Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth

About “Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth”

Unfinished Tales is a 1980 collection of stories and essays by J.R.R. Tolkien. It includes narratives set in Middle-earth, ranging from the Elder Days to the end of the War of the Ring. The book offers background and new stories for readers of The Lord of the Rings. It features accounts such as Gandalf’s explanation of why he sent the Dwarves to Bag-End, the appearance of the sea-god Ulmo to Tuor, and details about the Riders of Rohan. It also contains the only story about the history of Numenor before its downfall, as well as information on the Five Wizards, the Palantiri, and the legend of Amroth. The tales were compiled and edited by Christopher Tolkien, who added short commentaries to help readers understand the stories within the context of his father’s larger work.