What was the name of J.R.R. Tolkien’s son who edited many of his posthumously published works?

Christopher Tolkien was the son of J.R.R. Tolkien who edited many of his father’s posthumously published works. He was born in 1924 and became the principal literary executor of Tolkien’s estate.

After J.R.R. Tolkien died in 1973, Christopher organized, edited, and sometimes reconstructed material from his father’s manuscripts. His work produced books such as The Silmarillion, published in 1977, Unfinished Tales, and the twelve-volume History of Middle-earth.

Christopher had been closely familiar with the legendarium for decades. He also drew maps for The Lord of the Rings and served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. His editorial choices made a vast quantity of unfinished and variant material accessible to readers.

These books are not all straightforward novels written and completed by J.R.R. Tolkien. They often combine drafts from different periods, with Christopher’s editorial explanations helping readers understand contradictions, revisions, and gaps.