YEARS OF THE LAMPS

Journey back to the dawn of Middle-earth's creation, where ancient tales of Elves, Valar, and the first battles against darkness were born. These foundational manuscripts, penned by a young Oxford scholar in the aftermath of World War I, contain the earliest versions of legendary stories about the heroic Túrin, the tragic tale of Beren and Lúthien, and the fall of the blessed realm of Gondolin. Through his son Christopher's meticulous scholarship, these precious literary treasures illuminate the nascent mythological world that would eventually bloom into The Silmarillion and the beloved Lord of the Rings saga.

Before Sauron cast his shadow over Middle-earth, a far greater power shook the very foundations of Arda. The mightiest of the Valar fell into darkness, stealing the Silmarils, corrupting Elves into Orcs, and unleashing Balrogs and dragons upon the world. From the depths of Angband, this fallen Ainu waged war against Elves and Men, forever changing the fate of Beleriand and earning the name 'Black Foe of the World.'

Deep within the First Age manuscripts, a revolutionary concept emerges: Melkor, the first Dark Lord, infused his very essence into the matter of Arda, corrupting the world itself. This groundbreaking philosophical and mythological exploration reveals how evil became woven into the fabric of Middle-earth, transforming our understanding of the Valar, the nature of Morgoth's power, and the fundamental struggles that would shape the entire history of Eä.

Before hobbits walked the Shire or rings of power were forged, ancient gods sang the world into being, immortal elves battled dark lords, and heroes challenged dragons beneath the first rising sun. These foundational myths of Middle-earth chronicle the epic struggles between good and evil, the rise and fall of legendary kingdoms, and the tragic tales of love, pride, and redemption that shaped an entire fictional universe.

Deep beneath the Iron Mountains of the ancient North, the first Dark Lord Melkor built his mighty stronghold during the Spring of Arda. This vast underground fortress became the birthplace of shadows, where fell creatures were bred and dark powers gathered. Before Angband, before Barad-dûr, this primal citadel of evil housed armies of Balrogs and spawned the first dragons, until the Valar themselves marched forth to lay siege to its gates in the greatest battle of the Elder Days.