Tolkien's Books
From HobbitHoleWiki
For the original of this list, see Alqualondë (http://www.alqualonde.com/main.php?id=tolkien/bibliography).
| Table of contents |
1931
“Progress in Bimble Town (Devoted to the Mayor and Corporation)”, a poem printed in The Oxford Magazine, probably inspired by the irritation of the descrution of Filey, Yorkshire, by dirt and noise. Also printed in The Annotated Hobbit. (The Oxford Magazine)
1932/1934
“Sigelwara Land”, scientific article on a diffuse expression in [[Old English]. Printed in two parts, the first in Medium Ævum no 3. December 1932, and the second in Medium Ævum no 3. June 1934. (Medium Ævum)
1937
The Hobbit, the first Middle-earth related book to be published. It wasn’t intended to be a Middle-earth book, but it became so in the writing, as parts of the then unpublished Silmarillion was thrown into the story. (George Allen & Unwin)
1945
“Leaf by Niggle”, an allegoric tale first published in The Dublin Review. See Tree and Leaf. (The Dublin Review)
1947
“On Fairy-stories” is a lecture held by Tolkien, greatly expanded in text version though, on how fairy-stories should be treated, and that the genre is not a children’s only genre. First presented in C.S. Lewis’ Essays Presented to Charles Williams (in 1947), then later in Tree and Leaf. (Oxford University Press)
1949
Farmer Giles of Ham, a book in no connexion with the mythology, but funny and entertaining. It is about a farmer in the old England that has great adventures in fighting a giant and a dragon. It was first presented to the publishers in 1937/38, but was considered too short to be published at the time. (George Allen & Unwin)
1953
“The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm’s Son” is a translation (I think) of an old poem, about Beorhtnoth that fell in a battle being taken home by two of his servants. First published in John Murray’s Essays and Studies by members of the English Association in 1954. Has also been published in Poems and Stories, The Tolkien Reader and together with Tree and Leaf.
1954
The Fellowship of the Ring is the first part of The Lord of the Rings, and was first released in 1954, after a great deal of work. See The Lord of the Rings. (George Allen & Unwin)
The Two Towers, the second part of The Lord of the Rings. (George Allen & Unwin)
1955
The Return of the King is the third part of The Lord of the Rings, and was first released in 1955. See The Lord of the Rings. (George Allen & Unwin)
“Imram”, poem published in Time & Tide December 3rd, later printed in Sauron Defeated. About Brendan of Clonfert and his journeys. All the places he travels to can be recognized in Tolkien’s mythology. (George Allen & Unwin)
1954-1955
The Lord of the Rings is the biggest book conserning the mythology. It is (as you probably know) about four Hobbits and their journey through Middle-earth to destroy the evil Ring of Sauron, the most evil creature in Middle-earth. Was first published in three books (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King) to save printing costs, though it is written as one piece not meant to be parted (therefore it is not a trilogy). (George Allen & Unwin)
1962
The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, a collection of sixteen poems pretended to come from the Shire, but they are all of different sources and times. (George Allen & Unwin)
1964
Tree and Leaf, a collection consisting of “On Fairy-stories”, “Leaf by Niggle” and in the second edition (1988) the poem “Mythopoeia”. (George Allen & Unwin)
1966
The Tolkien Reader, a collection of The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, Farmer Giles of Ham, “The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth” and Tree and Leaf. (Ballantine Books)
1967
Smith of Wooton Major is a fairy-story not connected to Tolkien’s mythology. Considered to be partly auto-biographical by some. (George Allen & Unwin)
The Road Goes Ever On, a book with songs from Tolkien’s Middle-earth books (though not The Silmarillion) composed by Donald Swann. Also contains important material on Elvish, as there is an extensive commentary on the Quenya poem “Namárië” and the Sindarin poem “A Elbereth Gilthoniel”. The second edition, 1978, contains one extra song. (George Allen & Unwin)
1974
“Bilbo’s Last Song”, Bilbo’s last poem before he sailed west over the Sea. It is included in The Road Goes Ever On in all editions save the first, and was re-released in 1990 with illustrations by Pauline Baynes. (Houghton Mifflin Co.)
1975
“Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings”, a guide written by Tolkien for foreign translators of The Lord of the Rings. It was first included in a book in Jared Lodbell’s A Tolkien Compass. (Open Court)
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight; Pearl; Sir Orfeo, Tolkien’s translations of three Middle English poems with an intro written by him. (George Allen & Unwin)
1976
The Father Christmas Letters, for many years, Tolkien wrote letters pretended to be from Santa Claus to his children, and put a great deal of work into them to make them look authentic. In 1999 was released a heavily expanded edition called Letters from Father Christmas. (George Allen & Unwin)
1977
The Silmarillion is the main work of Tolkien’s life. He spent enormous amounts of time on it, and it was finally released four years after his death, in 1977. It deals mainly with the actions of Elves in the [[First Age of the Sun]9, and is a must-read for Tolkien fans. (George Allen & Unwin)
1979
Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien is, as the title proclaims, pictures drawn by Tolkien. (George Allen & Unwin)
1980
Poems and Stories, a collection consisting of The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, “The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth”, Farmer Giles of Ham, “Leaf by Niggle”, “On Fairy-stories” and Smith of Wootton Major. Includes new illustrations by Pauline Baynes. (George Allen & Unwin)
Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth, a collection of left-overs connected to The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, mostly unfinished. (George Allen & Unwin)
