A boxed set of four paperbacks detailing the creation of 'The Lord Of The Rings' from its inception to its finished form, featuring brand new cover art.
At the core of these books are a great many early drafts and unpublished passages which add greatly to one's understanding of his great masterpiece:
'The Return Of The Shadow' examines how Bilbo's "magic" ring from 'The 'Hobbit evolved into the supremely dangerous Ruling Ring of the Dark Lord, the unforeseen moment when a Black Rider first rode into the Shire, and how the central characters underwent many changes of name and personality.
'The Treason Of Isengard' traces the great expansion of the tale into new lands and new peoples south and east of the Misty Mountains. In brief outlines and pencilled drafts are seen the first entry of Galadriel, the earliest ideas of the history of Gondor, and the original meeting of Aragorn and Éowyn.
'The War Of The Ring' takes up the story with the Battle of Helm's Deep, the journey of Frodo, Sam and Gollum to the Pass of Cirith Ungol, describes the war in Gondor, and ends with the parley between Gandalf and the ambassador of the dark Lord before the Black Gate of Mordor.
'The End Of The Third Age' concludes the study of 'The Lord Of The Rings' with Frodo's rescue from the Tower of Cirith Ungol, and gives a very different account of the Scouring of the Shire. It includes the unpublished Epilogue, in which, years after the departure of Bilbo and Frodo, Sam attempts to answer his children's questions. This edition is extracted from the book 'Sauron Defeated' and is exclusive to this boxed set.
