In the second volume of the History of Middle-earth, Christopher Tolkien explores the first initial drafts of the Lord of the Rings and its subsequent plot developments.

This was fascinating reading, for example to discover that it was Bingo, not Frodo, the initial ring-bearer as well as other sometimes major name changes or plots which got chopped out during editing. Where the first volume concerned the First Age and The Silmarillion stories - and, truth be told, was quite heavy reading sometimes - this volume focuses wholly on the Lord of the Rings, so people who are new to Middle-earth or have just read The Hobbit, or Lord of the Rings, will thoroughly enjoy this.

Another interesting read. This time with some older drafts of Lord of the Rings with some added commentary from Christopher Tolkien.

Reviews here:

The Return of the Shadow: The History of The Lord of the Rings, Part One
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Treason of Isengard: The History of The Lord of the Rings, Part Two
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The War of the Ring
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The End of the Third Age: The History of The Lord of the Rings, Part Four
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

started a little but have no time for it.

Not an easy reading. Basically for hardcore fans. But once one has completed the Silmarillion, enjoyed it and wants more, the history is a fabulous adventure inside the creation of the Tolkien universe.

Also a great act of love by a son for the work of his father.

"Lord of the Rings" and "History" in one title??
'Nuff said!!

For hardcore Tolkien fans. Casual Lord of the Rings fans will probably be put off by reading fragments, notes and early drafts of Tolkien's stories, but big nerds like me eat it up.

Deluxe Limited Edition, quarter bound in leather and cloth with cloth slipcase, limited to 1000 copies worldwide.

Is this really about JRRT's writing of LOTR?

Follow along as the tale grows from a simple sequel to The Hobbit into the complex saga we know and love. It can be a bit tedious reading through the various rough drafts but you get to see the author at work. Many interesting tidbits like Strider/Aragorn was originally a Hobbit with wooden shoes!

Oh boy .... this took me the better part of the year to get through, bit by bit.
But it's amazing! I remember reading the 1st part, which is almost all First Age and Silmarillion stories and thus very ambitious to get through, but this 2nd part is centered right around Lord of the Rings and a pure joy for fans. It was utterly fascinating to pick through the creation of the Tolkien universe and come across little tidbits previously unknown.