The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien Box Set: Three-Volume Box Set

The idea for “The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien” started in 2016, when Christina Scull and Wayne Hammond were invited by HarperCollins to a meeting to discuss collecting and publishing Tolkien’s poems. That led to an enthusiastic response from Christopher Tolkien, his father’s literary executor, and the project was born. The editors are both Tolkien scholars, and they keep their work in the family – they’re married. They’ve published at least 10 books on Tolkien and countless articles, and their work has been recognized with several awards. She’s British, he’s American, and so represent the interest in Tolkien from both sides of the Atlantic (it should also be noted that Tolkien’s popularity is worldwide). In short, they were the ideal working team to undertake collecting the poems. Christopher Tolkien died in 2020, so he didn’t see the final product. But by then, Scull and Hammond write in the introduction, he had seen enough to endorse their approach for the poems. I think he would find the published result to be worthy of his father’s work. The proems are organized chronologically. Volume One cover the period 1910-1919; it also includes the introduction (don’t skip it; it’s a treasury of useful information). Volume Two covers 1919-1931, and Volume Three covers 193-1967. Thus Volume Three includes the poems of “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings,” but not all of them: Schull and Hammond selected the most important ones. Including them all would have likely required a fourth volume, and they (and the publisher) were committed to three. Volume Three also includes five appendices – limericks, Latin adages, poem lists, word lists, and a poem in Old English; and a glossary, a bibliography, and an index. It doesn’t take long before you realize that you’re holding a major work of Tolkien scholarship. With many of the poems, Scull and Hammond discovered there were two and often several versions of the same work; they include all they found. A total of 195 poems are included in the three books, with commentary provided by the editors on each. This is Poem No. 195, written in tribute of W.H. Auden on his 60th birthday (1967). In the 1920s, Auden had read English at Oxford; he’d heard Tolkien lecture on “Beowulf” and apparently had been blown away. At the time, the editors write, although a poor scholar himself, Auden had praised the lecture and the study of Old English. He also reviewed The Lord of the Rings very favorably and contributed a poem in a special book prepared for Tolkien’s 70th birthday in 1962. Tolkien reciprocated with this poem, written in Old English and contemporary English. To W.H.A. Among the people of the earth, one has poetry in him, fashions verses with art; one is fluent in words, has persuasive eloquence sound and lucid; one is a reader of books and richly stores his mind with memory of much wisdom and legends of old that long ago were learned and related by loremasters; one is a mate to choose, a man to trust, whose friendship’s call faithfully answers. Another I know of noble-hearted, to whom all these gifts in his early days the favour of Fate freely granted. Now wide is his renown. Wystan his name is, as it once was also of the Waegmunding in his far country, father of Wiglaf most loyal of lieges, and in later time of Wighelm’s son who in war was slain at Byrhtnoth’s side by the Blackwater in the famous defeat. He follows after, and now anew that name uses to his own honour. Auden some call him, and so among men may he be remembered ever, where as they sit by themselves for solace of heart the word-lovers, wise and skilful, revive the vanished voices of makers. Yes, I can see that the poem was written by the same hand who wrote those great songs and poems of Middle-earth. I could easily overuse superlatives in describing “The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien.” Suffice it to say it’s a treasure, a wonderful collection of poetry, coupled with informed and insightful commentary.

Gorgeous set of otherwise unknown Tolkien. Extensively annotated throughout. I’m very pleased. Aesthetically it is flawless. The content inside of these three volumes are the real treasure. I recommend every Tolkien enthusiast to obtain this stunning set.

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien is well known as a consummate master of fantasy fiction, but most of his readers are less familiar with the broad range of his poetry. That's unfortunate, because Tolkien wrote poetry throughout his life. The poetry for which he is best known is that which is included in his best known prose works, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, but that is only a sampling of his work. Now the eminent Tolkien scholars Christina Scull and Wayne Hammond have produced a masterpiece of their own, a three volume collection of Tolkien's poems, arranged chronologically from 1910 to 1967. Many of the poems have never been published before. Each poem is provided with an explanatory introduction, a detailed analysis, and when possible with drafts and abandoned versions. There is a thorough Introduction and Chronology in the first volume, and for convenience's sake the full Table of Contents is included with each volume. The books themselves are things of beauty, carefully bound with artwork by Tolkien on the front of each volume with ribbon bookmarkers and a slipcase which is also handsomely decorated with Tolkien's art. I anticipate spending many happy hours reading and studying Tolkien's poetry, from his first youthful efforts through his wartime reveries and then on into his mature work, as he began to develop what became his lifetime work, the so-called Matter of Middle-earth. The Collected Poems of JRR Tolkien is a masterpiece by a master artist, diligently annotated by two of his most scholarly readers, in a format as beautiful as Middle-earth itself.

This is an excellent edition, if you are interested in textual criticism. A lot of the poems have multiple drafts included, as Tolkien would return to a poem an tinker with it over a period of time (sometimes decades.) It is really interesting to see how he would edit and reedit poems, sometimes over a 50+ year period. In terms of book bindings, it is excellent. A wonderful gift for the Tolkien fan.

A wonderful collection of Tolkien’s poetry, spanning from his college years, until the 1970's. The books are nice hardcover, and the slipcase is esthetically pleasing. Although there is some extra room in the slipcase, not sure why.

Beautiful box set for your Tolkien library and a lovely collection of poetry.

Beautiful set of books

The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien is a masterful work of scholarship by Scull & Hammond—the Tolkien experts who authored the invaluable The Lord of the Rings: A Reader’s Companion (which I have pored over for almost two decades). This collection of Tolkien’s poetry is beautifully printed in three volumes with a sturdy slipcase, and cover art by Tolkien himself. Wizard hats off to William Morrow/Harper Collins publishers for such a reasonably priced ($125.00 USD) and handsomely produced publication. There are 250 annotated poems included in the collection—the earliest written when Tolkien was eighteen. 70 of the works have never been published, such as the poem "Scatha the Worm" (some incredible backstory/lore here for anyone who wants to know more about the horn that Eowyn gave Merry as a parting gift for his bravery…a horn she mentioned, in passing, that came from the hoard of Scatha). Indeed, there’s a dragon’s hoard of Tolkien literary treasure contained within these volumes. And Scull & Hammond have once again brought together something magical for anyone interested in Tolkien’s life and Legendarium.

Hammond & Scull’s work is always wonderful, but I think that this time they went even further: this anthology is the most complete, meticulous and passionate that I’ve ever seen. I’m especially enthusiast for the poems that were unpublished, till now, like the Lay of the Fall of Gondolin and the rhymed couplets of the Children of Húrin. Above all, I’m happy that somebody is assuming the task to continue the work of Christopher Tolkien, since his son seems too busy in other diversions.

Dit is een prachtige boekenset met mooie gedichten. Je moet wel een beetje een liefhebber zijn van de werken van Tolkien om hier goed doorheen te komen. Als je een fan van de histories bent, is deze set zeker een aanrader.

Livres de très grande qualité.

Top! Zum Inhalt kann ich noch nichts sagen, da ich bisher nur dazu gekommen bin, die Bücher ein bisschen durchzublättern. Lieferung war top, wie immer. Keine Mängel, keine Knicker, alles ist gut angekommen. Die Bücher kam nicht nur eingeschweißt, sondern auch noch in einer extra Kartonverpackung. Somit war es rundum geschützt. Die Bücher selbst sind optisch gut verarbeitet und sehen qualitativ hochwertig aus, von innen wie auch außen. Die Bücher kommen im dünnen Papier-Schuber und der Einband sieht schick aus, wenn auch weitaus weniger hochwertig als die normalen Deluxe-Ausgaben. Ich finde die Deluxe Sonderausgaben von Tolkien sehr schön und freue mich schon, diese Sammlung von Gedichten zu lesen.

I think this is going to be a life changing set of books for me. Middle earth is a religion after all. I’m so happy with these. I can’t wait to have some time to sink into these. Seems very beautiful.