The Shaping of Middle-earth

I am now moving through book number four of The History of Middle-earth which is called The Shaping of Middle-earth. Tolkien wrote much of this material in the 1930's after The Hobbit and before The Lord of the Rings. Christopher Tolkien noted that after Rings his father had to go back and change much of what was written in this time period due to the more developed Rings story. Unfortunately, though he spent the rest of his life tinkering with his First Age writings they would never be fully developed. Part of book four will introduce some of the earliest Annals of Middle-earth. I was pleased to see that Christopher Tolkien said his father became somewhat obsessed with the chronology of the work--as obviously I share that obsession.

The first part of The Shaping of Middle-earth highlights some prose scraps connected to earlier Tales but they are rather isolated. I bullet a few highlights from them:

• The first bit is connected to The Fall of Gondolin.
• Interestingly the main character's name shifts from Tuor to Turgon. Very confusing since Turgon is the King of Gondolin in the published work.
• Clearly in this writing Ulmo is pining for the forgiveness of the isolated Gnomes (Noldor) and feared Melko's power more than any other Valar.
• The second writing is related to the exile of the Elves as they march on Middle-earth.
• I really like the line: "...new flowers sprang behind those armies as they trod, for the earth was glad of the coming of the Gnomes..." (p. 6, The Shaping of Middle-earth).
• Names are very much different in this story which is a little disconcerting when you read.
• We also see (or would have seen had the piece been finished) the death of Fëanor as he and some of his followers clearly come upon an large Orc force.
• The third and final piece is a very disjointed sketch that is clearly revisiting the Kinslaying.