The History of Middle Earth: Volume 8 - The War of the Ring

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The History of Middle Earth: Volume 8 - The War of the Ring Page 56

by J. R. R. Tolkien


  Osgiliath is now north-east of Minas Tirith (see pp. 269 - 70, 353). A note on the map says that 'Minas Morgul must be rather more north' (cf. the plan reproduced on p. 181 and the large LR map).

  Within the confines of Mordor a major change was made in the last stage of the use of this map. The great peninsula of high land (Q16) thrust out southwards from the Ash Mountains, on which stood Barad-dûr, was struck through, and Barad-dûr was moved north-west (to P 16). This was where Orodruin had stood as the map was first drawn.(3) Orodruin was moved to stand near the bottom right-hand corner of P 15. I have in this case preserved the original site of Barad-dûr in my redrawing, for the alterations were carried out very roughly. Other additions of this time were the rough outline of the Sea of Nurnen, the names Lithlad, Morgai, and Nurn, and also Gorgoroth of the vale running back from the Morannon. Gorgoroth was struck out, and in its place was pencilled here the name Narch Udûn.(4)

  NOTES.

  1. The fact that the track of Frodo's journey from the Emil Muil to the Morannon (not shown on my redrawing) is very carefully marked and probably belongs to the first 'layer' does not demonstrate that in its making this map goes back to the writing of Book IV. For one thing, it seems unlikely that my father would have made the map redrawn on p. 269 if the Second Map had been already in existence.

  2. A name in scarcely visible pencilling that is almost certainly Lamedon can be seen written right across q 11 - 12 (from below the r of Morthond to east of the crossing of Ringlo), which suggests that Lamedon was at first a larger region.

  3. When Barad-dûr was moved to the site of Orodruin the original markings were obliterated.

  4. The names Harad Road, Near Harad (and an arrow directing to Far Harad), Desert of Lostladen (see p. 426 note 35), Khand (see p. 369), and Umbar were scribbled in pencil or blue crayon.

  1 At this point the text of the manuscript page reproduced on p. 90 begins, and continues to the end of the second paragraph.

  2 Pelargir was first placed at the top of the delta of Anduin. On the First Map (VII.309) a pencilled dot within a circle was placed beside Anduin at the point where rivers flow in from east and west on R13: this is obviously Pelargir, and was no doubt entered at this time. Another pencilled dot within a circle was put in to the east of the original Morthond on First Map Q12 (just to the right of the i of Enedwaith), and this is evidently Erech.

  Table of Contents

  THE WAR OF THE RING

  FOREWORD.

  PART ONE.

  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.

  I.THE TAMING OF SMEAGOL.

  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.

  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.

  Footnotes

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