The Return of the Shadow

The book delves into the lore and background of Middle-earth with such depth. I'm curious whether Tolkien planned this extensive history from the start or developed it later.

While the detailed history added richness, I found parts of it a bit dense. Did others feel this enhanced their understanding or made the read more challenging?

This behind-the-scenes look offers so much context. Does it deepen the appreciation, or does it risk overshadowing the narrative for new readers?