The Complete History of Middle-earth: An Epic Fantasy Collection of Myth and Lore

Very happy to have bagged this for £66! There's a staggering amount in these books, both qualitatively and quantitatively, so it's easy to see why they were printed on much thinner paper than you'd normally expect. That said, the quality of the paper seems to be good so should last well if handled with care. I've only just started the first volume and it's already made me realise I need to go back and read the Silmarillion again.

A must have for all Tolkien fans

If you really love Tolkien, The Complete History of Middle-earth is an absolutely essential purchase. It contains an astonishing wealth of material about JRRT's legendarium that no fan of the great man's should miss. But which edition to buy isn't an easy question. As of October 2023, you can get three fat hardcover books in a slip-case, a deluxe version of the same, or a set of thirteen basic-grade paperbacks that include an index volume and feature spectacular covers with paintings by John Howe. (HarperCollins used to offer print-on-demand hardback versions of the Complete History's first editions, but that option has been discontinued.) Until now, my preference has been for the deluxe collection. Its paper is as thin as a Bible's, but of excellent quality, and I appreciated its reasonable pricing and the modest demands that it made on my shelf space. But a new edition that will be appearing in stages in 2023 and 2024 looks likely to be even better. Appearing in four box sets, the latest version of the History will include not just the supplementary index volume but also reprints of the first editions of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales—newer editions of the latter titles have revised pagination that's frustrating for readers who want to follow up on Christopher Tolkien's references. Each book will have a reversible cover, with one side reproducing the History's traditional livery and the other using John Howe's artwork from the paperbacks. The new edition will be uniform with the latest box set of hardcover versions of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings illustrated by Alan Lee—which is extremely encouraging, as those books use exceptionally thick, high quality paper that's completely free from the transparency issues that marred the 50th anniversary edition of The Lord. To sum up, the 15 volumes of the latest edition seem to me almost certain to be the most desirable ever, offering us everything that we could possibly want. I'll have no hesitation about adding them to my collection, although heaven only knows where I'll find the room for them!

Sadly the publisher didn't make the spine strong enough, so they tend to bow outward and crack a little. The paper stick is not quite top notch either, and is very, very thin. Not surprising really, considering the amount of text they had to squeeze in. But the card covers are much better than the three individual volume editions which each have an ugly black wrapper. It's the best slipcase edition currently still available (Aug 2025)

This is a very big set of books. Well worth it to complete your collection and to keep on your bookcase. They look superb too next to my other de luxe editions. The print is very easy to read but be aware the books are obviously heavy. I read my sat at my desk. Not the best solution I know but worth it to complete the series. The paper is thin but manageable and not too thin that you see through. Love it. A must for Tolkien fans.

I finally got my hands on The History of Middle Earth which is a must have for all collectors, the books set arrived in perfect condition.

Collector's books. Excellent present for a person who likes this writer.

Bought as a gift for a Tolkein officiando. He's looking forward to studying/reading he books.

This Complete History of Middle-earth boxed set is amazing—three hefty hardcover volumes collecting all twelve books of deep dives into the creation of Middle-earth. It's an incredible compendium: drafts, unfinished tales, maps, notes, and commentary that trace how the legendarium evolved from early myths through to The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings. The production quality is absolutely stunning—beautiful covers, solid binding, and the whole thing feels premium in the matching slipcase. No complaints here; it's exactly what a dedicated fan needs for exploring the full depth beyond the main stories. Worth every penny—I'll be referencing this set for years.

Diese Sonderausgabe ist ein absolutes Muss für jeden Tolkien-Liebhaber und für alle, die sich akademisch mit Mittelerde beschäftigen. Die hochwertige Verarbeitung – drei prachtvoll gebundene Bände mit Goldprägung, Lesebändchen und einem eleganten Schuber – macht das Set nicht nur zu einem Blickfang im Regal, sondern schützt die wertvollen Inhalte auch optimal. Inhaltlich bietet das Werk einen einzigartigen, tiefen Einblick in die Entstehungsgeschichte von Tolkiens Welt: Von frühen Mythen und Legenden über die Entwicklung des Silmarillion bis hin zu den Entwürfen und Kommentaren zu “Der Herr der Ringe”. Christopher Tolkien hat mit akribischer Sorgfalt die Entwürfe, Notizen und Kommentare seines Vaters geordnet und erläutert – ein unschätzbarer Schatz für alle, die Mittelerde nicht nur lesen, sondern wirklich verstehen wollen. Gerade für akademisch Interessierte ist dieses Werk eine unverzichtbare Quelle. Die Edition enthält zahlreiche Hintergrundinformationen, alternative Versionen und tiefergehende Analysen, die das Verständnis der Tolkien’schen Mythologie erheblich erweitern. Wer sich mit der Literaturwissenschaft, Fantastik oder Mythologie beschäftigt, findet hier einen wissenschaftlich fundierten Zugang zu einem der bedeutendsten Werke der Fantasy-Literatur. Fazit: Ein beeindruckendes, inhaltlich wie handwerklich herausragendes Set – perfekt für Sammler, Forscher und alle, die Mittelerde lieben. Absolute Kaufempfehlung!

Well so far so good. As expected the box that house the books is a wreck but since I do not really need it in the space in my library I do not care that much. A little more concern issue is this little problem in the right bottom corner of the third part book, but then again should I ask for a replacement knowing that the problem might be worst. I will check the 1 and 2 star just to make sure that there is no more problem.

Para todos aqueles que estudam J R R Tolkien, é uma referência indispensável. Sobretudo, por estar no idioma origem.

La edición es muy bonita y práctica. El papel, aunque delgado, es de buena calidad y permite la lectura sin transparentarse. El contenido aborda aspectos bastante profundos del Legendarium de una manera que permite comprender el proceso creativo de Tolkien. Sin embargo, son libros para quienes ya tienen una sólida familiaridad con la mayoría de los libros de Tolkien sobre la Tierra Media: El Hobbit, El Señor de los Anillos, El Silmarillion, Cuentos inconclusos, Los hijos de Hurin, Beren y Lúthien y La caída de Gondolin. De otra manera, resultarán tediosos e incomprensibles para los lectores casuales que sólo conocen las novelas que el autor completó en vida.