Middle Earth Box Set 1

This review is about the edition of the books themselves and not about the contents of The History of Middle-Earth. (not a book/story review) These books are a beautiful edition of Tolkien‘s History of Middle-Earth. All of them hardback with dust jackets, which can be turned inside out for a more classic look. I like separate volumes for the History of Middle-Earth series for a more laid back reading style, instead of lugging around the massive three volume set size books. The word print size is also larger in these books. The quality of the spine is not the best, so be sure to carefully break in each book before attempting to open them all the way. I like how the Silmarillion and The Unfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle-Earth were included in this set, if you don’t own them, but know you want them and The History of Middle-Earth, then you can have them both in one set. The box that they came in is very nice, it has art on three sides, and is thick and sturdy. Of course I would recommend this, not only of the stories that they contain, but also for an edition that better suits the monumental work of Tolkien, and the great world of Middle-Earth.

These books are an incredible value for the money! The cover art is some of the most gorgeous I've ever seen, and the raised gold title text beautifully contrasts with the art. They come in a sturdy box that also features art, and doubles as a convenient storage container. The paper is thick and feels high quality, and the binding is sturdy. Now that the price has fallen significantly, I'd highly encourage any Tolkien aficionado to grab a set of these books!

If you want to dive into the deeper bowels of Middle-earth—beyond The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy—this box set is where the real journey begins. Most readers only ever tread the well-lit roads. These volumes take you off the map, into the raw foundations where the world was first shaped and sung into being. The Silmarillion is the spine of the mythos: tragic, radiant, and unapologetically grand. Here you meet the Valar at the dawn of creation, watch kingdoms rise and burn, and understand why the shadow of Morgoth still lingers in every age that follows. Unfinished Tales opens the hidden doors between stories you thought you already knew, enriching everything from Númenor’s downfall to the early histories of the Istari. It fills the gaps in a way that feels less like appendix-work and more like finding the missing chapters of a saga you’ve always loved. And The Book of Lost Tales—both parts—is the earliest heartbeat of Tolkien’s world. These are the first drafts of myth, full of strange names, shifting versions, and the thrill of watching a universe invent itself. You can see Tolkien testing ideas like a craftsman shaping bright metal on the forge. Christopher Tolkien deserves immense credit. He doesn’t merely present these works; he curates them with the quiet discipline of an archivist who knows he is guarding something fragile and irreplaceable. This set isn’t casual reading. It’s deep water. But if you're hungry for the origins—the lorigins—of everything that made Middle-earth what it is, then this collection is essential. It turns the familiar four books into the visible peak of a far greater mountain. For fans who want to understand not just the story, but the world beneath the story, this is the pilgrimage worth taking.

Let's get it out of the way. All four of these box sets are going to be William and Morrow Publishing unless you buy from the UK amazon store, then it will be Harper and Collins. With that said, I received my box set in Excellent condition. The box art is AMAZING. The Dust Cover art is AMAZING, and everything is in a matte finish, in case anyone is wondering. The inner covers have the iconic maps of middle earth and all of the text is clear and easy to read. Keep in mind Box Set #1 does include, The Silmarillion & Unfinished Tales. I would highly recommend them if you can afford the steep price tag of each box set, because who is going to buy box set #1 and not #2-#4.

Beautiful set and wonderful books!

What beautiful books. My husband loved them and they are a treasure to add to our book collection!

LOVE, was looking forward to this and it was a perfect out of the box gift for a friend.

Bought for Christmas. Came as described

Cofanetto molto bello, acquistato per un regalo

The LOTR set I’ve been waiting for. Printing quality is top notch. Books are beautifully bound. Paper quality excellent!

Exactly as pictured

Os livros vieram amassados nos cantos e a caixa exterior dos mesmos veio amassada e arranhada.

I went through a lot of trouble to get this pair of books. A lot of it was amazon/shippers fault but I'd finally thought that I had received a good copy of these books. Unfortunately there is a manufactoring error and the unfinished tales is glued very poorly. There is about 24mm difference between where the frontcoverpage and backcoverpage is glued on the hardcover. I tried my best to let it go thinking about the shipping troubles. But After a week and a bit my mind just could not let it go and I will return it. Down the line this error would distort the hardcover and most likely cause other problems a Risk I wasn't willing to take.