I apologise for replying to an old post, but I am reading On Fairy-Stories (expanded edition), and I think I found out an errata that is not in the lists I can find online (for example the one on Prof. Flieger's website). It looks like something is missing (for example, the left bracket); or I simply do not understand this phrase. Anyone can help?
Soronel wrote:
I apologise for replying to an old post, but I am reading On Fairy-Stories (expanded edition), and I think I found out an errata that is not in the lists I can find online (for example the one on Prof. Flieger's website). It looks like something is missing (for example, the left bracket); or I simply do not understand this phrase. Anyone can help?
I have let the editorial team know about this post.
29 June
(edited)
2026-6-29 9:27:02 PM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2026-6-30 4:19:53 AM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2026-6-30 4:26:14 AM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2026-6-30 4:49:34 AM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2026-6-30 4:26:14 AM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2026-6-30 4:49:34 AM UTC
2026-6-29 9:27:02 PM UTC
In The Lord of the Rings (50th Anniversary Edition, Hardback, Harper Collins, 2004, 978-0-261-10320-7):
1. Appendix B, TA 2683 (pg. 1088): Isengrim II becomes tenth Thain > Isengrim II becomes tenth Thain of the Took line
Explanation: The entry for TA 2340, over 300 years before this entry, says "Isumbras I becomes thirteenth Thain, and first of the Took Line." For the later TA 2683 entry to say only "tenth Thain" seems like a direct contradiction. Only the Took family tree in Appendix C makes it clear that Isengrim II is tenth of the Took line, not tenth overall, resolving the contradiction. But it seems an oversight to have left that clarification out of the TA 2683 entry, unless perhaps it can be shown that Tolkien deliberately wanted the TA 2683 entry to create a small mystery for the reader, only to be solved upon further close inspection of the next Appendix (which does not seem impossible to me).
2. Appendix B TA 3019 "The chief days" section (pg. 1095). The entry for June 25 says "King Elessar finds the sapling of the White Tree." However, this event cannot have taken place in June. The narrative of the finding of the sapling occurs in LR 6.05.112-122 (pgs. 970-972). Just before this, in LR 6.05.109 (pg. 970), Gandalf says "it is now only May". And just after the finding of the sapling, in LR 6.05.121 (pg. 972), it says "And Aragorn planted the new tree in the court by the fountain, and swiftly and gladly it began to grow; and when the month of June entered in it was laden with blossom."? So the tree must have been found and planted in the court before June began. There is no other indication in the text for exactly what day of the month it is, other than that it must be some time after the Riders of Rohan depart on May 8 (LR 6.05.106, pg. 969). But I suspect that only the month is incorrect, and therefore the entry should be moved from June 25 to May 25.
3. In Appendix A.1.ii.11 (Ruling Stewards, pg 1039): Denethor II. > Denethor II †3019.
Explanation: All other entries have a death date and a † if the death is premature, including the subsequent entry for his son Faramir (given as "F.A. 82"). It seems this is an oversight due to the pattern of the list being interrupted by the short textual description immediately after Denethor II.
After consulting with others with newer editions, I am told that so far, these have not been corrected in the more recent 2022 HarperCollins hardback edition (ISBN 978-0-00-856714-9) or the 2024 deluxe LOTR (978-0-00-866943-0).
1. Appendix B, TA 2683 (pg. 1088): Isengrim II becomes tenth Thain > Isengrim II becomes tenth Thain of the Took line
Explanation: The entry for TA 2340, over 300 years before this entry, says "Isumbras I becomes thirteenth Thain, and first of the Took Line." For the later TA 2683 entry to say only "tenth Thain" seems like a direct contradiction. Only the Took family tree in Appendix C makes it clear that Isengrim II is tenth of the Took line, not tenth overall, resolving the contradiction. But it seems an oversight to have left that clarification out of the TA 2683 entry, unless perhaps it can be shown that Tolkien deliberately wanted the TA 2683 entry to create a small mystery for the reader, only to be solved upon further close inspection of the next Appendix (which does not seem impossible to me).
2. Appendix B TA 3019 "The chief days" section (pg. 1095). The entry for June 25 says "King Elessar finds the sapling of the White Tree." However, this event cannot have taken place in June. The narrative of the finding of the sapling occurs in LR 6.05.112-122 (pgs. 970-972). Just before this, in LR 6.05.109 (pg. 970), Gandalf says "it is now only May". And just after the finding of the sapling, in LR 6.05.121 (pg. 972), it says "And Aragorn planted the new tree in the court by the fountain, and swiftly and gladly it began to grow; and when the month of June entered in it was laden with blossom."? So the tree must have been found and planted in the court before June began. There is no other indication in the text for exactly what day of the month it is, other than that it must be some time after the Riders of Rohan depart on May 8 (LR 6.05.106, pg. 969). But I suspect that only the month is incorrect, and therefore the entry should be moved from June 25 to May 25.
3. In Appendix A.1.ii.11 (Ruling Stewards, pg 1039): Denethor II. > Denethor II †3019.
Explanation: All other entries have a death date and a † if the death is premature, including the subsequent entry for his son Faramir (given as "F.A. 82"). It seems this is an oversight due to the pattern of the list being interrupted by the short textual description immediately after Denethor II.
After consulting with others with newer editions, I am told that so far, these have not been corrected in the more recent 2022 HarperCollins hardback edition (ISBN 978-0-00-856714-9) or the 2024 deluxe LOTR (978-0-00-866943-0).
lotr_chronology (Tyler) wrote:
the 2024 deluxe LOTR (978-0-00-866942-0).
Can you check the ISBN for the book you referenced as that ISBN does not look correct?
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