'The Book of Lost Tales' stands at the beginning of the entire conception of Middle-earth and
Valinor for the 'Tales' were the first form of the myths and legends that came to be called
'The Silmarillion'. Embedded in English legend and English association they are set in the
narrative frame of a great westward voyage over the Ocean by a mariner named Eriol (or
Aelfwine) to Tol Eressëa the Lonely Isle where Elves dwelt from them he learned their true
history the 'Lost Tales of Elfinesse'. In the 'Tales' are found the earliest accounts and
original ideas of Gods and Elves Dwarves Balrogs and Orcs of the Silmarils and the Two Trees
of Valinor of Nargothrond and Gondolin of the geography and cosmology of the invented world.
"In these 'Lost Tales' we have the scholar joyously gambolling in the thickets of his
imagination¿a Commentary and Notes greatly enrich the quest." THE DAILY TELEGRAPH "affords us
an almost over the shoulder view into the evolving creative process and genius of J.R.R.
Tolkien in a new exciting aspect¿the superb sensitive and extremely helpful commentary and
editing done by Christopher Tolkien makes all this possible." MYTHLORE
