<p>The First and Second Ages within Tolkien's legendarium feel like a time far removed from that of <em>The Hobbit </em>and <em>The Lord of the Rings </em>even though they constitute the underpinnings of J.R.R. Tolkien's entire mythology. </p><p><br></p><p>This book explores those underpinnings and in particular the nature of good and evil, creators and destroyers, and the very foundations of the world itself. It is a diverse collection of four articles which will no doubt cause the reader to reflect on their own understanding of Tolkien's works. </p><p><br></p><p>First published in 1992, this book is published under the auspices of the Tolkien Society's Peter Roe Memorial Fund, and features a collection of four papers delivered at the David Baxter Centre in Milton Keynes, on the 2nd June 1990.&nbsp;</p>