book data
1242 ratings, 3.70 average rating, 22 reviews
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published
November 4th 1991
(first published 1984)
by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
binding
Hardcover
isbn
0261102133
(isbn13: 9780261102132)
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 1915)
Read in April, 2008
Though I liked the first Book of Lost Tales better, this one was still amazing. The stories in it not only give depth to the Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings, but also as JRR Tolkien himself AND what being a human and an artist really means. Some of the work of both prose and poetry in this volume is equal in beauty to the most wonderfully beautiful pieces Tolkien himself published. Anyone who enjoys writing in any form should read these tales.
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Read in December, 2007
recommends it for:
Serious Tolkien fans only
It's really impossible to rate this book. If you are a hardcore Tolkien fan, I think you'll love it. If you thought The Silmarillion was a difficult read, you'll probably want to skip this one.
Basically, this book is a printing of Tolkein's early drafts of tales that eventually came to comprise the Silmarillion, along with his son Christopher's commentary. Much of this material was ultimately rejected in the final versions, and there were some major changes to much of the material.
So, if...more
Basically, this book is a printing of Tolkein's early drafts of tales that eventually came to comprise the Silmarillion, along with his son Christopher's commentary. Much of this material was ultimately rejected in the final versions, and there were some major changes to much of the material.
So, if...more
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More of a scholarly read than a strictly fictional one. This is a heavily-annotated earlier version of what eventually became the Silmarillion. The interest is mostly in seeing how the work developed, though there are a few places where this early draft is much more thorough than the later notes Christopher Tolkien built the published Silmarillion from. His father had still been working on the book at the time of his death; some parts were just brief accounts of the plot, a framework to be built...more
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Read in November, 1984
I found this book at the old Harvard Coop, in the fall of 1984, while my grandfather attended a Harvard football game. I had not heard it was coming out; I had not expected to find it; but I knew exactly what "The Book of Lost Tales" were, and I couldn't believe my good luck.
These are some of Tolkien's very earliest writings on Middle-Earth, and includes some the fullest and most detailed versions of his most important stories, e.g. "The Fall of Gondolin." It is a hea...more
These are some of Tolkien's very earliest writings on Middle-Earth, and includes some the fullest and most detailed versions of his most important stories, e.g. "The Fall of Gondolin." It is a hea...more
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I'm still reading this book. In some ways, I like it much better than the 3 star rating would indicate. Still, the book has a lot of 1st draft qualities, and feels artificial, especially compared with LOTR, and even the Silmarillion.
What makes it fascinating is to see the textual variants, and the way that Tolkien was constructing his languages and names even as he wrote his books.
It's work keeping track of the names, some change between the Lost Tales and the Silmarillion, and there are...more
What makes it fascinating is to see the textual variants, and the way that Tolkien was constructing his languages and names even as he wrote his books.
It's work keeping track of the names, some change between the Lost Tales and the Silmarillion, and there are...more
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Read in August, 2008
The stories in this book were great, but the way the book presented the stories was just too "difficult" for me to read. I enjoy free flowing stories, but there was just too many interruptions during the stories that it caused me to lose my focus on numerous occassions. The synopsis parts were helpful, but all the other add ins to explain things should have been placed in the back of the book. My friend bought me the first five volumes of this series and I'm afraid they will all be ...more
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Read in December, 1984
recommends it for:
really dedicated silmarillion fans and people who loved unfinished tales
Although this is the first book in the sweeping and dense History of Middle-Earth series, it does not contain either the earliest written or the most exciting material from the very early Book of Lost Tales material, begun during the Great War of 1914-18, while JRRT was still in uniform. That material (including some incredibly detailed material about the falls of Gondolin and Doriath that Tolkien never really updated or rewrote) is to be found in vol. 2. This material (in vol. 1...more
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This is the first of a 12-book series written by JRR Tolkien's son, Christopher Tolkien. After his father died, his son collected and studied both his father's published and unpublished works, and decided to organize them into a readable collection, complete with explanations and footnotes. For anyone who loved the Lord of the Rings and hungers for more; also for anyone who is curious about how Tolkien developed his imagined world in the first place.
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Read in July, 2007
Tolkein was a literary genius, we all know that, but dipping into some of the lesser known of his works such as the Book of Lost Tales? Well, it is strictly for those who really love mythical prose and poetry, warriors and exploring lost places.
Really enjoyed getting lost in his mythical world once more!
Really enjoyed getting lost in his mythical world once more!
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in June, 2006
recommends it for:
Tolkien Fans
Another supplemental book for Middle Earth fans. This book doesn't really mention the characters we know and love from the trilogy or from the Silmarillion, but the time line focuses on the time before Elendil and sons arrive in Middle Earth. A few great tales!
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Read in January, 1997
The Book of Lost Tales - The Cottage of Lost Play: it's simply amazing, intriguing and an absolute bewilderment how Tolkien created such an endearing masterpiece with this insight into the earliest sketches concerning the history of Middle Earth.
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I read this book before I was familiar with Tolkien's writing style. So it was a little difficult for me to get through. If I read it again now after having read The Lord of the Rings trilogy I would be fine and probably find it interesting.
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Read in January, 1997
Again, Tolkien...I love it. The Lost Tales: brilliant insight into the very beginning of Tolkien's creation. It's just unbelievable the depth and scope he put into just his back history - and even that seems to have a back history.
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Read in May, 2008
Well-researched by his son, Christopher, it gives insight into the formation of Tolkien's cosmos. It is, however, somewhat difficult reading - you must be extremely interested in how Tolkien created his world.
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Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
Tolkien Fans
By reading this book I gained amazing insight to the evolution of the myth the Lord of the Rings. It was extremely intricate and thorough, explaining a lot of interesting details.
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Interesting to get a look at early drafts of Tolkien's mythology but a lot of it is just same stories that became the Silmarillion so wasn't a very compelling read for me.
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Read in October, 2008
recommended to Karen by:
Anthony M. Bookfly
Christopher Tolkien's rabbinic commentary on the Bible as written by Tolkien the Father.
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Read in January, 1987
More for the hard core scholar of Middle Earth than the casual reader.
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Read in January, 2006
Not as polished as his classics, but a good read for his fans.
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