The History of Middle-earth: Boxed Set I Announced

 

Recently, it was announced that The History of Middle-earth 12-book series (13, which includes Index) will be getting new hardback editions. 

Thanks to various posters and users on the TCG (Tolkien Collector Guide) forums and Reddit, I have further info to pass along as well. 

This is the first of four boxed sets coming out. What follows is the official description (and ISBN) for set 1 of 4:

First in a series of hardback boxed sets celebrating the literary achievement of Christopher Tolkien, featuring double-sided dustjackets. Set 1 contains special editions of THE SILMARILLION and UNFINISHED TALES reproducing the first edition text, together with the two volumes of THE BOOK OF LOST TALES.

The Silmarillion is an account of the Elder Days, of the First Age of Tolkien’s World. It is the ancient drama to which the characters in The Lord of the Rings look back, and in whose events some of them, such as Elrond and Galadriel, took part. The tales of The Silmarillion are set in an age when Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, dwelt in Middle-Earth, and the High Elves made war upon him for the recovery of the Silmarils, the jewels containing the pure light of Valinor.

Unfinished Tales is a collection of narratives ranging in time from the Elder Days of Middle-earth and the rise of Númenor in the Second Age to the end of the War of the Ring, and provides those who have read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings with a whole collection of background and new stories from the twentieth century’s most acclaimed popular author.

The Book of Lost Tales stands at the beginning of the entire conception of Middle-earth and Valinor for the Tales were the first form of the myths and legends that came to be called The Silmarillion. Embedded in English legend and English association, they are set in the narrative frame of a great westward voyage over the Ocean by a mariner named Eriol to the lonely Isle where the Elves dwelt; from them he learned their true history, the Lost Tales of Elfinesse.

In the two volumes of the Tales are found the earliest accounts of Gods and Elves, Dwarves, Balrogs and Orcs; of the Silmarils and the Two Trees of Valinor; of the geography and cosmology of Tolkien’s invented world.

Published together for the first time, these four books collect the beginning of Christopher Tolkien’s forty-year career devoted to presenting his father J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings on Middle-earth, a unique accomplishment that celebrates the greatest invented world in all of fantasy literature.

ISBN: 9780008663162

Now, for the further info:

Boxed set #2

Release Date UK : TBC (HarperCollins)
ISBN TBC

Contents

• The Lays of Beleriand
  
• The Shaping of Middle-earth
  
• The Lost Road and Other Writings
  

Boxed set #3

Release Date UK : TBC (HarperCollins)
ISBN TBC

Contents

• The Return of the Shadow
  
• The Treason of Isengard
  
• The War of the Ring
  
• Sauron Defeated
  

Boxed set #4

Release Date UK : TBC (HarperCollins)
ISBN TBC

Contents

• Morgoth's Ring
  
• The War of the Jewels
  
• The Peoples of Middle-earth
  
• Index

[Hypothetical]

Boxed Set #5:

Contents:

~ The Children of Hurin
~ Beren and Luthien
~ The Fall of Gondolin

There is also a Great Tales boxed set, with a publication date of 2025 - however this has been floating around since 2019 so it could be a 'false' listing.

Further, as of this moment, some have been stating that none of the books in these sets will be available separately....a bizarre choice, as whenever there's a Lord of the Rings / Hobbit + Lord of the Rings set those titles are also available separately. 

Now the big obvious thing: why are The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales included in the first set? Many believe that this is a 'History of Middle-earth' set when it's really a 'Christopher Tolkien' set. As such, with that approach, it makes sense to include those two works. Also, it should be noted that they are not illustrated (so they'll be physically smaller) than the illustrated editions....so swapping the illustrated ones into the set won't be a an option. It should be noted that these editions of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales will use 'correct' page number references. IMO, if they're doing a new set of History of Middle-earth, why not re-do the numbering?? 

With two sets of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales in a similar format, what should new Tolkien fans do, or what editions should they get? Well, as we can see, the box matches the Alan Lee-illustrated Hobbit + Lord of the Rings boxed set from 2020. Here's the photo for reference:

So, I believe the best, most 'clear-cut' approach would be this: get the Alan Lee set, so you get The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, then get the Christopher Tolkien sets 1-4. Boxed Set 1 includes The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales, so you'd get them from that set. The only real downside would be that they won't be illustrated. However, if you're getting these Christopher sets, I believe the focus would be on the text and contents, not the artwork. Getting the Ted Nasmith illustrated Silmarillion and Trinity (Nasmith, Lee and Howe) illustrated Unfinished Tales would be for more 'casual' (not meant as an insult) fans, who aren't interested in diving that deep with Tolkien. Of course, the illustrated hardbacks came out in 2020/21 so a good number of fans already have those editions. 

Now, for some speculation for future box designs. We can see the cover image of The Silmarillion adorning a panel of the boxed set (this image by John Howe: https://www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/details.php?image_id=288 ) Following this pattern, it would be likely that one of the panels for Boxed Set 2 will be this image: https://www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/details.php?image_id=964 , one of the panels for Boxed Set 3 to be this https://www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/details.php?image_id=94&mode=search , and lastly one for Boxed Set 4 to be this: https://www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/details.php?image_id=977 . I also find it interesting that for the cover of The Silmarillion included in Boxed Set 1 that they aren going with isn't this one: https://www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/details.php?image_id=287

Oh, and as a reminder: two other key titles related to these would be The History of The Hobbit and The Nature of Middle-earth.  (see below)

I'm glad that HarperCollins is offering The History of Middle-earth in this format: there are now very few titles that won't be offered in the new, matte, dustjacket style - yet. Most of the Tolkien books will now be offered in fully matching editions (cover design-wise: some are illustrated, some have ribbon-markers, coloured ink, etc....). I truly hope that this won't hurt the sales (as typically anything Tolkien sells really well) but I'm personally going to wait until all 4 sets are out before I can even begin to form an opinion on wanting them, etc. This stems from my thought of waiting for an entire TV season to be finished before watching, waiting for all title in a book series to be out before investing, etc. As it stands, I already have The History of Middle-earth series; so chances of me getting these are very slim. But once all 4 are out, who knows what may happen? They may be offered individually, in which case I'd be able to forego the editions of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales included in Boxed Set 1, reducing the cost to get those books by about half.  What I mean, is an opportunity presents itself, I may take it. Though I do not see that happening. But hey, if I accumualte enough plum points, gift cards, etc....

Are my 'Tolkien collecting' days over?? No...though space is beginning to get an issue. Even with more shelves, a larger home....I'm starting to see my limits and 'The End.' That is to say, even if I did have the space, would I get everything I think is nice? No. I'll likely get some Tolkien titles that are actually new (ie, the way that The Fall of Numenor and The Battle of Maldon are 'new' but the illustrated by the author series isn't.).

I'll still continue to follow and report on Tolkien news and titles. My daughter may inherit my interest, so she may get some future editions, though I have some set aside for her specifically already.....  

It's great that so many options exist, though throughout my blogging history on Tolkien, I hope to offer a bit of clarity if some find that there's too many options to choose from.