Tolkien’s books and manuscripts
The Hobbit
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again is J. R. R. Tolkien’s novel about Bilbo Baggins’s journey with Thorin Oakenshield and his companions. It was first published in Britain by George Allen…
The Tolkien Encyclopedia
THE PUBLIC MIDDLE-EARTH ENCYCLOPEDIA
Explore Tolkien’s people, places, histories and ideas. Definitions remain free to read. Use a name or keyword, choose a topic, or browse by initial letter.
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History and events
The Last Alliance
The Last Alliance is the alliance of Elves and Men led by Gil-galad and Elendil against Sauron at the end of the Second Age. Its victory defeats Sauron’s immediate military power but…
Languages and etymology
Tengwar
The Tengwar are a writing system devised by Tolkien, attributed within the legendarium to Fëanor. They are characters that can be used to represent different languages, rather than a language in their…
Cosmology and mythology
The Music of the Ainur
The Music of the Ainur is the great music through which Ilúvatar reveals a vision of the world to the Ainur in the Ainulindalë. It precedes the actual existence of Eä and…
Cosmology and mythology
The Flame Imperishable
The Flame Imperishable is associated in the Ainulindalë with Ilúvatar’s power to give true being. Melkor seeks it in the Void, but cannot find it apart from Ilúvatar.