RED BOOK
See also WRITINGS
Books & Writings
HIDING OF VALINOR,
HUNTING OF THE WOLF (Silmarillion),
MUSIC OF THE AINUR,
SONG OF THE GREAT BOW,
SONGS,VERSES,POEMS,
THIRD AGE OF THE (Silmarillion),
RED BOOK OF WESTMARCH.
Red Book of Westmarch
Red Book of the Periannath
The Red Book contained a large number of verses. A few are included in the narrative of the Downfall of
the Lord of the Rings (= Lord of the Rings). Also in the attached stories and chronicles.
Many more are found on loose leaves, while some are written carelessly in margins and blank spaces.
Of the last sort most are nonsense, now often unintelligible even when legible, or half-remembered
fragments.
The book was written by Bilbo, Frodo and Sam, from which The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings was
taken. Along with this book were four more, consisting of three volumes, titled, Translations from the
Elvish and one which was the family trees of those hobbits in the Company of the Ring. The original titles
the books were divided into were: There and Back Again, The Downfall of the Lord of the Rings, The
Return of the King, Translations from the Elvish.
Read THE TOLKIEN COMPANION. By J.E.A. Tyler.
Read THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO MIDDLE-EARTH. By Robert Foster.
THAIN’S BOOK. A first copy of the Red Book of Westmarch made at the request of the King and brought
to him by Peregrin I when he retired to Gondor in 4A0063.
The Book was much annoted afterwards in Minas Tirith. A hundred years later a second copy was made in
Gondor by Findegil and his King’s Writers and kept at Great Smials in Tuckborough.
This copy is the most important surviving version of the Red Book and a source for Prof. Tolkien’s
writings. In this copy of the Thain’s Book the history of the founding and the downfall of Westernesse is
preserved, written by Elendil and the Dunedain early in the Third Age. (Akallabêth).
The Copy of the Thain’s Book was called also The Red Book of Gondor and the Red Book of the
Periannath.
-GREAT RED BOOK OF SAMWISE.
The Red Book was written by Bilbo and Frodo Baggins and completed by Sam Gamgee. It tells of their
adventures in the Third Age of Middle-earth and is the primary source of information on Hobbits and their
role in the War of the Ring.
Bilbo began writing his memoirs, which he called There and Back Again: A Hobbit's Holiday, sometime
after he returned from his journey with the Dwarves to the Lonely Mountain in 3A2941. It was not yet
completed when he left the Shire in 3A3001. He took the manuscript with him in hopes of finding a quiet
place to finish it. He planned to end his book with: "and he lived happily ever after to the end of his days."
(FotR, p. 41)
After Bilbo settled in Rivendell in 3A3002, he wrote many songs and poems and began work on his
Translations from the Elvish which relate the history of the Elder Days. He does not seem to have finished
his memoirs, however, though he told Frodo that he had done some more work on them. As it turned out,
Frodo would have quite a bit more to add to the tale.
When Frodo stopped at Rivendell after his quest in 3A3019, he collected Bilbo's manuscript and notes
along with the three red-bound volumes of Translations from the Elvish. During his last years in the Shire,
Frodo organized Bilbo's manuscript and added to it his account the War of the Ring. It was bound in red
leather, and the title page read as follows (with a number of titles crossed out):
My Diary. My Unexpected Journey. There and Back Again. And What Happened After.
Adventures of Five Hobbits. The Tale of the Great Ring, compiled by Bilbo Baggins from his own
observations and the accounts of his friends. What we did in the War of the Ring.
[Here Bilbo's hand ended and Frodo had written:]
THE DOWNFALL OF THE LORD OF THE RINGS AND THE RETURN OF THE KING
(as seen by the Little People; being the memoirs of Bilbo and Frodo of the Shire,
supplemented by the accounts of their friends and the learning of the Wise.)
Together with extracts from Books of Lore translated by Bilbo in Rivendell.
Frodo had completed up through chapter 80, but that chapter he left for Sam to complete.
In the year 4A0061, Sam departed for the Grey Havens and left The Red Book with his eldest daughter
Elanor, who lived at Undertowers in the Westmarch, a land on the western border of the Shire. The book
was kept in a red case along with the three-volume Translations from the Elvish and a fifth volume of
genealogical tables and commentaries. It was passed down through the generations of her family, the
Fairbairns, and though the original has not survived, many copies were made, the most important of which
was The Thain's Book.
See alao BILBO, FRODO, SAMWISE. See also SONGS, VERSES, POEMS
Red Book of Westmarch
The Red Book was written by Bilbo and Frodo Baggins and completed by Sam Gamgee. It tells of their
adventures in the Third Age of Middle-earth and is the primary source of information on Hobbits and their
role in the War of the Ring.
Bilbo began writing his memoirs, which he called There and Back Again: A Hobbit's Holiday, sometime
after he returned from his journey with the Dwarves to the Lonely Mountain in 2941. It was not yet
completed when he left the Shire in 3001. He took the manuscript with him in hopes of finding a quiet
place to finish it. He planned to end his book with: "and he lived happily ever after to the end of his days."
(FotR, p. 41)
After Bilbo settled in Rivendell in 3002, he wrote many songs and poems and began work on his
Translations from the Elvish which relate the history of the Elder Days. He does not seem to have finished
his memoirs, however, though he told Frodo that he had done some more work on them. As it turned out,
Frodo would have quite a bit more to add to the tale.
When Frodo stopped at Rivendell after his quest in 3019, he collected Bilbo's manuscript and notes along
with the three red-bound volumes of Translations from the Elvish. During his last years in the Shire, Frodo
organized Bilbo's manuscript and added to it his account the War of the Ring. It was bound in red leather,
and the title page read as follows (with a number of titles crossed out):
My Diary. My Unexpected Journey. There and Back Again. And What Happened After.
Adventures of Five Hobbits. The Tale of the Great Ring, compiled by Bilbo Baggins from his own
observations and the accounts of his friends. What we did in the War of the Ring.
[Here Bilbo's hand ended and Frodo had written:]
THE DOWNFALL
OF THE
LORD OF THE RINGS
AND THE
RETURN OF THE KING
(as seen by the Little People; being the memoirs of Bilbo and Frodo of the Shire,
supplemented by the accounts of their friends and the learning of the Wise.)
Together with extracts from Books of Lore translated by Bilbo in Rivendell.
Frodo had completed up through chapter 80, but that chapter he left for Sam to complete.
In the year 61 F.A., Sam departed for the Grey Havens and left The Red Book with his eldest daughter
Elanor, who lived at Undertowers in the Westmarch, a land on the western border of the Shire. The book
was kept in a red case along with the three-volume Translations from the Elvish and a fifth volume of
genealogical tables and commentaries. It was passed down through the generations of her family, the
Fairbairns, and though the original has not survived, many copies were made, the most important of which
was The Thain's Book.
Also called the Red Book of the Periannath (Hobbits).
Red Book of Westmarch
BOOK OF MAZARBUL.
Book of Mazarbul Book of Mazarbul
Record of Balin's expedition to Moria. The Book of Mazarbul covered five years, beginning with the
arrival of the Dwarves in Moria in 2989 and abruptly ending in the year 2994. It was written in many
different hands using the runes of Moria and Dale as well as Elvish letters. The book chronicled the
hardships encountered by the Dwarves as they tried to retake Moria from the Orcs and other creatures that
inhabited the dark caverns. The deaths of many of their company including Balin were recorded. The last
entry was written in Elvish script by Ori:
We cannot get out. We cannot get out. They have taken the Bridge and second hall. Frár and Lóni and Náli
fell there ... went 5 days ago ... the pool is up to the wall at Westgate. The Watcher in the Water took Óin.
We cannot get out. The end comes ... drums, drums in the deep ... they are coming.
The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Bridge of Khazad-dum," p. 336
When the Fellowship came to the Chamber of Mazarbul in Moria on January 15, 3019, Gandalf discovered
the Book of Mazarbul. It had been battered and burned and slashed and a number of pages were defaced or
missing, but Gandalf was able to piece together the Dwarves' tragic story. After he read the last pages, the
Fellowship heard drums in the deep and they were attacked by Orcs. The Book of Mazarbul was given to
Gimli to be passed on to Dain.
Mazarbul means "records" in Dwarvish.
-BALIN’S BOOK.
-BOOK OF RECORDS.
-MAZARBUL,
-RECORDS OF MAZARBUL.
See also MORIA
DOWNFALL OF WESTERNESSE.
See also CHANGE OF THE WORLD in World > Arda.
-ACCOUNT OF THE DOWNFALL. (Akallabêth, Atalantë). The history of the founding and the downfall
of Westernesse, composed by Elendil and the Dúnedain early in the Third Age. Preserved through the
Gondorian manuscipt copied for the Tooks and kept at Great Smials.
-AKALABETH. (N). "The Downfallen". Akkallabêth is the Adûnaic (Númenórean) word equivalent in
meaning to Quenya Atalantë. Also the title of the Account of the Downfall of Númenor.
-ATALANTE. (Q). "The Downfallen". Akallabêth (N).
-ATALANTIE. (Q). "Downfall".
-DOWNFALL OF NUMENOR. Of the deeds of Ar-Pharazôn, of his glory and his folly, more is
told in the tale of the Downfall of Númenor, which Elendil wrote, and which was preserved in Gondor.
-DOWNFALL OF NUMENOR THE. Read The Silmarillion : Akallabêth.
-DOWNFALLEN THE. Translation of Akallabêth (N) and Atalantë (Q).
-FALL OF NUMENOR THE.
FALL OF GIL-GALAD, THE. See SONGS, VERSES, POEMS
FALL OF GONDOLIN THE.
FALL OF THE NOLDOR THE, Fall of the Noldor
HERBLORE OF THE SHIRE.
Herblore of the Shire Herblore of the Shire
Book on pipe-weed written by Meriadoc Brandybuck. This work was the most comprehensive source of
information on the history of the use and cultivation of pipe-weed in Middle-earth. It was kept in the library
at Brandy Hall.
A Book written by Meriadoc Brandybuck, describing among other things the history of pipe-weed.
See also MERRY
FAMILY TREES. See HOBBITS.
LAMENT FOR THE TWO TREES.
ALDUDÉNIË. (Q). "Lament for the Two Trees". Account of the destruction of the Two Trees.
Written by Elemmire of theVanyar soon after the event.
OLD WORDS AND NAMES IN THE SHIRE.
Old Words & Names in the Shire
Treatise by Merry Brandybuck. In this work, Merry showed the relationship between the languages of the
Rohirrim and the Shire-folk. The work included a variety of old place-names as well as words such as
mathom. The treatise was kept at the library at Brandy Hall.
A book written by Meriadoc Brandybuck discussing the relationship between Rohirric and Hobbitish.
See also MERRY
POEMS. See SONGS, VERSES, POEMS
RECKONING OF YEARS.
Reckoning of Years
Comparison of the calendars of Middle-earth by Merry Brandybuck. The calendars of the Shire and Bree
were discussed in relation to those of Rivendell, Gondor, and Rohan. This work was kept at the library at
Brandy Hall. Information from The Reckoning of Years can be found in Appendix D of The Lord of the
Rings.
A book written by Meriadoc Brandybuck discussing the relationship between the calendars of the Shire,
Bree, Rivendell, Gondor, and Rohan.
See also MERRY
SONGS. See SONGS, VERSES, POEMS
TALE OF ARAGORN AND ARWEN.
The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen Tale of Aragorn & Arwen
The story of the meeting and courtship of Aragorn and Arwen and their life together. The complete tale was
written by Faramir's grandson Barahir after Aragorn's death. An abbreviated version of the tale was
included in the copy of The Thain's Book made by Findegil in 4A0172. It tells of Aragorn's first meeting
with Arwen at Rivendell and of their later meeting in Lothlorien, where Arwen chose a mortal life and
pledged her love to Aragorn. It also tells of Aragorn's death in 4A0120 and of Arwen's death a year later.
The short version of The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen can be found in Appendix A of The Lord of the
Rings.
Said to have been written by Barahir of Gondor in the second century of the Fourth Age.
Parts of the Tale were added to the Gondor copy of the Thain’s Book.
-CHRONICLE OF GONDOR.
TALE OF YEARS.
The Tale of Years
Tale of Years Tale of Years
A chronological record of the events of the Second and Third Ages leading up to and including the War of
the Ring and beyond. The Tale of Years was probably compiled at the library at the Great Smials. Merry
Brandybuck most likely contributed to the work with information that he gathered at Rivendell, which he
visited on occasion. Though the dates were often conjectural, especially for the Second Age, The Tale of
Years was an imporant resource. A much abbreviated version can be found in Appendix B of The Lord of
the Rings.
A book written by Meriadoc Brandybuck. A chronology of the Second, the Third, and the Fourth Ages. It
was compiled by the Tooks in the early years of the Fourth Age and kept at Great Smials in Tuckborough.
Merry gathered material in Rivendell and this was incorporated into the Tale of Years, which was thus
quite accurate. Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings is a shortened version of Merry’s book. The subtitle
of the Tale was Chronology of the Westlands.
See also MERRY
THAIN'S BOOK.
Thain’s Book Thain's Book
The most complete copy of the famous Red Book of Westmarch, begun by Bilbo Baggins and finished by
Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee.
Peregrin Took brought a copy of The Red Book to Gondor in the year 4A0064. At the request of Aragorn,
King Elessar, a copy was made with many annotations, additions, and corrections. In particular, names,
words, and Elvish quotations were verified and corrected as needed. One addition was an abbreviated
version of The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen, the full account of which was written by Barahir, grandson of
Faramir, after Aragorn's death.
In 4A0172, Findegil, King's Writer, finished a fair copy of The Thain's Book in Minas Tirith. This copy
was the only one to include Bilbo's complete Translations from the Elvish, a history of the Elder Days
which he compiled while at Rivendell between 3003 and 3018. The copy was most likely made at the
request of Peregrin Took's great-grandson. It was brought to the Shire and was kept at the Great Smials, the
ancestral home of the Tooks in Tuckborough.
Portions of The Thain's Book are available to modern readers. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are
derived from the original Red Book. These tell the story of the finding of the One Ring and the quest to
destroy it. The Appendices found at the end of The Lord of the Rings contain material that was added to
The Thain's Book in Minas Tirith, such as The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen. The Silmarillion is a compiled
from Bilbo's Translations from the Elvish.
A first copy of the Red Book of Westmarch made at the request of the King and brought to him by
Peregrin I when he retired to Gondor in 4A0063.
The Book was much annoted afterwards in Minas Tirith. A hundred years later a second copy was made in
Gondor by Findegil and his King’s Writers and kept at Great Smials in Tuckborough.
This copy is the most important surviving version of the Red Book and a source for Prof. Tolkien’s
writings. In this copy of the Thain’s Book the history of the founding and the downfall of Westernesse is
preserved, written by Elendil and the Dunedain early in the Third Age. (Akallabêth).
The Copy of the Thain’s Book was called also The Red Book of Gondor and the Red Book of the
Periannath.
See also RULERS > THAIN
THE ADVENTURES OF TOM BOMBADIL. A Buckland poem about Tom Bombadil, written probably
before the War of the Ring.
Adventures of Tom Bombadil The ATB01,
Bombadil goes boating ATB02,
Errantry ATB03,
Princess Mee ATB04,
Man in the Moon stayed up Too Late The ATB05,
Man in the Moon came down Too Soon The ATB06,
Stone Troll The ATB07,
Perry-the-Winkle ATB08,
Mewlips The ATB09,
Oliphaunt ATB10,
Fastitocalon ATB11,
Cat ATB12,
Shadow-bride ATB13,
Hoard The ATB14,
Sea-bell The ATB15,
Last Ship The ATB16.
ADVENTURES OF TOM BOMBADIL, THE.
-See also WRITINGS
THE ROLL.
The Roll
List of the Hobbits who particpated in the Battle of Bywater. The names on the Roll were memorized by
Shire-historians. At the top of the list were Captains Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took.
TRANSLATIONS FROM THE ELVISH.
Translations from the Elvish
A history of the Elder Days by Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo compiled this work while living at Rivendell between
3A3003 and 3A3018. He used the records available at Rivendell and also spoke to many of the Elves living
and staying there. The completed work was three volumes bound in red leather.
Bilbo gave the books to Frodo Baggins when Frodo passed through Rivendell on his way home to the Shire
in 3A3019. When Frodo left Middle-earth in 3A3021, he gave Bilbo's Translations from the Elvish to Sam
Gamgee along with the history of the finding and the destruction of the One Ring that came to be known as
The Red Book of Westmarch. The books were passed to Sam's daughter Elanor and were kept together in a
red case at her home in the Westmarch.
In 4A0172, a copy of the Red Book and the Translations from the Elvish was made by Findegil, a scribe in
Gondor. This copy, known as The Thain's Book, was brought back to the Shire and was kept in the library
at the Great Smials.
Modern readers can find portions of Bilbo's Translations from the Elvish in The Silmarillion.
Book of Lore by Bilbo Baggins. Written between 3A3003 and 3A3018 at Rivendell. In this book Bilbo
incorporated all the Eldar lore and history of the First Age he could cull from living or written records. The
book was written in Westron It formed three volumes of the Red Book of Westmarch. The Translations
very probably included the Ainulindalë, the Valaquenta, and the Quenta Silmarillion.
Three volumes written by Bilbo Baggins in Rivendell that formed the basis for the collection of tales
known as the Silmarillion.
BOOKS OF LORE. See also BILBO
VERSES. See SONGS, VERSES, POEMS
YEARBOOK OF TUCKBOROUGH.
Yearbook of Tuckborough Yellowskin
Annals of the Took family. The Yearbook of Tuckborough was the oldest known book in the Shire. It was
begun around the year 2000 of the Third Age and chronicled events dating from the founding of the Shire
in 1601 onwards. The Yearbook recorded births, deaths, marriages, land-sales, and other events in Took
history. Much of this information was later included in the Red Book of Westmarch. The Yearbook was
kept in Tuckborough, probably at the Great Smials. It was commonly called the Yellowskin, suggesting
that it was bound in yellow leather or some other yellow material.
Other Names:
Also called the Great Writ of Tuckborough.
Book kept by the Tooks of Great Smials. Recording Took births, deaths, marriages, and sales of land. Also
recording various Shire events.
The records started about 3A2000 and contained much information cited in the Red Book of Westmarch.
The Yearbook was the most ancient document in the Shire at the end of the Third Age.
Also YEAR-BOOK OF TUCKBOROUGH.
See also RULERS > THAIN