What was the name of J.R.R. Tolkien’s eldest son, who edited much of his unpublished work?

J.R.R. Tolkien’s eldest son, who edited much of his unpublished work, was Christopher Tolkien.

Christopher Tolkien was born in 1924 and became the principal editor and organiser of his father’s posthumously published writings. His work turned scattered manuscripts, drafts, maps and notes into books that expanded readers’ understanding of Tolkien’s mythology.

His major editorial projects included The Silmarillion, published in 1977, and Unfinished Tales, published in 1980. He later edited the twelve-volume History of Middle-earth, which traces the development of Tolkien’s legends and shows how names, characters and stories changed over time.

Christopher was also involved with Tolkien’s literary estate and had served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He died in 2020. His editorial role is distinct from authorship: these books were based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s papers, but Christopher selected, arranged and sometimes connected incomplete materials.