The History of Middle-Earth Books in Order
Below you'll find the complete list of The History of Middle-Earth books in publication order. This is generally the recommended reading order for the series.
Reading order verified: January 2026
Publication Order
The Book of Lost Tales, Part One
Buy on Amazon1983
The Book of Lost Tales, Part Two
Buy on Amazon1983
The Lays of Beleriand
Buy on Amazon1985
The Shaping of Middle-earth
Buy on Amazon1986
The Lost Road and Other Writings
Buy on Amazon1987
The War of the Jewels
Buy on Amazon1994
The History of Middle Earth Index
Buy on Amazon2002
The Great Tales of Middle-Earth
Buy on Amazon2018
The Return of the Shadow
Buy on Amazon1988
The Treason of Isengard
Buy on Amazon1989
The War of the Ring
Buy on Amazon1990
Sauron Defeated
Buy on Amazon1992
Frequently Asked Questions
The recommended reading order for the The History of Middle-Earth series is publication order: 1. The Book of Lost Tales, Part One (1983), 2. The Book of Lost Tales, Part Two (1983), 3. The Lays of Beleriand (1985), 4. The Shaping of Middle-earth (1986), 5. The Lost Road and Other Writings (1987), and 7 more. This is generally the best way to experience the story as the author intended.
The The History of Middle-Earth series by J.R.R. Tolkien contains 12 books. The series began in 1983 and continues to be a popular choice for readers.
The The History of Middle-Earth series is written by J.R.R. Tolkien. You can find more books and series by this author on our website.
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