From the Bookshelf of J.R.R. Tolkien…

The Nature of Middle-Earth

J.R.R. Tolkien,

Carl F. Hostetter (Editor)

Start date: September 2, 2021

Finish date: January 31, 2022

Discussion: Group Reads

Why we're reading this: A scholarly collection of late writings by Tolkien, some of which has been previously published in academ…more
[close] A scholarly collection of late writings by Tolkien, some of which has been previously published in academic journals, and none of it previously published in book form.

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Group Reads

* Group Read September 2021-January 2022 (No Spoilers)
By Michael · 21 posts · 118 views

last updated Jan 31, 2022 11:38AM

Group Read January-March 2015: The Silmarillion
By deleted member · 5 posts · 127 views

last updated Apr 18, 2023 01:00PM

What Members Thought

Jan 07, 2022 Tara rated it really liked it

This was slow read, with all the footnotes and end notes. And math! I do like math well enough, but I didn't expect it from Tolkien. But that's what made this book very interesting: it really showed how broad Tolkien's interests were, especially with respect to his mythos. It's definitely not an easy skim, but I thought it was well worth the effort. ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Oct 06, 2021 Norbert rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: terra-di-mezzo

Zibaldone di scritti - per me hanno grattato il fondo del barile.
L'unico brano che ho trovato realmente interessante, ma non è inedito, è "fate and free will"

Leggetelo solo se avete apprezzato i Racconti Incompiuti e almeno gli ultimi tre volumi della History of Middle-earth ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Sep 18, 2021 Michael rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, reference

Definitely only for Tolkienistas, as it delves into the minutiae of the Professor's creative process which will, I think, be of zero interest to the causal reader. Divided into three parts, the first of which is the driest, having lengthy lists, tables and calculations of Elvish population growth and lifespans. The other two parts I found juicier and more expansive of the legendarium. It's much in the style of Unfinished Tales and The History of Middle-earth, so if you enjoyed those books, this ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Mar 18, 2022 Keri rated it liked it

I have read HoMe before and enjoy the scholastic side of Tolkien's work. And though I enjoyed much of this book, there was also quite a bit I found a bit tedious and ended up skimming rather than fully reading. It's interesting to see how Tolkien worked his thoughts out on paper but I don't think we needed to see quite so much of it. ...more

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Nov 01, 2021 Wiktoria rated it really liked it

The book does not have any narrative structure but is a collection of previously unknown (or hardly accessible to the public) Tolkien's writings, mainly about the Elves and the Numenoreans, their philosophy, metaphysics as well as linguistic matters. Most of the material relates to the events of the First and the Second Age, and there is not much about the Third Age and the events contemporary with "The Lord of the Rings". Apart from a brief description of their appearance, there is almost nothi ...more

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Aug 09, 2022 Ted Tschopp rated it it was amazing

A great collection of Middle-Earth "scholarship" focused on various esoteric topics of Tolkien's world. Recommended for people who want more then just Lord of the Rings and the Silmarmillion, but don't want to dig all the way into Histories. ...more

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