I cannot copy or transfer mp3 files stored on external drive back into itunes so i can listen to book again

Hi,
I mostly use itunes for listening to audiobooks which I have been collecting for years. Have hundreds of them. A few years ago when computer too full and my itunes library too big I carefully copied the books onto an external hard drive as mp3 files and then removed them from itunes. (At that stage I really wanted a non itunes library backup as I had already lost library a couple of times....now I understand the itunes back up a bit more and can use it.)
However I have lots of my favourite books on an external drive and I want to listen to them again. I cannot go to the folder holding a book, select all the the mp3 files that make up the book and drag them into my itunes music file as I can with a mp3 disc. There are 73 files on the first book i want to move!
Itunes has been selected as the default player and will play the files but I cannot transfer them.
Under details on a file it reads NOT PROTECTED
I am  the administrator of my computer, indeed am its only user.
Cannot think of anything else that might  be useful.
hope you can help
Elizabeth

luckily that is also backed up on the external drive too so I'll try looking there, but do you have any thoughts on why I can't get the backed up files to stay on the PC correctly ? because until they are back on my PC I can't use it or get the rankings back right?

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