TOLKIEN, J.R.R.; edited by Christopher Tolkien - The History of Middle-earth: Part Two (2002)

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

London: HarperCollins Publishers, 2002. First omnibus edition, bringing together volumes VI–IX of The History of Middle-earth in a single volume.

A substantial omnibus collecting the foura volumes that trace the development of The Lord of the Rings from Tolkien’s earliest drafts through to the completed work and its abandoned epilogue.

Hardcover, 23 × 15 cm, approximately 2,000 pages. Publisher’s black cloth, spine lettered and decorated in gilt, yellow ribbon marker, in the original green and black dust jacket. 

Edited by Christopher Tolkien from his father’s manuscripts, these four books document the composition of The Lord of the Rings in extraordinary detail. The Return of the Shadow follows the earliest stages of the narrative; The Treason of Isengard and The War of the Ring trace its continuing development; and Sauron Defeated includes the conclusion of the textual history together with additional writings, including the abandoned Epilogue. The volume forms the central section of Christopher Tolkien’s twelve-volume History of Middle-earth project and provides an unusually detailed view of J.R.R. Tolkien’s creative process. 

Book very good, with light surface marking to the black cloth and minor marks to the page edges. Binding square and firm, gilt bright, yellow ribbon marker present. Dust jacket very good, with light rubbing, surface wear and minor creasing to the extremities; no substantial loss visible. Internally clean and bright.

A very good copy of the 2002 first omnibus edition.