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{{book
{{book
| title=The Complete Guide to Middle-earth
| title=The Complete Guide to Middle-earth
| image=[[Image:The Complete Guide to Middle-earth.jpg|225px]]
| image=[[Image:Complete Guide us 1974.jpeg|275px]]
| author=[[Robert Foster]]
| author=[[Robert Foster]]
| publisher=[[Random House|Random House Publishing Group]]
| illustrator=[[Ted Nasmith]] (2003 UK edition)
| date=Originally [[1971]]
| publisher=[[Ballantine Books]] (US)<br>[[George Allen & Unwin]] (UK)
| format=Hardcover
| date=March [[1978]] (US)<br>1978 (UK)
| pages=569
| format=Hardcover; paperback; deluxe edition
| isbn=0345465296
| pages=298
}}'''''The Complete Guide to Middle-earth''''' is a reference book for the fictional universe of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s [[Middle-earth]], compiled and edited by [[Robert Foster]].
| isbn=034524138X
}}
'''''The Complete Guide to Middle-earth''''' is a reference book for [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s fictional universe [[Middle-earth]], compiled and edited by [[Robert Foster]].


Originally published in [[1971]] as ''A Guide to Middle-Earth'', before the publication of ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', the first edition contained only information from ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' and ''[[The Hobbit]]''. In [[1978]], a new edition (''The Complete Guide to Middle-earth: from The Hobbit to The Silmarillion''), containing material from ''The Silmarillion'', was published.  
It was first published in [[1971]] under the title '''''A Guide to Middle-earth'''''. In [[1978]] it was revised and enlarged, changing its title to the one currently using. It received a third edition in [[2001]].


A revised edition was published in [[2001]], as one of many reprints intended to ride the commercial wave of [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]].
The book is widely recognized as an excellent reference book on Middle-earth.<ref>{{CG|Pr}}, p. xii</ref><ref>[[Michael Drout]], ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia]]''</ref> [[Christopher Tolkien]] has commended it himself as an "admirable work of reference".<ref>{{UT|Intro}}</ref>


==Editions==
A new edition was released on [[1 September|1st September]] [[2022]], by [[HarperCollins]].


Detailed information on the early editions.<ref>[[Åke Bertenstam|Bertenstam, Åke]]: ''[http://www.forodrim.org/bibliography/tolklist.html A Chronological Bibliography of Books About Tolkien]''</ref>
==Book structure==
A standard entry in the book consists of: a name; the language it belongs to; its translation from [[Elvish]], [[Adûnaic]], and sometimes [[Old English]] when known; and known dates when a character flourished; the first lines of the entry usually give a general definition of the topic, like race, heritage, and role (in case of a character), leading to a chronological description or biography. The last paragraphs of the entry give a physical description or characteristics of the character with some speculations; the final paragraph gives the topic's alternative names, epithets, translation to other languages, and/or redirects to other entries.


* [[1971]]: ''A Guide to Middle-Earth''. Baltimore, Md.: The Mirage Press. xiii, 284, [7] pp., geneal. tables. 22.5 × 14.5 cm. (The Voyager Series, V-105) (The Anthem Series, A-1009)
The ''Guide'' is generally inclusive and there is no limitation to the topics it covers; it includes even obscure and little explored topics, like individual entries on each single name of the [[Tengwar]]. Many entries are simply epithets and only redirect to the names of their main entries.
* [[1974]]: Paperback edition: New York: Ballantine Books. 283 pp., geneal. tables. 18 cm. ISBN 0-345-24138-X (pbk)
* [[1978]]: ''The Complete Guide to Middle-earth: from The Hobbit to The Silmarillion''. New York: Ballantine Books. xvi, 575 pp., geneal. tables. 18 cm. ISBN 0-345-27975-1 (pbk)
* [[1978]]: British edition: London: Unwin Paperbacks. xii, [i], 441, [8] pp. 19.5 × 13 cm. ISBN 0-04-803001-5 (pbk): £1.50; ISBN 0-04-803002-3 (hbk)
==Structure==
A typical entry of the encyclopedia contains: a name; the language it belongs to; its translation from [[Elvish]], [[Adûnaic]] and sometimes [[Old English]] when known; and known dates when a character flourished; the first lines of the entry usually give a general definition of the topic, like race, heritage and role (in case of a character), leading to a chronological description or biography. The last paragraphs of the entry give a physical description or characteristics of the character with some speculations; the final paragraph gives the topic's alternative names, epithets, translation to other languages, and/or redirects to other entries.


The Guide is generally inclusive and there is no limitation to the topics it covers; it includes even obscure and little explored topics, like individual entries on each single [[Tengwar]] names. Many entries are simply epithets and only redirect to the names of their main entries.
The book begins with an introduction, an abbreviations legend, and concludes with two appendices. The first appendix is a [[Timeline/First Age|chronology]] of the [[First Age]] in order to complement the [[Appendix B|Tale of Years]], and contains a prologue on Foster's reasoning and calculations based solely on descriptions in the ''Silmarillion''; the second appendix is genealogical trees of the [[Edain#The Three Houses|Three Houses of the Edain]], the [[Kings of Númenor]], the [[Kings of Gondor]] and [[Kings of Arnor|Arnor]], the [[House of Húrin]], and the [[Kings of Rohan]].


The book begins with an introduction, an abbreviations legend and concludes with two appendices. The first appendix is a [[Timeline/First Age|chronology]] of the [[First Age]] in order to complement the [[Appendix B|Tale of Years]], and contains a prologue on Foster's reasoning and calculations based solely on descriptions in the ''Silmarillion''; the second appendix is genealogical trees of the [[Edain#The Three Houses|Three Houses of the Edain]], the [[Kings of Númenor]], the [[Kings of Gondor]] and [[Kings of Arnor|Arnor]], the [[House of Húrin]] and the [[Kings of Rohan]].
==Differences between editions==
=====US editions<ref>Edgecomb, Kevin P. (2022) "A Publication History of The Complete Guide to Middle-earth by Robert Foster," Journal of Tolkien Research: Vol. 14: Iss. 1, Article 2. Available at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol14/iss1/2 (Accessed 19 July 2022)</ref>=====
'''1971''' — ''A Guide to Middle-earth'', published by Mirage Press. This edition contained only information from ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' and ''[[The Hobbit]]'', as it was before the publication of ''[[The Silmarillion]]''. It was also included in a four-volume boxed set: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: the Man and His Myth]]''.
 
'''1978''' — ''The Complete Guide to Middle-earth'', published by [[Ballantine Books]]. This is the revised and expanded edition, incorporating content from ''The Silmarillion'' (1977). The book length is almost doubled, extending the number of entries from 2276 to 3257. However, as it does not include information on post-''Silmarillion'' material (i.e. ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'' and ''[[The History of Middle-earth]]''), this edition contains some statements contradicted by later publications.
 
'''2001''' — further revised, including "further entries and information based on [[Christopher Tolkien]]'s efforts".<ref>Nelson, Charles W. Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts, vol. 13, no. 2 (50), 2002, pp. 190–92. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/43308582. (Accessed 19 July 2022)</ref> Published by Ballantine Books.
 
=====UK editions=====
'''1978 & 1993''' — first by [[George Allen & Unwin]] then by [[HarperCollins]], the text is based on the 1978 Ballantine edition. By the time of 1993 the editions of Tolkien’s works to which the references are keyed were long out of print.
 
'''2003''' — by HarperCollins. This edition is richly illustrated by [[Ted Nasmith]], with front cover and 50 interior illustrations. It includes an 8-page commentary on the illustrations, written by the artist. It has been well-received for its illustrations, paper, and binding. However, as pointed out by [[Christina Scull]],<ref>{{HM|A}}Hammond, Wayne G.; Scull, Christina, ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: A Descriptive Bibliography]]''</ref> the book suffers from several issues: the relegation of all references formerly in the entries to an appendix, and an unfortunate inconsistency in italicization, which makes cross-referencing difficult.
 
'''2022''' — a new edition was released in [[1 September]], [[2022]], by HarperCollins. This edition includes several more of Ted Nasmith's illustrations, and has received some small revisions. It also comes with a deluxe version.<ref> {{webcite|articleurl=https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-complete-guide-to-middle-earth/robert-foster/ted-nasmith/9780008537814|articlename=The Complete Guide to Middle-earth: The Definitive Guide to the World of J.R.R. Tolkien (Hardback)|website=[https://www.waterstones.com/christmas Waterstones]|accessed=1-September-2022|accessed=16-October-2022}}</ref>


==Accuracy==
==Accuracy==
No edition of the book includes info on post-''Silmarillion'' material (i.e. ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'' and ''[[The History of Middle-earth]]'' series) and therefore in points it is outdated or in error.  
Since no edition of the book includes info on post-''Silmarillion'' material (i.e. ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'' and ''[[The History of Middle-earth]]'' series), in points it could be outdated or in error.
:'''Introduction''': It is explained that death dates of those who sailed to the West are not given in their characters' entries "for they live still". While this can be true for [[Gandalf]] and the [[Elves]], this is also implied for [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]], [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]], [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] and [[Gimli]]. This seems to contradict Tolkien's concept that the Undying Lands don't grant [[immortality]]<ref>{{L|154}}</ref><ref>{{L|246}}</ref>.
*'''Introduction''': It is explained that death dates of those who sailed to the West are not given in their characters' entries because "they may live still". While this can be true for [[Gandalf]] and the [[Elves]], this is also implied for [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]], [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]], [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] and [[Gimli]]. This may contradict Tolkien's concept that the Undying Lands do not grant [[immortality]].<ref>{{L|154}}</ref><ref>{{L|246}}</ref>
 
*'''[[Tar-Aldarion]]''': Foster speculates that the tragic relations with his [[Tar-Meneldur|father]] and [[Erendis|wife]] were because he left no male heirs. The later published text ''[[Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife|Aldarion and Erendis]]'' gives a detailed account on their relationship, mostly owing to Aldarion's obsession with [[the Sea]].
 
*'''[[Ambar]]''': Foster relates the [[Elvish]] words ''ambar'' ("world") and ''[[umbar]]'' ("fate"). In the entry of Ambar, he mentions it is a concept related to fate of the world. The manuscript ''[[Parma Eldalamberon 17|Words Phrases and Passages]]'' later showed that while the two words are indeed related (through the [[Sundocarme|root]] ''[[MBAR]]'' "settle"), they are distinct in meaning.


:'''[[Tar-Aldarion]]''': Foster speculates that the tragic relations with his [[Tar-Meneldur|father]] and [[Erendis|wife]] were because he left no male heirs. The later published text ''[[Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife|Aldarion and Erendis]]'' gives a detailed account on their relationship, mostly owing to Aldarion's obsession with [[the Sea]].
*'''[[Elendilmir|Star of Elendil]]''': The royal symbol Elendilmir, and the [[Star of the Dúnedain]] given by [[Aragorn]] to [[Samwise Gamgee]], are considered to be the same. This was not agreed by [[Christopher Tolkien]].<ref>{{UT|7}}, Footnote 33, p. 284</ref>


:'''[[Ambar]]''': Foster relates the [[Elvish]] words ''ambar'' "world" and ''[[umbar]]'' "fate". In the entry of Ambar, he mentions it is a concept related to fate of the world. ''[[The Etymologies]]'' showed that the two have different [[Sundocarmë|Root]]s; a distinct word ''ambar'' is actually linked to the root for "home".
*'''[[Buckland]]''': The date {{FoA|42}} is mentioned as the date when Buckland and the [[Westmarch]] were officially added to the [[Shire]] by the gift of King [[Aragorn|Elessar]]. There are two mistakes in this statement: 1. The date has been corrected as {{SR|1452}} in later editions of the ''Lord of the Rings''; 2. Tolkien did not mention that Buckland joined the Shire: in the ''[[The Lord of the Rings Prologue|Prologue]]'' a semi-colon is intended to show that the Westmarch was added, but not Buckland.<ref>See [[Buckland#Part_of_the_Shire.3F|here]] and the [[Talk:Buckland|discussion here]]</ref>


===Possible Inaccuracies===
*'''[[Dolmed]]''': Foster suggests that the mountain was perhaps destroyed at the end of the [[First Age]] when the [[Gulf of Lune]], broke through the [[Blue Mountains]]; while this may be true, the text does not mention anything about it.<ref>[http://www.jrrvf.com/hisweloke/site3/ Hiswelókë], "[http://www.jrrvf.com/hisweloke/site3/articles.php?lng=en&pg=41 Mont Dolmed & cités naines]"</ref>
:'''[[Bladorthin]]''': Foster supports the usual misunderstanding that Bladorthin's spears were not delivered because he died early; while the text mentions those events closely to imply that they are connected, it doesn't really mention his death as premature or as a reason for the failed delivery.<ref>[[Andreas Möhn]], "[http://lalaith.vpsurf.de/Tolkien/Bladorthin.html Who was the King Bladorthin?]"</ref>


:'''[[Buckland]]''': The date {{FoA|42}} is mentioned as the date when Buckland and the [[Westmarch]] were officially added to the [[Shire]] by the gift of King [[Elessar]]. There are two mistakes in this statement: 1. The date has been corrected as {{FoA|32}} in later editions; 2. Tolkien did not mention that Buckland joined the Shire: in the ''[[Prologue]]'' a semi-colon is intended to show that the Westmarch was added, but not Buckland.<ref>See [[Buckland#Part_of_the_Shire.3F|here]] and the [[Talk:Buckland|discussion here]]</ref>
*'''[[Gollum]]''': Foster mentions that [[Déagol]] was [[Sméagol]]'s cousin while this is not mentioned in the texts. Tolkien went only as far as to suppose he was "evidently a relative (as no doubt all the members of the small community were)"<ref>{{L|214}}</ref>


:'''[[Dolmed]]''': Foster suggests that the mountain was destroyed at the end of the [[First Age]] when the [[Gulf of Lune]], broke through the [[Blue Mountains]]; while the text doesn't mention anything about it.<ref>[http://www.jrrvf.com/hisweloke/site3/ Hiswelókë], "[http://www.jrrvf.com/hisweloke/site3/articles.php?lng=en&pg=41 Mont Dolmed & cités naines]"</ref>
*'''[[Gwaihir]]''': Foster reproduces the fan conception merging the character of the [[Great Eagle]] of ''The Hobbit'' to that of [[Gwaihir]], whereas nowhere is it implied in ''The Lord of the Rings'' that Gwaihir is [[Lord of the Eagles]].


:'''[[Gollum]]''': Foster mentions that [[Déagol]] was [[Sméagol]]'s cousin while this is not mentioned in the texts. Tolkien went only as far as to suppose he was "evidently a relative (as no doubt all the members of the small community were)"<ref>{{L|214}}</ref>
==Publication gallery==
;US editions
{{Gallery
|width=120
|height=125
|lines=2
|File:Complete Guide us 1971.jpeg ‎|1971 hardcover
|File:Complete Guide us 1974.jpeg |1974 paperback
|File:Complete Guide us 1978.png |1978 hardcover
|File:Complete Guide us 1979.jpeg |1979 paperback
|File:Complete Guide us 1985.jpeg |1979 paperback 5th impression
|File:Complete Guide us 2001.jpeg |2001 paperback
|File:Complete Guide us 2003.jpg |2003 hardcover
|File:Complete Guide us 2001 new.jpeg |2001 paperback<br>?th impression
}}
*Mirage Press, hardcover ([[1971]]), pp. 298.
*[[Ballantine Books]] paperback ([[1974]]), ISBN 034524138X - (cover art by [[Tim Kirk]])
*[[Ballantine Books]] hardcover ([[1978]]), pp. 576. ISBN 0345275209 - (cover art by [[The Brothers Hildebrandt]])
*[[Ballantine Books]] paperback ([[1979]]), ISBN 0345279751
**1979 paperback edition, 5th impression ([[1985]])
*[[Ballantine Books]] paperback ([[2001]]), ISBN 0345449762
*[[Ballantine Books]] hardcover ([[2003]]), ISBN 0345465296
**2001 paperback edition, ?th impression (?)


:'''[[Gwaihir]]''': Foster reproduces the fan conception merging the character of the [[Great Eagle]] of ''The Hobbit'' to that of [[Gwaihir]], whereas nowhere it's implied in ''Lord of the Rings'' that Gwaihir is [[Lord of the Eagles]].
;UK editions
{{Gallery
|width=120
|height=125
|lines=2
|File:Complete Guide uk 1978 hc.jpeg ‎|1978 hardcover
|File:Complete Guide uk 1978 pb.jpeg |1978 paperback
|File:Complete Guide uk 1988.jpeg |1978 paperback<br>?th impression
|File:Complete Guide uk 1993.jpeg |1993 paperback
|File:Complete Guide uk 2003.jpeg |2003 hardcover
|File:Complete Guide uk 2022 hc.jpeg |2022 hardcover
|File:Complete Guide uk 2022 de.jpeg |2022 hardcover deluxe edition
|File:Complete Guide uk 2025 pb.jpg |2025 paperback
}}
*[[George Allen & Unwin]] hardcover ([[1978]]), pp. 468. ISBN 0048030023
*[[Unwin Paperbacks]] paperback ([[1978]]), ISBN 0048030015
**1978 paperback edition, ?th impression ([[1988]]?) - (cover art by [[Linda Garland]])
*[[HarperCollins]] paperback ([[1993]]), ISBN 0261102524
*[[HarperCollins]] hardcover ([[2003]]), pp. 528. ISBN 0007169426 - (illustrated by [[Ted Nasmith]])
*[[HarperCollins]] hardcover ([[2022]]), pp. 512. ISBN 000853781X - (illust. by T. N.)
*[[HarperCollins]] hardcover with slipcase ([[2022]]), ISBN 0008537828 - (illust. by T. N.)
*[[HarperCollins]] paperback ([[2025]]), ISBN 0008613214


:'''[[Mearas]]''': Foster mentions the singular of ''mearas'' as ''meara'' (cf. entries for [[Shadowfax]] and [[Snowmane]]) while the correct [[Old English]] form is ''mearh''.<ref>[http://en.wiktionary.org Wiktionary], "[http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mearh mearh]"</ref>
==External links==
* [https://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=42219#forumpost42219 Review of the 2022 edition] on [[Tolkienguide.com| Tolkien Collector's Guide]]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYwcTE0nrgk&t=681s&ab_channel=TolkienCollector%27sGuide Robert Foster and Ted Nasmith Discuss The Complete Guide to Middle-earth new edition] (an interview with [[Tolkienguide.com| Tolkien Collector's Guide]])


{{references}}
{{references}}
{{Publishedmajorbooks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Complete Guide to Middle-earth, The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Complete Guide to Middle-earth, The}}
{{title|italics}}
{{title|italics}}

Latest revision as of 05:03, 8 April 2024

The Complete Guide to Middle-earth
Complete Guide us 1974.jpeg
AuthorRobert Foster
IllustratorTed Nasmith (2003 UK edition)
PublisherBallantine Books (US)
George Allen & Unwin (UK)
ReleasedMarch 1978 (US)
1978 (UK)
FormatHardcover; paperback; deluxe edition
Pages298
ISBN034524138X

The Complete Guide to Middle-earth is a reference book for J.R.R. Tolkien's fictional universe Middle-earth, compiled and edited by Robert Foster.

It was first published in 1971 under the title A Guide to Middle-earth. In 1978 it was revised and enlarged, changing its title to the one currently using. It received a third edition in 2001.

The book is widely recognized as an excellent reference book on Middle-earth.[1][2] Christopher Tolkien has commended it himself as an "admirable work of reference".[3]

A new edition was released on 1st September 2022, by HarperCollins.

Book structure[edit | edit source]

A standard entry in the book consists of: a name; the language it belongs to; its translation from Elvish, Adûnaic, and sometimes Old English when known; and known dates when a character flourished; the first lines of the entry usually give a general definition of the topic, like race, heritage, and role (in case of a character), leading to a chronological description or biography. The last paragraphs of the entry give a physical description or characteristics of the character with some speculations; the final paragraph gives the topic's alternative names, epithets, translation to other languages, and/or redirects to other entries.

The Guide is generally inclusive and there is no limitation to the topics it covers; it includes even obscure and little explored topics, like individual entries on each single name of the Tengwar. Many entries are simply epithets and only redirect to the names of their main entries.

The book begins with an introduction, an abbreviations legend, and concludes with two appendices. The first appendix is a chronology of the First Age in order to complement the Tale of Years, and contains a prologue on Foster's reasoning and calculations based solely on descriptions in the Silmarillion; the second appendix is genealogical trees of the Three Houses of the Edain, the Kings of Númenor, the Kings of Gondor and Arnor, the House of Húrin, and the Kings of Rohan.

Differences between editions[edit | edit source]

US editions[4][edit | edit source]

1971 — A Guide to Middle-earth, published by Mirage Press. This edition contained only information from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, as it was before the publication of The Silmarillion. It was also included in a four-volume boxed set: J.R.R. Tolkien: the Man and His Myth.

1978 — The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, published by Ballantine Books. This is the revised and expanded edition, incorporating content from The Silmarillion (1977). The book length is almost doubled, extending the number of entries from 2276 to 3257. However, as it does not include information on post-Silmarillion material (i.e. Unfinished Tales and The History of Middle-earth), this edition contains some statements contradicted by later publications.

2001 — further revised, including "further entries and information based on Christopher Tolkien's efforts".[5] Published by Ballantine Books.

UK editions[edit | edit source]

1978 & 1993 — first by George Allen & Unwin then by HarperCollins, the text is based on the 1978 Ballantine edition. By the time of 1993 the editions of Tolkien’s works to which the references are keyed were long out of print.

2003 — by HarperCollins. This edition is richly illustrated by Ted Nasmith, with front cover and 50 interior illustrations. It includes an 8-page commentary on the illustrations, written by the artist. It has been well-received for its illustrations, paper, and binding. However, as pointed out by Christina Scull,[6] the book suffers from several issues: the relegation of all references formerly in the entries to an appendix, and an unfortunate inconsistency in italicization, which makes cross-referencing difficult.

2022 — a new edition was released in 1 September, 2022, by HarperCollins. This edition includes several more of Ted Nasmith's illustrations, and has received some small revisions. It also comes with a deluxe version.[7]

Accuracy[edit | edit source]

Since no edition of the book includes info on post-Silmarillion material (i.e. Unfinished Tales and The History of Middle-earth series), in points it could be outdated or in error.

  • Introduction: It is explained that death dates of those who sailed to the West are not given in their characters' entries because "they may live still". While this can be true for Gandalf and the Elves, this is also implied for Bilbo, Frodo, Sam and Gimli. This may contradict Tolkien's concept that the Undying Lands do not grant immortality.[8][9]
  • Tar-Aldarion: Foster speculates that the tragic relations with his father and wife were because he left no male heirs. The later published text Aldarion and Erendis gives a detailed account on their relationship, mostly owing to Aldarion's obsession with the Sea.
  • Ambar: Foster relates the Elvish words ambar ("world") and umbar ("fate"). In the entry of Ambar, he mentions it is a concept related to fate of the world. The manuscript Words Phrases and Passages later showed that while the two words are indeed related (through the root MBAR "settle"), they are distinct in meaning.
  • Buckland: The date Fo.A. 42 is mentioned as the date when Buckland and the Westmarch were officially added to the Shire by the gift of King Elessar. There are two mistakes in this statement: 1. The date has been corrected as S.R. 1452 in later editions of the Lord of the Rings; 2. Tolkien did not mention that Buckland joined the Shire: in the Prologue a semi-colon is intended to show that the Westmarch was added, but not Buckland.[11]
  • Gollum: Foster mentions that Déagol was Sméagol's cousin while this is not mentioned in the texts. Tolkien went only as far as to suppose he was "evidently a relative (as no doubt all the members of the small community were)"[13]

Publication gallery[edit | edit source]

US editions
1971 hardcover  
1974 paperback  
1978 hardcover  
1979 paperback  
1979 paperback 5th impression  
2001 paperback  
2003 hardcover  
2001 paperback
?th impression  
UK editions
1978 hardcover  
1978 paperback  
1978 paperback
?th impression  
1993 paperback  
2003 hardcover  
2022 hardcover  
2022 hardcover deluxe edition  
2025 paperback  

External links[edit | edit source]

References

  1. ↑ Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond (2006), The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide, "Preface", p. xii
  2. ↑ Michael Drout, J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Introduction"
  4. ↑ Edgecomb, Kevin P. (2022) "A Publication History of The Complete Guide to Middle-earth by Robert Foster," Journal of Tolkien Research: Vol. 14: Iss. 1, Article 2. Available at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol14/iss1/2 (Accessed 19 July 2022)
  5. ↑ Nelson, Charles W. Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts, vol. 13, no. 2 (50), 2002, pp. 190–92. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/43308582. (Accessed 19 July 2022)
  6. ↑ Hammond, Wayne G.; Scull, Christina, J.R.R. Tolkien: A Descriptive Bibliography
  7. ↑ "The Complete Guide to Middle-earth: The Definitive Guide to the World of J.R.R. Tolkien (Hardback)", Waterstones (accessed 16 October 2022)
  8. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 154, (dated 25 September 1954)
  9. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 246, (dated September 1963)
  10. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields", Footnote 33, p. 284
  11. ↑ See here and the discussion here
  12. ↑ Hiswelókë, "Mont Dolmed & cités naines"
  13. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 214, (undated, written late 1958 or early 1959)
A J.R.R. Tolkien book guide
Books by or mainly by Tolkien
On Arda Authored by
J.R.R. Tolkien 		The Hobbit · The Lord of the Rings
(i.The Fellowship of the Ring · ii.The Two Towers · iii.The Return of the King) ·
The Adventures of Tom Bombadil · The Road Goes Ever On · Bilbo's Last Song
Edited by Christopher Tolkien The Silmarillion · Unfinished Tales · The History of Middle-earth series
(i.The Book of Lost Tales: Part One · ii.The Book of Lost Tales: Part Two · iii.The Lays of Beleriand · iv.The Shaping of Middle-earth · v.The Lost Road and Other Writings · vi.The Return of the Shadow · vii.The Treason of Isengard · viii.The War of the Ring · ix.Sauron Defeated · x.Morgoth's Ring · xi.The War of the Jewels · xii.The Peoples of Middle-earth · Index) ·
The Children of Húrin · Beren and Lúthien · The Fall of Gondolin
Edited by others The Annotated Hobbit · The History of The Hobbit · The Nature of Middle-earth ·
The Fall of Númenor · The Maps of Middle-earth
Not on Arda Short stories
and poems 		Leaf by Niggle · Farmer Giles of Ham · Smith of Wootton Major · Letters from Father Christmas ·
Mr. Bliss · Roverandom · Tree and Leaf (compilation) · Tales from the Perilous Realm (compilation)
Fictional works The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún · The Fall of Arthur · The Story of Kullervo · The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun
Translations and academic works Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo · Finn and Hengest ·
The Monsters and the Critics, and Other Essays · Beowulf and the Critics · Tolkien On Fairy-stories ·
Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary · A Secret Vice · The Battle of Maldon
Collected letters and poems The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien · The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien
Edited old texts A Middle English Vocabulary · Sir Gawain and the Green Knight · Ancrene Wisse · The Old English Exodus
Books by other authors
Biographies J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography · The Inklings · Tolkien and the Great War
Reference works The Complete Guide to Middle-earth · The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide
Scholarly studies The Road to Middle-earth · The Keys of Middle-earth · The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion ·
The Ring of Words · A Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien · Tolkien's Lost Chaucer ·
Tolkien's Library · Tolkien on Chaucer, 1913-1959
Scholarly journals Tolkien Studies · (The Chronology)
Other works by Tolkien
Linguistic journals Vinyar Tengwar various issues · Parma Eldalamberon issue 11-22
Collections of artwork
and manuscripts 		Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien · J.R.R. Tolkien: Life and Legend · J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator ·
The Art of The Hobbit · The Art of The Lord of the Rings · Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth ·
Tolkien: Treasures · J.R.R. Tolkien: The Art of the Manuscript
This list is only a selection of works, for a fuller bibliography of Tolkien see here or here. See also a timeline and an index.
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