The War of the Ring

From Tolkien Gateway
The name The War of the Ring refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see War of the Ring (disambiguation).
The War of the Ring
War of the Ring 1990.png
AuthorJ.R.R. Tolkien
EditorChristopher Tolkien
PublisherUnwin Hyman (UK)
Houghton Mifflin (US)
Released23 August 1990 (UK)
14 November 1990 (US)
FormatHardcover; paperback
Pages496
ISBN0044406851
Preceded byThe Treason of Isengard (1989)
Followed bySauron Defeated (1992)

The War of the Ring, published in 1990, is the eighth volume of Christopher Tolkien's 12-volume book series, The History of Middle-earth, in which he analyzes the unpublished manuscripts of J.R.R. Tolkien.

It is also the third volume of The History of The Lord of the Rings, which documents the writing process of The Lord of the Rings.

This book covers part of The Two Towers and part of The Return of the King. Following the development of the previous books, the story continues to the opening of the Black Gate.

The title The War of the Ring was the original title for Book 5 of TLotR, later discarded by Tolkien.

Contents[edit | edit source]

  • Foreword
  • Part One: The Fall of Saruman
    • I. "The Destruction of Isengard"
    • II. "Helm's Deep"
    • III. "The Road to Isengard"
    • IV. "Flotsam and Jetsam"
    • V. "The Voice of Saruman"
    • VI. "The Palantír"
  • Part Two: The Ring Goes East
    • I. "The Taming of Sméagol"
    • II. "The Passage of the Marshes"
    • III. "The Black Gate is Closed"
    • IV. "Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit"
    • V. "Faramir"
    • VI. "The Forbidden Pool"
    • VII. "Journey to the Cross-Roads"
    • VIII. "Kirith Ungol"
  • Part Three: Minas Tirith
    • I. "Addendum to 'The Treason of Isengard'"
    • II. "Book Five Begun and Abandoned"
    • III. "Minas Tirith"
    • IV. "Many Roads Lead Eastward (1)"
    • V. "Many Roads lead Eastward (2)"
    • VI. "The Siege of Gondor"
    • VII. "The Ride of the Rohirrim"
    • VIII. "The Story Foreseen from Forannest"
    • IX. "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields"
    • X. "The Pyre of Denethor"
    • XI. "The Houses of Healing"
    • XII. "The Last Debate"
    • XIII. "The Black Gate Opens"
    • XIV. "The Second Map"
  • Index

Inscriptions[edit | edit source]

There is an inscription in the Tengwar characters in the first pages of every History of Middle-earth volume, written by Christopher Tolkien and describing the contents of the book. The inscription in Book VIII reads:

"In the War of the Ring is traced the story of the history at Helm's Deep and the drowning of Isengard by the Ents, then is told of the journey of Frodo with Samwise and Gollum to the Morannon, of the meeting with Faramir and the stairs of Cirith Ungol, of the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, and of the coming of Aragorn in the fleet of Umbar."

From the Publisher[edit | edit source]

The third part of The History of The Lord of the Rings, an enthralling account of the writing of the Book of the Century which contains many additional scenes and includes the unpublished Epilogue in its entirety.

The War of the Ring takes up the story of The Lord of the Rings with the Battle of Helm's Deep and the drowning of Isengard by the Ents, continues with 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 book is illustrated with plans and drawings of the changing conceptions of Orthanc, Dunharrow, Minas Tirith, and the tunnels of Shelob's Lair.

Publication history and gallery[edit | edit source]

UK editions
1990 hardcover  
1991 hardcover  
1993 paperback  
1993 paperback 2nd impression  
2002 & 2015 paperback  
2010 hardcover  
2024 paperback  

External links[edit | edit source]

A content guide for this volume at Tolkienbooks.net

The History of Middle-earth series
i.The Book of Lost Tales: Part One · ii.The Book of Lost Tales: Part Two · iii.The Lays of Beleriand ·
iv.The Shaping of Middle-earth · v.The Lost Road and Other Writings · vi.The Return of the Shadow ·
vii.The Treason of Isengard · viii.The War of the Ring · ix.Sauron Defeated ·
x.Morgoth's Ring · xi.The War of the Jewels · xii.The Peoples of Middle-earth · (Index)
A J.R.R. Tolkien book guide
Books by or mainly by Tolkien
Of Arda Authored by
J.R.R. Tolkien
The Hobbit · The Lord of the Rings
(i.The Fellowship of the Ring · ii.The Two Towers · iii.The Return of the King) ·
The Road Goes Ever On · Bilbo's Last Song
Edited by Christopher Tolkien The Silmarillion · Unfinished Tales · The History of Middle-earth series
(i.The Book of Lost Tales: Part One · ii.The Book of Lost Tales: Part Two · iii.The Lays of Beleriand · iv.The Shaping of Middle-earth · v.The Lost Road and Other Writings · vi.The Return of the Shadow · vii.The Treason of Isengard · viii.The War of the Ring · ix.Sauron Defeated · x.Morgoth's Ring · xi.The War of the Jewels · xii.The Peoples of Middle-earth · Index) ·
The Children of Húrin · Beren and Lúthien · The Fall of Gondolin
Edited by others The Annotated Hobbit · The History of The Hobbit · The Nature of Middle-earth ·
The Fall of Númenor · The Maps of Middle-earth
Not of Arda Short stories
and poems
Leaf by Niggle · Farmer Giles of Ham · Smith of Wootton Major · The Adventures of Tom Bombadil ·
Letters from Father Christmas · Mr. Bliss · Roverandom ·
Tree and Leaf (compilation) · Tales from the Perilous Realm (compilation)
Fictional works The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún · The Fall of Arthur · The Story of Kullervo · The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun
Translations and academic works Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo · Finn and Hengest ·
The Monsters and the Critics, and Other Essays · Beowulf and the Critics · Tolkien On Fairy-stories ·
Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary · A Secret Vice · The Battle of Maldon
Collected letters and poems The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien · The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien
Edited old texts A Middle English Vocabulary · Sir Gawain and the Green Knight · Ancrene Wisse · The Old English Exodus
Books by other authors
Biographies J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography · The Inklings · Tolkien and the Great War
Reference works The Complete Guide to Middle-earth · The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide
Scholarly studies The Road to Middle-earth · The Keys of Middle-earth · The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion ·
The Ring of Words · A Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien · Tolkien's Lost Chaucer ·
Tolkien's Library · Tolkien on Chaucer, 1913-1959
Scholarly journals Tolkien Studies · (The Chronology)
Other works by Tolkien
Linguistic journals Vinyar Tengwar various issues · Parma Eldalamberon issue 11-22
Collections of artwork
and manuscripts
Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien · J.R.R. Tolkien: Life and Legend · J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator ·
The Art of The Hobbit · The Art of The Lord of the Rings · Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth ·
Tolkien: Treasures · J.R.R. Tolkien: The Art of the Manuscript
This list is only a selection of works, for a fuller bibliography of Tolkien see here or here. See also a timeline.