Which son of J.R.R. Tolkien edited the twelve-volume History of Middle-earth?

Christopher Tolkien edited the twelve-volume History of Middle-earth.

The History of Middle-earth is a major documentary series presenting drafts, revisions, notes, and commentary from J.R.R. Tolkien’s writing. Christopher Tolkien edited and published the volumes between 1983 and 1996, making it possible for readers to follow the development of Tolkien’s mythology across decades.

The series is different from a conventional finished novel. It includes abandoned versions, changing names, alternate histories, and editorial explanations. Readers can see how Tolkien revised stories that later became The Silmarillion, The Lord of the Rings, and related works.

Christopher Tolkien also edited The Silmarillion and other posthumous works, but the twelve-volume series is his most extensive editorial project. His work is especially important because many of Tolkien’s papers were incomplete or existed in multiple versions, making a straightforward chronological publication impossible.