Christopher Tolkien published 15 novels, 1 novella, 2 short story collections, 1 poetry collection and 1 other book, beginning with The Silmarillion (1977).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Christopher Tolkien
Start here
The Silmarillion
Christopher Tolkien's most-read book, rated by 121 Open Library readers.
Standalone novels in order
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo (1979)
The Lays of Beleriand (1985)
The Shaping of Middle-Earth (1986)
The Lost Road and Other Writings (1987)
The Return of the Shadow (1988)
The Treason of Isengard (1989)
The War of the Ring (1990)
Sauron Defeated (1992)
Morgoth's Ring (1993)
The War of the Jewels (1994)
The Peoples of Middle-Earth (1996)
The Fall of Gondolin (1999)
The History of the Lord of the Rings (2000)
The History of Middle-Earth Iii (2001)
The History of Middle-Earth Index (2002)
Novellas in order
Pictures by J. R. R. Tolkien (1979), with J. R. R. Tolkien
Short story collections in order
The Silmarillion (1977)
The Book of Lost Tales (1992)
Poetry in order
Beowulf (2014)
Other books in order
Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien (2023)
About Christopher Tolkien
Christopher John Reuel Tolkien was an English academic editor and writer. The son of the author and academic J. R. R. Tolkien, he edited 24 volumes based on his father's posthumously published work, including The Silmarillion and the 12-volume series The History of Middle-Earth, a task that took 45 years. He drew the original maps for his father's fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings. He spent the second half of his life in France, becoming a French citizen.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Christopher Tolkien FAQ
- How many books has Christopher Tolkien written?
- Christopher Tolkien published 15 novels, 1 novella, 2 short story collections, 1 poetry collection and 1 other book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Christopher Tolkien's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Silmarillion.
- What is Christopher Tolkien's last book?
- The History of Middle-Earth Index (2002).
- What is Christopher Tolkien's most famous book?
- The Silmarillion (1977) is Christopher Tolkien's most widely read book.
Authors like Christopher Tolkien
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.