7. There Is A Book That Comes Before Both The Hobbit And LOTR
The depth of Tolkien's literary creations go way beyond the Peter Jackson portrayal, though he does touch upon historical references to Middle Earth in the movies. Tolkien started writing a vast, in-depth backstory to his workings, titled The Silmarillion, and wished to publish alongside the Lord Of The Rings. The publishers thought it too Celtic and it was eventually published four years after his death, after being completed by his son Christopher. It tells of the creation of the universe, Eä; in which are found the lands of Valinor, Beleriand, Númenor, and, of course, Middle Earth. It describes the Valar and Maiar, including the Dark Lord Morgoth, Saurons master. It also tells tales of the war over the Silmarils, a history to the Rings of Power and the story Of Beren and Lúthien. Tolkien fans who havent read The Silmarillion are missing out on a great deal of Middle Earth history including the references to Eärendil in the book and movie.
