Michael’s answer to “My friends, I have on my shelf The story of Kullervo, The silmarillion, The children of Húrin, The …” > Likes and Comments

Thank you! Most people have told me to read first the silmarillion and the hobbit, then the lord of the rings and, at last, the unfinished tales. But when I bought kullervo's the librarian told me to read it before all the others, so I got all confused! I suppose that the order I had in my mind before was chronological, but your order would be based on what, density / complexity?
I'm sorry if my english is not perfect, I've tried! Tell me anything you have spotted wrong, please!

Glad to help! My ordering is kind-of a mix between publication order (The Hobbit was Tolkien's first great work, meanwhile Kullervo was a very early work by Tolkien, but was only recently published) and importance (The Hobbit & LotR are in the form of novels, were originally the only books about Middle Earth, and serve as a great introduction to Tolkien's works). But yes, chronologically it would be:
1. Silmarillion
2. Kullervo
3. Hurin
4. Unfinished Tales
5. Hobbit
6. LotR

It can be difficult placing these chronologically, because Kullervo and Hurin take place during Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales.

And your English is perfect! No worries!

Sorry about the long detailed explanations :\ hope this was helpful!

It has been very helpful, specially because of thr long detailed explanations! Thank you! :)

I think the order of reading you have suggested is spot on!