Many elements of the Lost Tales which linked ME to our present world were discarded, but the general idea that ME is not another planet, but just another past time on our Earth was always present in the Legendarium. The only things that changed were the 'links' -- the idea of England's origin as an Elven island was relatively short-lived, as was Tolkien's Lost Road idea, but the character of Ælfwine, for example, stuck around for decades (or at least reappeared). This is in turn why we have to bear in mind that the Shire may be meant to resemble England, but it certainly is not Tolkien's representation of England in the Legendarium. He well knew that there were no Victorians six to seven thousand years ago. This would supposedly come some ages later.
[ October 27, 2003: Message edited by: Sharkû ]
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