrow, Minas Tirith and the tunnels of Shelob's Lair.
The book is illustrated with the plans and drawings of the changing conceptions of Orthanc, Dunharrow, Minas Tirith and the tunnels of Shelob's Lair.
496 pages, Paperback
First published April 23, 1990
About the author
J.R.R. Tolkien
550 books72.8k followersJohn Ronald Reuel Tolkien: writer, artist, scholar, linguist. Known to millions around the world as the author of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien spent most of his life teaching at the University of Oxford where he was a distinguished academic in the fields of Old and Middle English and Old Norse. His creativity, confined to his spare time, found its outlet in fantasy works, stories for children, poetry, illustration and invented languages and alphabets.
Tolkien’s most popular works, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are set in Middle-earth, an imagined world with strangely familiar settings inhabited by ancient and extraordinary peoples. Through this secondary world Tolkien writes perceptively of universal human concerns – love and loss, courage and betrayal, humility and pride – giving his books a wide and enduring appeal.
Tolkien was an accomplished amateur artist who painted for pleasure and relaxation. He excelled at landscapes and often drew inspiration from his own stories. He illustrated many scenes from The Silmarillion, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, sometimes drawing or painting as he was writing in order to visualize the imagined scene more clearly.
Tolkien was a professor at the Universities of Leeds and Oxford for almost forty years, teaching Old and Middle English, as well as Old Norse and Gothic. His illuminating lectures on works such as the Old English epic poem, Beowulf, illustrate his deep knowledge of ancient languages and at the same time provide new insights into peoples and legends from a remote past.
Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, in 1892 to English parents. He came to England aged three and was brought up in and around Birmingham. He graduated from the University of Oxford in 1915 and saw active service in France during the First World War before being invalided home. After the war he pursued an academic career teaching Old and Middle English. Alongside his professional work, he invented his own languages and began to create what he called a mythology for England; it was this ‘legendarium’ that he would work on throughout his life. But his literary work did not start and end with Middle-earth, he also wrote poetry, children’s stories and fairy tales for adults. He died in 1973 and is buried in Oxford where he spent most of his adult life.
Tolkien’s most popular works, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are set in Middle-earth, an imagined world with strangely familiar settings inhabited by ancient and extraordinary peoples. Through this secondary world Tolkien writes perceptively of universal human concerns – love and loss, courage and betrayal, humility and pride – giving his books a wide and enduring appeal.
Tolkien was an accomplished amateur artist who painted for pleasure and relaxation. He excelled at landscapes and often drew inspiration from his own stories. He illustrated many scenes from The Silmarillion, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, sometimes drawing or painting as he was writing in order to visualize the imagined scene more clearly.
Tolkien was a professor at the Universities of Leeds and Oxford for almost forty years, teaching Old and Middle English, as well as Old Norse and Gothic. His illuminating lectures on works such as the Old English epic poem, Beowulf, illustrate his deep knowledge of ancient languages and at the same time provide new insights into peoples and legends from a remote past.
Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, in 1892 to English parents. He came to England aged three and was brought up in and around Birmingham. He graduated from the University of Oxford in 1915 and saw active service in France during the First World War before being invalided home. After the war he pursued an academic career teaching Old and Middle English. Alongside his professional work, he invented his own languages and began to create what he called a mythology for England; it was this ‘legendarium’ that he would work on throughout his life. But his literary work did not start and end with Middle-earth, he also wrote poetry, children’s stories and fairy tales for adults. He died in 1973 and is buried in Oxford where he spent most of his adult life.
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January 27, 2020
The War of the Ring: The History of The Lord of the Rings, Part Three, J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien
The War of the Ring continues to the opening of the Black Gate. In the northwest, where Mordor's two ranges met, the pass of Cirith Gorgor led into the enclosed plain of Udûn. Sauron built the Black Gate of Mordor (the Morannon) across the pass, adding to earlier fortifications: the Towers of the Teeth, guard towers which had been built by Gondor to keep a watch on this entrance. The passage through the inner side of Udûn into the interior of Mordor was guarded by another gate, the Isenmouthe.
The War of the Ring takes up the story of The Lord of the Rings with the Battle of Helm's Deep and the drowning of Isengard by the Ents, continues with the journey of Frodo, Sam and Gollum to the Pass of Cirith Ungol, describes the war in Gondor, and ends with the parley between Gandalf and the ambassador of the Dark Lord before the Black Gate of Mordor. ...
The War of the Ring continues to the opening of the Black Gate. In the northwest, where Mordor's two ranges met, the pass of Cirith Gorgor led into the enclosed plain of Udûn. Sauron built the Black Gate of Mordor (the Morannon) across the pass, adding to earlier fortifications: the Towers of the Teeth, guard towers which had been built by Gondor to keep a watch on this entrance. The passage through the inner side of Udûn into the interior of Mordor was guarded by another gate, the Isenmouthe.
The War of the Ring takes up the story of The Lord of the Rings with the Battle of Helm's Deep and the drowning of Isengard by the Ents, continues with the journey of Frodo, Sam and Gollum to the Pass of Cirith Ungol, describes the war in Gondor, and ends with the parley between Gandalf and the ambassador of the Dark Lord before the Black Gate of Mordor. ...
July 24, 2018
_The War of the Ring_ continues Christopher Tolkien’s examination of his father’s development of _The Lord of the Rings_ covering the destruction of Isengard and the battle of Helm’s Deep, Frodo and Sam’s initial journey into Ithilien towards Mordor, the confrontation with Shelob, and the battle of the Pelennor Fields.
While there was a fair amount of revision and rewriting in many of these chapters (especially in details of chronology and geography which seem to have been of special concern to Tolkien) and a significant period of time between versions where no writing at all occurred, it is still surprising how much of the story still seems to have come to Tolkien initially in something very close to the published text. Some of the most significant deviations that are of special interest:
• In this volume we see the creation of Faramir, and tied with his rapid growth as an important character is the development of the history of Gondor into something much fuller than it had first been imagined.
• Shelob was actually initially conceived as Ungoliant, the demonic spider from the Silmarillion (not simply one of her children), reduced in size and power after ages of hunger.
• The continued growth of Aragorn in both personal prestige and narrative importance and the solidification of ‘the return of the king’ story arc (including the paths of the dead storyline and the nature of Dunharrow).
• Still little to no sign of Arwen Undomiel and the re-capitulation of the Beren-Luthien story (Tolkien actually initially paired up Aragorn and Eowyn, though that relationship appears to have been short-lived). When the figure of Elrond’s daughter does appear it is interesting that her initial name was Finduilas...another direct reference to an ‘almost’ union of men and elves in the Silmarilion, this time from the story of Turin Turambar. Perhaps Tolkien was thinking that Aragorn would make up for Turin’s mistake in not getting together with his Finduilas?
• While it seems that from the beginning she was destined to kill the Witch-King (or Wizard-King as he is called in these drafts) Tolkien goes through a fair bit of waffling in regards to the fate of Eowyn: death or life? Initially she was slated to die heroically along with Theoden in her famous attack.
• Shockingly (to me at least) Tolkien seems to have toyed with giving Aragorn a ring of power at one point.
I’m in this series for the long haul and it is definitely enjoyable, but, as always, I think these are really for the completists and hard-core fans.
While there was a fair amount of revision and rewriting in many of these chapters (especially in details of chronology and geography which seem to have been of special concern to Tolkien) and a significant period of time between versions where no writing at all occurred, it is still surprising how much of the story still seems to have come to Tolkien initially in something very close to the published text. Some of the most significant deviations that are of special interest:
• In this volume we see the creation of Faramir, and tied with his rapid growth as an important character is the development of the history of Gondor into something much fuller than it had first been imagined.
• Shelob was actually initially conceived as Ungoliant, the demonic spider from the Silmarillion (not simply one of her children), reduced in size and power after ages of hunger.
• The continued growth of Aragorn in both personal prestige and narrative importance and the solidification of ‘the return of the king’ story arc (including the paths of the dead storyline and the nature of Dunharrow).
• Still little to no sign of Arwen Undomiel and the re-capitulation of the Beren-Luthien story (Tolkien actually initially paired up Aragorn and Eowyn, though that relationship appears to have been short-lived). When the figure of Elrond’s daughter does appear it is interesting that her initial name was Finduilas...another direct reference to an ‘almost’ union of men and elves in the Silmarilion, this time from the story of Turin Turambar. Perhaps Tolkien was thinking that Aragorn would make up for Turin’s mistake in not getting together with his Finduilas?
• While it seems that from the beginning she was destined to kill the Witch-King (or Wizard-King as he is called in these drafts) Tolkien goes through a fair bit of waffling in regards to the fate of Eowyn: death or life? Initially she was slated to die heroically along with Theoden in her famous attack.
• Shockingly (to me at least) Tolkien seems to have toyed with giving Aragorn a ring of power at one point.
I’m in this series for the long haul and it is definitely enjoyable, but, as always, I think these are really for the completists and hard-core fans.
June 17, 2023
Jos jedna knjiga prepuna informacija, razlicitih tokova misli (u odnosu na zavrsni tekst) kao i neprestane potrage za najadekvatnijim nacinom da se nesto kaze ili da se radnja povede napred. Ako je Tolkin genije, a jeste, onda je njegov sin Kristofer definitivno jedan od najvrednijih ljudi ikada. Kreativni haos koji je on uspeo da uoblici, i nacin na koji je to uspeo, za veliki su naklon svih nas zaljubljenika u Srednju Zemlju.
June 18, 2018
Christopher Tolkien tends to focus on chronology and maps to a greater extent than I personally enjoy, but it is worth a read just for the behind-the-scenes tidbits of the journey of the creation of The Lord of the Rings. Its super cool to imagine how the story might have turned out if some of Tolkien's earlier ideas had made it to the published version. This particular volume of the HoME focused on the Battle of Helm's Deep, the development of Shelob, and Gandalf and Pippin in Minas Tirith.
August 28, 2021
This wasn't as entertaining as the previous installments of the HoLOTR, but it was still interesting. Tolkien's more or less figured out where he's going, if not quite how to get there, and so this is able to cover more territory, from the end of Book 3 through the end of Book 5. We see the evolution of the palantíri, we discover Faramir exists, and we even get an original glimpse of Denethor, who was way too reasonable and gentle with Faramir and freaked me out. LOL
What really interested me was that Tolkien really didn't alter his outlines much, even while the story expanded around each one. For instance, he already foresaw Frodo getting captured and taken to the tower, and Sam having trouble getting him out of the tower, he just didn't know that the tower wouldn't be over the Black Gates but in an entirely different location. And seeing the evolution of characters like Faramir and Imrahil - that poor guy didn't have a name for the longest time - was pretty fascinating to watch. There are of course still some interesting AU ideas here and there, but not nearly as many as in the first installment, or even the second, and I'm surprised that the name "Trotter" has stuck around this long. But overall, most of the dominoes are falling into place.
There's been very little indication so far that he knows what the hobbits will encounter when they return to the Shire, so I suspect that'll cover most of the next installment. All I really remember from that one is the Epilogue, which I'm eager to read again.
What really interested me was that Tolkien really didn't alter his outlines much, even while the story expanded around each one. For instance, he already foresaw Frodo getting captured and taken to the tower, and Sam having trouble getting him out of the tower, he just didn't know that the tower wouldn't be over the Black Gates but in an entirely different location. And seeing the evolution of characters like Faramir and Imrahil - that poor guy didn't have a name for the longest time - was pretty fascinating to watch. There are of course still some interesting AU ideas here and there, but not nearly as many as in the first installment, or even the second, and I'm surprised that the name "Trotter" has stuck around this long. But overall, most of the dominoes are falling into place.
There's been very little indication so far that he knows what the hobbits will encounter when they return to the Shire, so I suspect that'll cover most of the next installment. All I really remember from that one is the Epilogue, which I'm eager to read again.
March 31, 2021
La Guerra Del Anillo.- J.R.R. Tolkien
"Entonces no te apresures en dispensar la muerte en nombre de la justicia, temiendo por tu propia seguridad, pues ni el más sabio conoce el final de todos los caminos."
La Guerra Del Anillo es la tercer entrega de La Historia Del Señor De Los Anillos, una serie de libros editados por Christopher Tolkien en los que analiza distintos textos escritos por su padre mientras daba forma a la historia de El Señor De Los Anillos.
En el presente volúmen Christopher nos trae distintos bocetos, ilustraciones, notas y capítulos enteros (luego modificados en las versiones que terminaron publicadas) sobre la batalla del Abismo de Helm, la inundación de Isengard producto del accionar de los Ents, el viaje de Frodo, Sam y Gollum, el encuentro con Faramir, las escaleras de "Kirith Ungol" entre otras cosas….
De igual forma que los libros anteriores de esta serie, no van a encontrar historias nuevas ni nada parecido. Debido a la meticulosidad de John a la hora de plasmar en papel sus historias, las mismas estaban en constante evolución hasta su publicación (y después también, por ejemplo El Hobbit), y esto es lo que tenemos acá, la evolución de la historia de El Señor De Los Anillos ¿Interesante? Si, súper; pero para el fanático de la saga que va a descubrir infinidad de detalles de su obra favorita, para el resto de la gente… no tanto la verdad. A ellos les recomiendo leer la trilogía finalmente publicada, una obra maestra por dónde se la mire.
🤘🤘🤘
"Entonces no te apresures en dispensar la muerte en nombre de la justicia, temiendo por tu propia seguridad, pues ni el más sabio conoce el final de todos los caminos."
La Guerra Del Anillo es la tercer entrega de La Historia Del Señor De Los Anillos, una serie de libros editados por Christopher Tolkien en los que analiza distintos textos escritos por su padre mientras daba forma a la historia de El Señor De Los Anillos.
En el presente volúmen Christopher nos trae distintos bocetos, ilustraciones, notas y capítulos enteros (luego modificados en las versiones que terminaron publicadas) sobre la batalla del Abismo de Helm, la inundación de Isengard producto del accionar de los Ents, el viaje de Frodo, Sam y Gollum, el encuentro con Faramir, las escaleras de "Kirith Ungol" entre otras cosas….
De igual forma que los libros anteriores de esta serie, no van a encontrar historias nuevas ni nada parecido. Debido a la meticulosidad de John a la hora de plasmar en papel sus historias, las mismas estaban en constante evolución hasta su publicación (y después también, por ejemplo El Hobbit), y esto es lo que tenemos acá, la evolución de la historia de El Señor De Los Anillos ¿Interesante? Si, súper; pero para el fanático de la saga que va a descubrir infinidad de detalles de su obra favorita, para el resto de la gente… no tanto la verdad. A ellos les recomiendo leer la trilogía finalmente publicada, una obra maestra por dónde se la mire.
🤘🤘🤘
October 23, 2012
I loved reading this book. Its beauty is in its contribution to both the "History of Middle-Earth" and "The History of the Lord of the Rings" by providing background depth to the "Lord of the Rings" that we all love. It represents the novel from the "Flotsam and Jetsam" chapter to the parley with the 'Mouth of Sauron' scene.
We see Gandalf's evaluation of Saruman's skill as a wizard. Gandalf is shown to agonize over what the palentir was and we see his attempt to discover its place within the scheme of unfolding events.
More details are provided about the Treebeard, the Ents, and the Hurons.
Also, (again) even more details about the palentir, not just the one taken from Isengard, but all five. Three of the five are described as part of the action: first, at Isengard; second, we see details of the role another plays in triggering the downfall of Denethor, Steward of Gondor; and third, another is retrieved from the Paths of the Dead when Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli pass through during their mission to conquer the Corsairs, immobilizing them as a threat and to take action that increases their own military numbers.
This volume of "The History of the Lord of the Rings" is different from the first two volumes. In the earlier volumes we see J.R.R. Tolkien stumbling around attempting to discover what his story is. He changes from writing a sequel to a children's story to writing a dark heroic saga with links to his legendarium. He goes through many changes in his cast of characters and finalizing what their names will be.
By the time he has reached the material represented in "The War of the Ring" Tolkien knows what kind of story he is writing and who the characters are going to be. Instead of another presentation as seen in the first two volumes of "The History of Middle-Earth" we see details that were more developed than what remained in the final version of "The Lord of the Rings"
Also, the book describes the chronology of when Tolkien wrote different parts of the book.
"The War of the Ring" does a wonderful job of giving us more from the "Lord of the Rings". Sometimes those extra details answer background questions about what was in the novel. But, it always provides more depth to one's experience of that great novel and the world in which it is set.
We see Gandalf's evaluation of Saruman's skill as a wizard. Gandalf is shown to agonize over what the palentir was and we see his attempt to discover its place within the scheme of unfolding events.
More details are provided about the Treebeard, the Ents, and the Hurons.
Also, (again) even more details about the palentir, not just the one taken from Isengard, but all five. Three of the five are described as part of the action: first, at Isengard; second, we see details of the role another plays in triggering the downfall of Denethor, Steward of Gondor; and third, another is retrieved from the Paths of the Dead when Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli pass through during their mission to conquer the Corsairs, immobilizing them as a threat and to take action that increases their own military numbers.
This volume of "The History of the Lord of the Rings" is different from the first two volumes. In the earlier volumes we see J.R.R. Tolkien stumbling around attempting to discover what his story is. He changes from writing a sequel to a children's story to writing a dark heroic saga with links to his legendarium. He goes through many changes in his cast of characters and finalizing what their names will be.
By the time he has reached the material represented in "The War of the Ring" Tolkien knows what kind of story he is writing and who the characters are going to be. Instead of another presentation as seen in the first two volumes of "The History of Middle-Earth" we see details that were more developed than what remained in the final version of "The Lord of the Rings"
Also, the book describes the chronology of when Tolkien wrote different parts of the book.
"The War of the Ring" does a wonderful job of giving us more from the "Lord of the Rings". Sometimes those extra details answer background questions about what was in the novel. But, it always provides more depth to one's experience of that great novel and the world in which it is set.
Read
May 21, 2020@TolkienKC Last chance to discuss The War of the Ring as we finish reading Volume 8 of the History of Middle-earth and discuss it Friday, May 22nd, 6:30 p.m. Central via Zoom (see link below to connect).
Topic: The Next Meeting of the Tolkien Society KC - Virtual Edition!
Time: May 22, 2020 06:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
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Topic: The Next Meeting of the Tolkien Society KC - Virtual Edition!
Time: May 22, 2020 06:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 979 4444 8486
Password: hobbitry
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+19292056099,,97944448486# US (New York)
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Meeting ID: 979 4444 8486
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August 26, 2019
Eye-opening, insightful, fascinating.
July 5, 2019
I don't really get into the chronology or the maps, but development of the plot and characters is often fascinating. Théoden's afterlife under the green mound, flowing forth gold or silver, and warning his people's descendants in times of peril? Legolas -- rather than Gimli -- freaked out by the Paths of the Dead? Éowyn and Merry riding openly into battle, with Théoden's knowledge and consent? Denethor actually speaking to Faramir with some sensitivity? All the things that seem so inevitable, so right, in The Lord of the Rings were once up for grabs.
Sadly, I didn't see any real evolution in specific details I've been paying attention to recently (certain aspects of the Mouth of Sauron scene and Gollum's near-repentence). But that sure as heck isn't due to any lack of diligence of Christopher Tolkien's part! It might be that those details sprang fully-formed from Tolkien's pen, or they were overwritten, illegible, or otherwise lost. We may never know. But still, what we have is a gem.
Sadly, I didn't see any real evolution in specific details I've been paying attention to recently (certain aspects of the Mouth of Sauron scene and Gollum's near-repentence). But that sure as heck isn't due to any lack of diligence of Christopher Tolkien's part! It might be that those details sprang fully-formed from Tolkien's pen, or they were overwritten, illegible, or otherwise lost. We may never know. But still, what we have is a gem.
August 18, 2016
It will probably work out very differently from this plan when it really gets written, as the thing seems to write itself once I get going, as if the truth comes out only then, only imperfectly glimpsed in the preliminary sketch. (219)
This is what J.R.R. Tolkien wrote to his son, Christopher , as he was working out the ending to The Lord of the Rings. This volume, The War of the Ring (Part 3 of The History of The Lord of the Rings series, and Volume 8 of The History of Middle-Earth series), shows Tolkien's drafting of much of what became The Return of the King. And indeed, as Tolkien wrote in the letter, it really seems that the story is created through the process of writing it, though he devised a number of different outlines for the conclusion of the story. It is uncomfortable at times to see Tolkien confidently stating that he is only a handful of chapters from the end--knowing as we do now that there was so much yet to write, and so much revision yet to happen before the final form was reached. But what a journey, looking over Tolkien's shoulder as he wrestles the ever-emerging story into its full, final version.
This volume follows the format of Christopher Tolkien's previous entries in the History series, by now very familiar to anyone who has read even just the first two parts of the History of The Lord of the Rings. Many of the chapters in The War of the Ring, especially in the first half of the book, are very short, which psychologically helps me read the book faster. Christopher is still very concerned with the developing chronology of the story, and I continue to find it less interesting than he does. But in this volume most of his chronology commentary is removed to the end of each chapter, where it can be read, skimmed, or skipped. Here is an example of what those sections sound like:
It will be seen that in their dating these time-schemes proceed from the schemes A and B (see p. 118), in which the day passed by Frodo among the slag-mounds was February 4, and in which he came before the Morannon at dawn on February 5. (141)
To my reading, not the most enthralling parts of the book. But that's only personal preference and interest. The book as a whole, like the entire series, is incredible, and I enjoy it more with each volume I read.
My reviews of the other volumes in The History of the Lord of the Rings series:
October 29, 2019
Fantasic, as all the rest of the History of Middle Earth.
Maybe in comparison to the other books of the History of the Lord of the Rings this is a bit less intriguing, because at this point (this is the first draft of The Return of the King) Tolkien had figured out most of the story, so there aren’t the ‘alternate’ ideas I found in the previous two books. But it still gives us such interesting facts.
I loved learning about Eowyn’s evolution. Some of the first ideas about her were so different from how they evolved later. Denethor is also a character that evolved a lot.
The pattern is always the same: Tolkien wrote the plot in a logical way, but then he saw twists in the story as he had laid it out. Twists that added meaning and layers to the original plot.
I love watching this process happening in front of my eyes.
Maybe in comparison to the other books of the History of the Lord of the Rings this is a bit less intriguing, because at this point (this is the first draft of The Return of the King) Tolkien had figured out most of the story, so there aren’t the ‘alternate’ ideas I found in the previous two books. But it still gives us such interesting facts.
I loved learning about Eowyn’s evolution. Some of the first ideas about her were so different from how they evolved later. Denethor is also a character that evolved a lot.
The pattern is always the same: Tolkien wrote the plot in a logical way, but then he saw twists in the story as he had laid it out. Twists that added meaning and layers to the original plot.
I love watching this process happening in front of my eyes.
January 20, 2018
This covers the second half of Two Towers and the first half of Return. Less fumbling about for inspiration than the opening -- but some, with the future Orthanc stone first being just shattered when it hits the ground, or Faramir's name and relationship to Boromir -- and a lot of work with time tables. (This is what happens when you split up the party and four separate courses of events have to interweave.)
March 14, 2019
More Lord of the Rings history! Also a nice quicker read than the others, with lovely drawings and maps.
Read
November 18, 2022
χρόνος ανάγνωσης κριτικής: 58 δευτερόλεπτα
Αυτό το βιβλίο μου πήρε σχεδόν ένα μήνα να το διαβάσω.
Όπως και με τον προηγούμενο τόμο έτσι και αυτός αφηγείται
τη διαδικασία δημιουργίας του Άρχοντα των Δαχτυλιδιών,
από τις πρώτες ιδέες μέχρι τα τελευταία προσχέδια.
Οι τακτικές επαναλήψεις
και οι συχνές διακοπές της αφήγησης
από τον Κρίστοφερ για να κάνει σχολιασμό με κούραζαν αφάνταστα.
Και η αλήθεια είναι ότι άρχισα κάπως να βαριέμαι αυτή την εξονυχιστική
ανάλυση για το πόσες διακλαδώσεις έχει ο τάδε ποταμός, τη μέρα έπεφτε
πανσέληνος, και πόσες γενιές διαφορά έχει ο ένας βασιλιάς από τον άλλο
στο πρώτο και στο δεύτερο προσχέδιο.
Πήρα αυτό το βιβλίο δέκα μέρες πριν πάω Ιταλία. Αλλά να που ήρθε
η μέρα να πάω και έτσι αναγκάστηκα να το πάρω μαζί μου μιας και το είχα
ξεκινημένο και τα της Ιταλίας βιβλία χαμένα κάπου στη χώρα των κούριερ.
Αλλά να διαβάζεις μες την βαβούρα του αεροπλάνου αναλυτικές περιγραφές
του Τόλκιν του νεότερου δεν ήταν και το ιδανικότεροί, όπως και το να
διαβάζεις με φωτάκι στο δωμάτιο του ξενοδοχείου με 3 άλλα άτομα.
Έτσι αφού διάβασα 3-5 σελίδες Τόλκιν στη πατρίδα του Έκο πηρα τους δρόμους
της Ρώμης και βρήκα τις Εικόνες από Ιταλία του Ντίκενς,
βιβλίο που άρχισα αμέσως και διάβασα το μισό στην Ιταλία.
Μια βδομάδα μετά είχα πάρει φόρα και διάβασα άλλα πέντε βιβλία.
Έτσι είπα να δοκιμάσω και αυτό να δω πώς θα πήγαινε αυτή τη φορά.
Και η φόρα-κατηφόρα που απέκτησε με έκανε να διαβάσω το υπόλοιπο
μισό μέσα σε 2! μέρες.
Και πλέον ήμουν έτοιμος για τον 9ο και τελευταίο τόμο
που ασχολείται με την κειμενική ιστορία του Άρχοντα.
March 6, 2021
The name "Trotter" STILL hasn't died. When are you gonna give, Tolkien??
September 17, 2019
Well I spent the weekend catching up, and as I finished my section for today I realized there were just 5 pages left! Yes, I read them! And I can’t believe that I’ve finished another of Christopher Tolkien’s History of Middle Earth books...something I never thought I’d even attempt to read, but I’m still here and still loving the backstories, side tangents, and sometimes outright sleuthing to piece together the story behind the story we know.
November 17, 2022
Even though he has now gotten a better handle on the begging of the story, the middle and the end seems to keep changing and it’s nerdy and fascinating to follow closey. Christopher Tolkien does a marvellous job at guiding the reader through the strange and twisted roads.
April 24, 2019
Again, a must-read for Tolkien die-hards and with a couple of gems which I'll summarize. This book, more than any other, confirms my opinion that Tolkien perceived himself to be "discovering" the work as he went along. For the last time, do not trust critics who think that Tolkien had it all mapped out.
This book begins with Helm's Deep which was a battle that wasn't particularly meant to happen until it was written. Helm's Deep was not a fortress at first, but a kind of hollow geographical base. In the original meeting of Gandalf with Saruman at Isenguard, Wormtongue throws the palantir--and it smashes on the steps! In the next few drafts, it seems that Gandalf looks into the palantir (though this premise is short-lived).
When we return to Frodo and Sam, Tolkien envisages Gollum's betrayal, Shelob's lair (multiple spiders though at first) and Frodo's imprisonment in Cirith Ungol. The detour with Faramir is completely unexpected and his identity as Boromir's brother only enters as Tolkien goes along. When Shelob finally becomes a singular entity she is named Ungoliant right to the end. When Sam puts on the ring, Tolkien emphasizes that the ring gives Sam understanding of orc language, but no courage.
Tolkien began book five and knew that eventually it would reach the Black Gate, with Sauron's minions displaying Frodo's mithril coat. However, the rest of it was initially very hazy. He toys with a) making Aragorn and Eowyn fall in love and marry, and then b) with killing Eowyn in the battle. Intriguingly, he had intended to work in a feast at Edoras at which Gandalf and Aragorn and the hobbits are present, which is exactly what Peter Jackson decided to do to provide breathing space in the film version (Tolkien also pondered making Gandalf tell Frodo to go to Bree, having the elves from Lothlorien reinforce the heroes, and sending both Pippin and Merry to the final confrontation at the black gate). This is not to justify Jackson, but the fact that certain plot developments can both be thought of when working within similar constraints is very telling: don't assume that striking similarities between different authors are the result of imitation. Certain plots, it seems, do tend to favor certain events. The Ride of the Rohirrim and the Paths of the Dead sequences were also somewhat later developments, and Tolkien kept pondering a return of the ents to the battles before Gondor.
Merry's accompaniment with Theoden was initially to be open before Theoden forbade him. Denethor is initially a much more fatherly figure, taking back his statement that he wished Faramir had died and Boromir had lived and giving a more fatherly farewell. However, Tolkien also lightens the character a little bit: in some versions, Tolkien has Denethor commit suicide because he knows Isildur's heir is coming in the black ships. There is also at this point before the pyre is invented in which Denethor refuses to yield the throne to Aragorn. At one point, Gandalf is supposedly revealed to Sauron.
This would definitely be a book to skip though, since so much of it is boring.
This book begins with Helm's Deep which was a battle that wasn't particularly meant to happen until it was written. Helm's Deep was not a fortress at first, but a kind of hollow geographical base. In the original meeting of Gandalf with Saruman at Isenguard, Wormtongue throws the palantir--and it smashes on the steps! In the next few drafts, it seems that Gandalf looks into the palantir (though this premise is short-lived).
When we return to Frodo and Sam, Tolkien envisages Gollum's betrayal, Shelob's lair (multiple spiders though at first) and Frodo's imprisonment in Cirith Ungol. The detour with Faramir is completely unexpected and his identity as Boromir's brother only enters as Tolkien goes along. When Shelob finally becomes a singular entity she is named Ungoliant right to the end. When Sam puts on the ring, Tolkien emphasizes that the ring gives Sam understanding of orc language, but no courage.
Tolkien began book five and knew that eventually it would reach the Black Gate, with Sauron's minions displaying Frodo's mithril coat. However, the rest of it was initially very hazy. He toys with a) making Aragorn and Eowyn fall in love and marry, and then b) with killing Eowyn in the battle. Intriguingly, he had intended to work in a feast at Edoras at which Gandalf and Aragorn and the hobbits are present, which is exactly what Peter Jackson decided to do to provide breathing space in the film version (Tolkien also pondered making Gandalf tell Frodo to go to Bree, having the elves from Lothlorien reinforce the heroes, and sending both Pippin and Merry to the final confrontation at the black gate). This is not to justify Jackson, but the fact that certain plot developments can both be thought of when working within similar constraints is very telling: don't assume that striking similarities between different authors are the result of imitation. Certain plots, it seems, do tend to favor certain events. The Ride of the Rohirrim and the Paths of the Dead sequences were also somewhat later developments, and Tolkien kept pondering a return of the ents to the battles before Gondor.
Merry's accompaniment with Theoden was initially to be open before Theoden forbade him. Denethor is initially a much more fatherly figure, taking back his statement that he wished Faramir had died and Boromir had lived and giving a more fatherly farewell. However, Tolkien also lightens the character a little bit: in some versions, Tolkien has Denethor commit suicide because he knows Isildur's heir is coming in the black ships. There is also at this point before the pyre is invented in which Denethor refuses to yield the throne to Aragorn. At one point, Gandalf is supposedly revealed to Sauron.
This would definitely be a book to skip though, since so much of it is boring.
February 7, 2020
The War of the Ring follows the drafting of The Lord of the Rings from halfway through The Two Towers (with Frodo and Sam still stuck in the Emyn Muil, and Gandalf and his party on the way to Helm's Deep from Edoras) until halfway through The Return of the King. As the journey nears its end, or at least its final act, the scope for innovation (in the form of major variations from the text of The Lord of the Rings as eventually published) is less than in the previous two books in the series. There are some new developments that spring into life and alter the story in ways that Tolkien had not originally envisaged - the emergence of Faramir, Aragon's journey through the Paths of the Dead, the palantíri - and some pieces of the final picture that are yet to be achieved (no Arwen yet, although pre-traces of her part begin to show towards the end of the volume); but there are fewer alternative plots to be followed or imagined in The Return of the Shadow or The Treason of Isengard.
As a result, The War of the Ring is a less exciting read than its predecessors, although equally worthy as a piece of Tolkien scholarship in its minute tracking of details of plot, naming, geography, and chronology. Most of these can be skimmed by those more interested in the big picture, and their profusion can be a bit overwhelming at times overwhelming at times—and sometimes a little underwhelming as well! For anyone who is not an ultra-completist, the broad-brush sketches captured by Tolkien's notes, rather than his more detailed drafts, may be the most accessible and enjoyable parts of the book; until the last few chapters, perhaps, when the drafting of the Minas Tirith story is itself quite fascinating. Outside of these sections, the addition of a few editorial summaries (providing an overview of the location and role of Kirith Ungol, for example) would have been a welcome addition.
Having finished reading The War of the Ring just a few weeks after the death of Christopher Tolkien, it would be remiss of me not to take this opportunity of paying tribute to his indefatigable efforts toward securing, and his own huge contribution to, the legacy of his father's work. As in The Treason of Isengard, Christopher appears here and there in this book as a participant in the creation of The Lord of the Rings; and we also catch a glimpse of him as a writer of a work-in-progress himself, as he acknowledges and clarifies lacunae or errors that had emerged since the publication of earlier volumes in the series. I wonder if any future Tolkien scholar will write "The History of The History of Middle-earth" some day?
As a result, The War of the Ring is a less exciting read than its predecessors, although equally worthy as a piece of Tolkien scholarship in its minute tracking of details of plot, naming, geography, and chronology. Most of these can be skimmed by those more interested in the big picture, and their profusion can be a bit overwhelming at times overwhelming at times—and sometimes a little underwhelming as well! For anyone who is not an ultra-completist, the broad-brush sketches captured by Tolkien's notes, rather than his more detailed drafts, may be the most accessible and enjoyable parts of the book; until the last few chapters, perhaps, when the drafting of the Minas Tirith story is itself quite fascinating. Outside of these sections, the addition of a few editorial summaries (providing an overview of the location and role of Kirith Ungol, for example) would have been a welcome addition.
Having finished reading The War of the Ring just a few weeks after the death of Christopher Tolkien, it would be remiss of me not to take this opportunity of paying tribute to his indefatigable efforts toward securing, and his own huge contribution to, the legacy of his father's work. As in The Treason of Isengard, Christopher appears here and there in this book as a participant in the creation of The Lord of the Rings; and we also catch a glimpse of him as a writer of a work-in-progress himself, as he acknowledges and clarifies lacunae or errors that had emerged since the publication of earlier volumes in the series. I wonder if any future Tolkien scholar will write "The History of The History of Middle-earth" some day?
August 20, 2024
I am reading these out of order because Treason of Isengard hadn't arrived at my library just yet, but I don't regret reading this one. Because this one has the genesis of my man Faramir, and it was wonderful to read! Christopher Tolkien does a great job of compiling all the drafts and I keep learning more little facts about the writing of LOTR that will be stored in my head for use at random moments.
And let's take a quick second to look at the quote - draft that got rejected - that sent me into a tailspin and I am still not okay over. Like we could have had it all with Denethor and Faramir not having an awful relationship. Faramir asks his classic line of whether Denethor wishes his and Boromir's places had been exchanged. Denethor's reply?! (pg 332)
EXCUSE ME
This is not the space for a Gondor family rant though so go read this one.
And let's take a quick second to look at the quote - draft that got rejected - that sent me into a tailspin and I am still not okay over. Like we could have had it all with Denethor and Faramir not having an awful relationship. Faramir asks his classic line of whether Denethor wishes his and Boromir's places had been exchanged. Denethor's reply?! (pg 332)
"Yes, I wish that indeed," said Denethor. "Or no." Amd then he shook his head, and rising swiftly he laid his hand upon his son's bowed head. "Do not judge me harshly, my son," he said quietly, "or believe me more harsh than I am. I could wish that Boromir had been at Henneth Annun when this thing came there, only if I were sure of one thing."
"Sure of what, my father?"
"That he was as strong in heart and selfless as you, my son. That taking this thing he would have brought it here and surrendered it, and not fallen swiftly under its thraldom. For, Faramir- and you too, Mithrandir, amid all your wide webs and policies - there is a third way, that is neither the folly of wizards nor the lust of warriors..."
EXCUSE ME
This is not the space for a Gondor family rant though so go read this one.
June 27, 2020
Due to gaps in the collection possessed by the local library going up, this, the eighth volume of The History of Middle-earth was more like the fourth one I read--and, until this current reread, I had never read the LotR volumes of this series together in sequential order.
Doing so makes more clear the structure of Tolkien's writing of The Lord of the Rings, which proceeded in great waves, one rolling after the other: the various waves of building intensity (oft returning to the beginning of the tale) that finally brought the story to Balin's tomb, then what I think of as the "Aragorn" wave, bringing the tale to Gandalf and Pippin's ride to Gondor, with dangling threads everywhere for what was to come, then a wave each each for Book IV and Book V--and here ended The War of the Ring, with the armies of Gondor and Rohan marching on the Black Gate.
This is the volume where the development of Rohan and Gondor happens--each existed before and were seeds of storyline waiting to blossom. Technically, we get to meet Éomer's éored and arrive in Meduseld in the previous volume, but just as we had already met Boromir and heard much of "Ondor," the tale of the land and thus of its inhabitants happens in these pages--and nowhere moreso than in the drafts that developed the conversations of Frodo and Sam with Faramir in Ithilien.
Doing so makes more clear the structure of Tolkien's writing of The Lord of the Rings, which proceeded in great waves, one rolling after the other: the various waves of building intensity (oft returning to the beginning of the tale) that finally brought the story to Balin's tomb, then what I think of as the "Aragorn" wave, bringing the tale to Gandalf and Pippin's ride to Gondor, with dangling threads everywhere for what was to come, then a wave each each for Book IV and Book V--and here ended The War of the Ring, with the armies of Gondor and Rohan marching on the Black Gate.
This is the volume where the development of Rohan and Gondor happens--each existed before and were seeds of storyline waiting to blossom. Technically, we get to meet Éomer's éored and arrive in Meduseld in the previous volume, but just as we had already met Boromir and heard much of "Ondor," the tale of the land and thus of its inhabitants happens in these pages--and nowhere moreso than in the drafts that developed the conversations of Frodo and Sam with Faramir in Ithilien.
May 1, 2019
War Of The Ring is book 8 of the History Of Middle Earth series, note that this series is for Tolkien enthusiasts only and not meant for the casual fan. This is the third volume documenting the creation of The Lord of the Rings. When we last left off, Merry and Pippin had met Treebeard and Gandalf and Aragorn had met Théoden.
This installment takes us from Helms Deep through the Fall of Saruman, to the Siege of Minas Tirith and finally the Black Gate; so most of the Two Towers and the first half of the Return of the King.
At this stage Tolkien knew where he wanted the story to go and there is no longer the frequent revisions of the early part of the story. There were still some details to work out though: what exactly was the Palantir of Orthanc, who was Faramir, and how should Aragorn's journey through the Paths of the Dead be presented, as a flashback and if so when? In contrast much of Frodo and Sam's journey had long been foreseen. In fact much of the difficulty here was keeping Frodo's journey in sync with the other plots.
This installment takes us from Helms Deep through the Fall of Saruman, to the Siege of Minas Tirith and finally the Black Gate; so most of the Two Towers and the first half of the Return of the King.
At this stage Tolkien knew where he wanted the story to go and there is no longer the frequent revisions of the early part of the story. There were still some details to work out though: what exactly was the Palantir of Orthanc, who was Faramir, and how should Aragorn's journey through the Paths of the Dead be presented, as a flashback and if so when? In contrast much of Frodo and Sam's journey had long been foreseen. In fact much of the difficulty here was keeping Frodo's journey in sync with the other plots.
July 14, 2019
It’s been over a year and a half since I last read a book in the History of Middle Earth (HoME) series. So it was time to pick up the next in the series, the eighth. “The War of the Ring” is also the third in the subseries of the History of the Lord of the Rings. This book was a tougher start than most of the other books in this series that I’ve read. I had a lot of trouble getting back into the swing of the purpose and format of the book. It was probably because this book begins with the conclusion of the battle of Helm’s Deep and it had been so long since I had read the beginning of it. Nonetheless, I eventually got into the rhythm of the book and settled down into a week and half of heavy but informative and interesting reading.
Come visit my blog for the full review…
https://itstartedwiththehugos.blogspo...
Come visit my blog for the full review…
https://itstartedwiththehugos.blogspo...
July 7, 2018
I have been continuing with the Mythgard Academy's web seminar journey through the History of Middle Earth series. It is pretty fascinating to walk through Tolkien's notes and drafts via the commentary of his son Christopher. Not everyone who likes the Lord of the Rings really wants to compare early drafts, but it is fun to see when and where Tolkien came up with certain ideas, such as the Path of the Dead.
July 10, 2017
"The War of the Ring" was a very engrossing and detailed account of the final battles in "Return of the King", it was very cool to see the many rough drafts the eventually lead to the final form that appeared in the J.R.R. Tolkien classic. Characters who faded in the background of "Return of the King" are given slightly bigger parts in the story in "The War of the Ring".
November 10, 2019
I don't know what you want me to say about this one that I haven't said about the others! It's simply delightful.
If you haven't read the others: what are you doing here for? Go back and start from the beginning!
Also, I do vaguely remember some writing about a full moon on feb 6th, but that didn't seem important or much mentioned at all, so I'm gonna skip that here...
If you haven't read the others: what are you doing here for? Go back and start from the beginning!
Also, I do vaguely remember some writing about a full moon on feb 6th, but that didn't seem important or much mentioned at all, so I'm gonna skip that here...
March 19, 2022
I am embarrassingly happy to be done with this. It has less to do with "what might have been" (although there is some of that), but more to do with very minute chronological issues that Tolkien constantly had to tweak in order for all the characters' actions to line up. I'm sure it wasn't fun for Tolkien, and it wasn't that fun for me. Got learned, tho.
December 22, 2022
I'll be honest, this book wasn't as interesting to me as some of the others. It took me a while to get through it (to be fair, I had a lot of other stuff going on) but I wasn't driven to sit down and read this.
October 5, 2018
A fascinating look at the development of the Lord of the Rings manuscripts and maps.
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