The Peoples of Middle Earth
"The Peoples of Middle-earth" by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Christopher Tolkien, is the twelfth and final volume in "The History of Middle-earth" series, offering a rich collection of the author’s later writings on the various races and cultures that inhabit his legendarium. This volume focuses heavily on the development of the appendices to "The Lord of the Rings," exploring the origins, customs, and histories of the Elves, Dwarves, Men, and Hobbits. It also includes several unfinished narratives and early drafts that give insight into Tolkien’s evolving ideas about his world and characters, especially in the context of tying together the First, Second, and Third Ages.
Highlights include the essay "The Shibboleth of Fëanor," which explores linguistic divisions among the Elves and their deeper cultural and familial meanings, and the fascinating fragment "The New Shadow," a dark, aborted sequel to "The Lord of the Rings" that hints at unrest in Gondor a century after Sauron's fall. The book also sheds light on the complex genealogies of the Númenóreans and the editorial evolution of the Appendices, such as the Calendars, the Tale of Aragorn and Arwen, and the linguistic notes. Christopher Tolkien’s commentary remains detailed and scholarly, bringing coherence to a collection of texts that are often fragmentary but immensely illuminating.
"The Peoples of Middle-earth" is an essential volume for those who wish to delve deeper into the lore and structure behind Tolkien’s richly imagined world. It offers both scholarly insight and narrative fragments that expand and deepen the mythos of Middle-earth. For readers and lovers of fantasy who admire not just the stories but the monumental effort behind their creation, this final installment is a fitting and rewarding conclusion to the series.