Chronological Tolkien Calculator

This calculator needs you to answer four questions. After that, you will be shown what to write in the margins of your books.

Your margin notes will look something like this:

These notes will guide you through your reading of the Middle-earth saga. In this example, you are reading Unfinished Tales, and at the end of the top paragraph you come to a margin note. When you see a margin note, you stop reading at the end of the paragraph. Instead of continuing on to the next paragraph on the page, you need to jump to "Section VT".

Where is this section? On page "R-472"  in other words, on page 472 of The Return of the King. Get your copy of this book and turn to this page, and you will find "VT" written in the margin. Continue reading from that point!

You might have noticed on the page above that "AF" is written in the margin at the beginning of the paragraph that you didn't read. Don't worry about that! At some later point in time, some other margin note will tell you to jump to section AF, and you'll read this section then  in its proper chronological order.

Of course, the exact margin notes depends on the page numbering in your books. So now you need to answer the four questions!

Choosing Your Editions

Take a look at your edition of Lord of the Rings. You can use a one-volume version or a three-volume version.

If you are using a one-volume version, open it up to the table of contents.

If you are using a three-volume version, all three volumes have to be the same edition. Open up The Return of the King to the table of contents.

edition. Open up to the table of contents. If you are using an Amazon Kindle, don't use this Calculator. Go back to the main Chronological Tolkien page and scroll down to find instructions for Kindle users.

Look in the table of contents for the very last chapter of the book (before the appendices start). This chapter is called "The Grey Havens". What page is it on?

Enter Page Number 301 328 336 365 366 372 998 1021 1033 1048 1059 1273 1336



Next, take your edition of The Silmarillion. Open it up to the table of contents. Chapter 21 is called "Of Túrin Turambar". Look at the page number, and select that number here: Enter Page Number 181 198 199 235 236 238 242



Next, take your edition of Unfinished Tales. Open it up to the table of contents and look near the end. Find the page number of "The Drúedain". It is important that you use the page number that appears in the table of contents  don't look for the page number in the body of the book! Enter Page Number 361 377 381 393 487



Finally, take your edition of The Children of Húrin. Open it up to the table of contents. Chapter 3 is called "The Words of Húrin and Morgoth". Look at the page number, and select that number here: Enter Page Number 61



In case you were wondering  it doesn't matter which edition of the Hobbit you are reading. Now press this button, and Chronological Tolkien will be customized for your editions.











If you don't find the page numbers of your editions here, my apologies! This means I haven't seen a copy of your edition of the book. If you like, send me email and I will try to add your edition.







Chronological Tolkien . . . . . Calculator

Created by Larry King

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