<b>The extraordinary history of Middle-earth comes to life in this essential five-volume collection from the beloved author of <i>The Hobbit</i> and The Lord of the Rings.</b> <p><i>The History of Middle-earth</i> chronicles the creation of the mythology, languages, and histories that form the foundation for Tolkien's most beloved works--<i>The Hobbit, </i> The Lord of the Rings, and <i>The Silmarillion</i>. With painstaking documentation and analysis, Christopher Tolkien guides readers through his father's legendarium. <p><b>The Book of Lost Tales, Part One</b> & <b>Part Two</b> collect the early myths and legends that led to the writing of Tolkien's epic tale of war, <i>The Silmarillion</i>. <p><b>The Lays of Beleriand</b> includes two of Middle-earth's most crucial stories--that of Túrin Turambar, a hero living under a ruinous family curse, and Lúthien, an elven princess whose love for a mortal man is mirrored ages later in the romance of Arwen and Aragorn--and sheds light on the creation of Tolkien's mythology. <p><b>The Shaping of Middle-earth</b> traces the development of Middle-earth's earliest lore, from the sundering of the world to Beleriand and the events of <i>The Silmarillion</i>. <p><b>The Lost Road and Other Writings</b> chronicles the original destruction of Númenor and includes essays on the complex languages of Middle-earth along with an extensive account of Elvish vocabularies.