Unfinished Tales

These are texts Tolkien never finished, arranged by Christopher Tolkien in four parts: one for each Age and one of essays. In the First Age, Tuor reaches Gondolin and Túrin's story gets a longer version. In the Second, a king of Númenor chooses the sea over his family, and there's the history of Galadriel and Celeborn. In the Third, Isildur dies at the Gladden Fields and the Ring is lost in the river, the Black Riders hunt the Ring all the way to the Shire, and Gandalf explains how he brought Thorin's dwarves together. The book closes with essays on the Drúedain, the Istari and the palantíri. Several tales stop midway, as the title warns.

1. Behind the scenesJust as Tolkien left them

   Unlike The Silmarillion, Christopher presents these texts almost untouched, with long notes after each one. Its success paved the way for the 12 volumes of The History of Middle-earth.

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2. ReferenceWho the wizards are

   The essay on the Istari explains where Gandalf, Saruman and the other wizards come from. It's one of Tolkien's few writings on the subject.

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3. ReferenceThe movie prologue in full

   The Gladden Fields tale tells in detail how Isildur died in the Anduin and the Ring was lost, the scene that opens The Fellowship of the Ring.

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