Episode 96: Lesser-trod Histories 13: War of the Jewels

In this installment of our Lesser-trod Histories series, Stef and Jude explore The History of Middle-earth, volume 11, The War of the Jewel, specifically looking at the Grey Annals. The Grey Annals is the primary text for the structure of the history of Beleriand, and a year-by-year timeline of the First Age of Middle-earth. Jude muses on the etymology of the name “Beleriand” in regard to Ossë, and comes around to the tragedy of Túrin. Stef discusses the cruelty of Morgoth in paragraphs 80-82, and the conversation between Galadriel and Melian (and Melian and Thingol) in paragraphs 91-99.

Citations 

Tolkien, J. R. R. War of the Jewels. Ed. Christopher Tolkien. The History of Middle-earth: Vol. 11. HarperCollins, London, 1994. 

Tolkien Gateway entry for “Bay of Balar”

https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Bay_of_Balar (Accessed June 27, 2026)

Tolkien and Middle-earth Online Art Exhibition

August 15, 2026. https://sites.google.com/view/bc-tolkien-online-art-exhibit/home?authuser=0 (Accessed June 27, 2026)

Tolkien Society Seminar: Tolkien's Invented Languages

November 21, 2026. https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/seminar-2026/ (Accessed June 27, 2026)

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