What order should I read the history of Middle-Earth?

If you wish to read Tolkien’s Middle-earth works approximately in the order they were written, then this is a very rough guide:

1. The Book of Lost Tales [volumes 1 & 2]
2. The Lays of Beleriand.
3. The Shaping of Middle-earth.
4. The Lost Road.
5. The Hobbit.
6. The Return of the Shadow.
7. The Treason of Isengard.
8. The War of the Ring.

What books make up the history of Middle-Earth?

The History of Middle-Earth

• The Book of Lost Tales.
• The Book of Lost Tales.
• The Lays of Beleriand.
• The Shaping of Middle-Earth.
• The Lost Road and Other Writings.
• The Return of the Shadow.
• Treason of Isengard.
• The War of the Ring.

Is LOTR based on history?

The world of The Lord of the Rings may feel as detached from reality as fiction can possibly get, but so much of Tolkien’s Middle-earth is inspired by or based on real-world cultures, locations and experiences.

Is The Hobbit worth reading?

Originally Answered: Is The Hobbit worth reading? The Hobbit is most definitely worth reading!!! As the prequel to The Lord of the Rings, it tells the story of how the One Ring was found and came to be in Bag End. It is a much easier read than LOTR, but is still a great work of Tolkien’s.

Who invented Middle-earth?

J. R. R. Tolkien

Is The Silmarillion in the history of Middle Earth?

The Silmarillion is actually tolkien’s first book and also his last. In origin it precedes even The Hobbit, and is the story of the First Age of tolkien’s Middle Earth. It shows us the ancient history to which characters in The Lord of the Rings look back, talk, rhyme and sing about.

Is The Silmarillion a story?

The Silmarillion is a collection of stories — originally written as notes and rough drafts by J.R.R. Tolkien but compiled, edited and published posthumously by his son Christopher — chronicling major events in the history of Middle-earth from its creation to the Second Age, without a unifying quest or protagonists as …