J.R.R. Tolkien discussion

I'm trying to compose a map of all the parts of Middle-Earth and the Noldor Lands. Does anyone know where Middle-Earth fits in to the Beleriand Map found in the Silmarillion? Is it actually the same area at a much earlier time? Can anyone recommend a book about the Geography of Middle Earth?

The Shaping of Middle Earth, Volume Four of the History of Middle Earth, edited by Christopher Tolkien, published by Harper Collins in 2002, includes maps drawn by J.R.R. Tolkien for his first version of The Silmarillion, and a short work called The Ambarkanta, which has his sketches for the shape of the lands and heavens of his mythology. Beleriand was the original land which formed the west coast of Middle Earth before it was drowned with Numenor by the flood caused by the Valar at the end of the First Age. You may know all this already, but I hope it helps. In one radio interview, J.R.R. Tolkien, talking about the maps in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, revealed how important the maps for his books were to him. "When you are writing a complicated story, you have got to have a map," he said.

Thanks Philip. I wish the Estate would produce a large-sized map of everything, similar to the recently available map of Westeros and the surrounding lands which GRRN recently licensed. It would be very helpful to reference when reading especially from the Unfinished Tales, as migrations and journeys play such an important part.

http://www.amazon.com/Maps-Tolkiens-M...

Sorry for the long link. It takes you to Amazon where a book with maps (removable and frame-able)of Beleriand and "middle-earth" as it's called in LoTR can be seen. I've got them and they are quite nice, helpful especially when dealing with the Silmarillion.

Mike and AnneMarie -- thanks so much -- I've put the books on my wish list for next month (bought too many books for this month's budget already! LOL! Never thought I'd see the day! Anyway -- I think I can mentally create an overlay that leaves Middle-Earth after the flooding of the Valar, in its present (?) shoreline and ranges of mountains, etc. Sort of, anyway. Then, there are the maps I've got on pre-order of Westeros...

The Atlas mentioned by Anne is great - I bought it years ago in order to help design a detailed map for a mod (of the standard Middle-earth map (as found in LOTR)). There are some pretty good maps online, although one of the best sites had to remove a lot of its maps because the Tolkien Estate can be hot on protecting copyright.

Btw, if you are producing something that will be seen by others, it's Middle-earth (not Middle-Earth or Middle Earth) ;)

Very handy to know, but nope, just for my eyes only.

Hi, Richard! I think someone told you this before, but Beleriand is the land the Valar destroyed in the War of Wrath; because of their power, it got submerged beneath the Great Sea, but you can read it all in The Silmarillion. Anyway, I found this map, which can help you to visualize both maps. As you can see, Ered Luin are the western region in Middle-Earth (in the realm of Lindon) and the are the eastern side in Beleriand (Thargelion and Ossiriand)
Here it is: http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:AN...