The whole matter - and thus, the appendix text - is further complicated by the fact that the story was previously published in two other forms (both shorter than this one, and part of anthologies - one of them being Silmarillion and both also edited by Christopher), and Christopher goes to great lengths trying to provide insight into how and why this book differs from, is similar to, and relates to those other published versions.
He names those points and elaborates on how he solved certain problems. He tells how he's tried to be faithful to each of the original writings, which was not easy because they differ on several points. Thereafter in the appendices, Christopher gives an account of how he came to recreate the current book, from all the previous versions that John wrote.
Suden In the appendices, Christopher Tolkien first tries to explain something about the history of the work namely how, and - as far as Christopher…more In the appendices, Christopher Tolkien first tries to explain something about the history of the work namely how, and - as far as Christopher himself could deduce - why, his father John had begun several attempts at writing this story and how and - again to the best of Christopher's knowledge - why they differ.