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After selling out earlier this week, The Complete History of Middle-earth: Collector’s Box Set is back in stock at Amazon with a massive discount. The 5,440-page, three-book collector’s set is on sale for $80.65 (was $250) in Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days book promotion. The 68% drop–nearly $170 off–is the steepest price cut offered by Amazon since William Morrow published the collector’s set in 2020. Since Amazon has already sold out of this deal multiple times this week, you probably shouldn’t wait too long to snag this one. Like many other J.R.R. Tolkien and Lord of the Rings book deals Amazon is offering this weekend, you need to be a Prime member to get The Complete History of Middle-earth for this low price.
Alternatively, all four of the 2024 hardcover box sets collecting The History of Middle-earth and The Silmarillion are on sale for up to 66% off.
$80.65 (was $250) | Restocked on October 4
Published in 2020 with an MSRP of $250, The Complete History of Middle-earth is a wonderfully designed and constructed box set. Each book is heavy, but even the 2,000-plus page second volume offers a pleasant reading experience. Each book comes with a dust jacket and can be stored and displayed in a premium, custom-built case emblazoned with J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic logo.
Based on Tolkien’s Legendarium–a massive collection of backstories, lore, and notes covering Middle-earth throughout thousands of years–The History of Middle-earth was originally published from 1983-1996. Christopher Tolkien, the author’s son and literary executor, compiled, edited, and added to the legendarium to create 12 distinct books.
The Complete History of Middle-earth contains all 12 volumes in their original publication chronology:
- Book of Lost Tales, Part I
- Book of Lost Tales, Part II
- The Lays of Beleriand
- The Shaping of Middle-earth
- The Lost Road and Other Writings
- The Return of the Shadow
- The Treason of Isengard
- The War of the Ring
- Sauron Defeated
- Morgoth’s Ring
- The War of the Jewels
- The Peoples of Middle-earth
At 5,440 pages across three books, it’s probably safe to say that these would be the largest books on most fans’ bookshelves. Each of the three volumes was also published individually on the same day as the box set, but at current prices, you’d spend more for two of them than you would for the box set.
The History of Middle-earth Box Sets (2024)
Though The Complete History of Middle-earth is the most economical way to read all 12 volumes in physical format, the 2024 box sets are certainly worth a look, too. These gorgeous sets include splashy, fully illustrated dust jackets and display cases. If you prefer a more traditional look, the other side of the reversible dust jackets feature the original graphics with solid-color backgrounds.
All 12 volumes are included as individual books across the four sets, but if you go this route, you’ll also get a few extra books. Publisher William Morrow decided to include The Silmarillion as the first book in Box Set 1. The Silmarillion, Tolkien’s best-known work besides The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, is often lumped in with The History of Middle-earth these days–and it makes sense why. Early drafts and parts of the 1977 classic are actually in the 12-volume series. Box Set 1 also includes Unfinished Tales, while the final set has a book-length index.
William Morrow continued its series of decorative Tolkien hardcover box sets this summer with Tolkien Myths and Legends, a four-book box set that’s on sale for $53.70 (was $125), and The Great Tales of Middle-earth, which contains Tolkien’s final three novels and is on sale for $75 (was $125).
Prime Big Deal Days: The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and The Silmarillion
Amazon’s early Prime Big Deal Days book sale is filled with Tolkien books, including multiple collectible editions of The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and The Silmarillion.
The Lord of the Rings Collector’s Editions (2024)
Read our in-depth story on The Lord of the Rings Collector’s Editions.
The Lord of the Rings: Tolkien Illustrated Editions
Read our in-depth story on the Tolkien Illustrated Special Editions.
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