The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
Created during the early Fourth Age1
Location
Compiled in the Shire, probably at Great Smials, but later taken to Minas Tirith, where an expanded and annotated copy was made
Origins
A direct copy of the original Red Book of Westmarch
Race
Culture
Family
Created at the request of the Thain of the Took family
Settlements
Kept at Great Smials, and later at Minas Tirith
Meaning
The Thain was the hereditary (and largely titular) military leader of the Shire

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 27 December 2021
  • Updates planned: 1

Thain’s Book

The book that held the original stories of the Silmarillion

Red Book
of Westmarch
The Thain's Book
(all volumes)
with annotations
Numerous other copies
(especially the first volume)
Findegil's copy

A direct copy of the Red Book of Westmarch, and one of very few to include Bilbo Baggins' Translations from the Elvish. It was kept by the head of the Took family, the Thain of the Shire, at Great Smials.


Notes

1

The original Red Book was completed in III 3021, when Frodo Baggins finished adding his account of the War of the Ring, and so this is the earliest possible date for the Thain's Book to have been created. However, the Thain who requested its creation was presumably Peregrin Took, who did not accede to the title until IV 13, so the Thain's Book was probably produced after that date. It was certainly in existence by IV 64, when Thain Peregrin took it with him as he retired to Gondor.

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 27 December 2021
  • Updates planned: 1

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