The History of Middle-earth: reading order

By J.R.R. Tolkien

12 books, published from 1983 to 1996.

All 12 books in order

  1. Book 1The Book of Lost Tales22 editions1983
  2. Book 2The Book of Lost Tales: Part II18 editions1984
  3. Book 3The Lays of Beleriand11 editions1985
  4. Book 4The Shaping of Middle-earth10 editions1986
  5. Book 5The Lost Road and Other Writings9 editions1987
  6. Book 6The Return of the Shadow11 editions1988
  7. Book 7The Treason of Isengard12 editions1989
  8. Book 8The War of the Ring11 editions1990
  9. Book 9Sauron Defeated7 editions1992
  10. Book 10Morgoth's Ring8 editions1993
  11. Book 11The War of the Jewels6 editions1994
  12. Book 12The Peoples of Middle-earth7 editions1996

Other titles linked to the series

Companion books, box sets and editions the sources link to the series without a number.