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The Silmarillion Kindle Edition
Ignite your imagination with this immersive fantasy read!
The #1 New York Times Bestseller
The Silmarillion is the core of J.R.R. Tolkien's imaginative writing, a work whose origins stretch back to a time long before The Hobbit. This mythopoetic masterpiece is a must-read before you watch The Lord of the Rings on Amazon.
“Majestic! ... Readers of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings will find in The Silmarillion a cosmology to call their own, medieval romances, fierce fairy tales, and fiercer wars that ring with heraldic fury... It overwhelms the reader.”—Time
The story of the creation of the world and of the First Age, this is the ancient drama to which the characters in The Lord of the Rings look back and in whose events some of them, such as Elrond and Galadriel, took part. The three Silmarils were jewels created by Fëanor, most gifted of the Elves. Within them was imprisoned the Light of the Two Trees of Valinor before the Trees themselves were destroyed by Morgoth, the first Dark Lord. Thereafter, the unsullied Light of Valinor lived on only in the Silmarils, but they were seized by Morgoth and set in his crown, which was guarded in the impenetrable fortress of Angband in the north of Middle-earth.
The Silmarillion is the history of the rebellion of Fëanor and his kindred against the gods, their exile from Valinor and return to Middle-earth, and their war, hopeless despite all their heroism, against the great Enemy.
“A creation of singular beauty ... magnificent in its best moments.”—The Washington Post
“Heart-lifting ... a work of power, eloquence and noble vision... Superb!”—The Wall Street Journal
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherWilliam Morrow
- Publication dateFebruary 15, 2012
- File size5741 KB
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Heart-lifting... a work of power, eloquence and noble vision... Superb!" --The Wall Street Journal
From the Inside Flap
TIME
Those interested in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth should not be without this grand volume that tells the tragic tale of the struggle for control of the Silmarils, a struggle that would determine the history of the world long before the War of the Ring.
From the Back Cover
TIME
Those interested in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth should not be without this grand volume that tells the tragic tale of the struggle for control of the Silmarils, a struggle that would determine the history of the world long before the War of the Ring.
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
There was Eru, the One, who in Arda is called Ilúvatar; and he made first the Ainur, the Holy Ones, that were the offspring of his thought, and they were with him before aught else was made. And he spoke to them, propounding to them themes of music; and they sang before him, and he was glad. But for a long while they sang only each alone, or but few together, while the rest hearkened; for each comprehended only that part of the mind of Ilúvatar from which he came, and in the understanding of their brethren they grew but slowly. Yet ever as they listened they came to deeper understanding, and increased in unison and harmony.
And it came to pass that Ilúvatar called together all the Ainur and declared to them a mighty theme, unfolding to them things greater and more wonderful than he had yet revealed; and the glory of its beginning and the splendour of its end amazed the Ainur, so that they bowed before Ilúvatar and were silent.
Then Ilúvatar said to them: ‘Of the theme that I have declared to you, I will now that ye make in harmony together a Great Music. And since I have kindled you with the Flame Imperishable, ye shall show forth your powers in adorning this theme, each with his own thoughts and devices, if he will. But I will sit and hearken, and be glad that through you great beauty has been wakened into song.
Then the voices of the Ainur, like unto harps and lutes, and pipes and trumpets, and viols and organs, and like unto countless choirs singing with words, began to fashion the theme of Ilúvatar to a great music; and a sound arose of endless interchanging melodies woven in harmony that passed beyond hearing into the depths and into the heights, and the places of the dwelling of Ilúvatar were filled to overflowing, and the music and the echo of the music went out into the Void, and it was not void. Never since have the Ainur made any music like to this music, though it has been said that a greater still shall be made before Ilúvatar by the choirs of the Ainur and the Children of Ilúvatar after the end of days. Then the themes of Ilúvatar shall be played aright, and take Being in the moment of their utterance, for all shall then understand fully his intent in their part, and each shall know the comprehension of each, and Ilúvatar shall give to their thoughts the secret fire, being well pleased.
But now Ilúvatar sat and hearkened, and for a great while it seemed good to him, for in the music there were no flaws. But as the theme progressed, it came into the heart of Melkor to interweave matters of his own imagining that were not in accord with the theme of Ilúvatar; for he sought therein to increase the power and glory of the part assigned to himself. To Melkor among the Ainur had been given the greatest gifts of power and knowledge, and he had a share in all the gifts of his brethren. He had gone often alone into the void places seeking the Imperishable Flame; for desire grew hot within him to bring into Being things of his own, and it seemed to him that Ilúvatar took no thought for the Void, and he was impatient of its emptiness. Yet he found not the Fire, for it is with Ilúvatar. But being alone he had begun to conceive thoughts of his own unlike those of his brethren.
Some of these thoughts he now wove into his music, and straight-way discord arose about him, and many that sang nigh him grew despondent, and their thought was disturbed and their music faltered; but some began to attune their music to his rather than to the thought which they had at first. Then the discord of Melkor spread ever wider, and the melodies which had been heard before foundered in a sea of turbulent sound. But Ilúvatar sat and hearkened until it seemed that about his throne there was a raging storm, as of dark waters that made war one upon another in an endless wrath that would not be assuaged.
Then Ilúvatar arose, and the Ainur perceived that he smiled; and he lifted up his left hand, and a new theme began amid the storm, like and yet unlike to the former theme, and it gathered power and had new beauty. But the discord of Melkor rose in uproar and contended with it, and again there was a war of sound more violent than before, until many of the Ainur were dismayed and sang no longer, and Melkor had the mastery. Then again Ilúvatar arose, and the Ainur perceived that his countenance was stern; and he lifted up his right hand, and behold! a third theme grew amid the confusion, and it was unlike the others. For it seemed at first soft and sweet, a mere rippling of gentle sounds in delicate melodies; but it could not be quenched, and it took to itself power and profundity. And it seemed at last that there were two musics progressing at one time before the seat of Ilúvatar, and they were utterly at variance. The one was deep and wide and beautiful, but slow and blended with an immeasurable sorrow, from which its beauty chiefly came. The other had now achieved a unity of its own; but it was loud, and vain, and endlessly repeated; and it had little harmony, but rather a clamorous unison as of many trumpets braying upon a few notes. And it essayed to drown the other music by the violence of its voice, but it seemed that its most triumphant notes were taken by the other and woven into its own solemn pattern.
In the midst of this strife, whereat the halls of Ilúvatar shook and a tremor ran out into the silences yet unmoved, Ilúvatar arose a third time, and his face was terrible to behold. Then he raised up both his hands, and in one chord, deeper than the Abyss, higher than the Firmament, piercing as the light of the eye of Ilúvatar, the Music ceased.
* * *
Then Ilúvatar spoke, and he said: ‘Mighty are the Ainur, and mightiest among them is Melkor; but that he may know, and all the Ainur, that I am Ilúvatar, those things that ye have sung, I will show them forth, that ye may see what ye have done. And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined.
Then the Ainur were afraid, and they did not yet comprehend the words that were said to them; and Melkor was filled with shame, of which came secret anger. But Ilúvatar arose in splendour, and he went forth from the fair regions that he had made for the Ainur; and the Ainur followed him.
But when they were come into the Void, Ilúvatar said to them: ‘Behold your Music!’ And he showed to them a vision, giving to them sight where before was only hearing; and they saw a new World made visible before them, and it was globed amid the Void, and it was sustained therein, but was not of it. And as they looked and wondered this World began to unfold its history, and it seemed to them that it lived and grew. And when the Ainur had gazed for a while and were silent, Ilúvatar said again: ‘Behold your Music! This is your minstrelsy; and each of you shall find contained herein, amid the design that I set before you, all those things which it may seem that he himself devised or added. And thou, Melkor, wilt discover all the secret thoughts of thy mind, and wilt perceive that they are but a part of the whole and tributary to its glory.
And many other things Ilúvatar spoke to the Ainur at that time, and because of their memory of his words, and the knowledge that each has of the music that he himself made, the Ainur know much of what was, and is, and is to come, and few things are unseen by them. Yet some things there are that they cannot see, neither alone nor taking counsel together; for to none but himself has Ilúvatar revealed all that he has in store, and in every age there come forth things that are new and have no foretelling, for they do not proceed from the past. And so it was that as this vision of the World was played before them, the Ainur saw that it contained things which they had not thought. And they saw with amazement the coming of the Children of Ilúvatar, and the habitation that was prepared for them; and they perceived that they themselves in the labour of their music had been busy with the preparation of this dwelling, and yet knew not that it had any purpose beyond its own beauty. For the Children of Ilúvatar were conceived by him alone; and they came with the third theme, and were not in the theme which Ilúvatar propounded at the beginning, and none of the Ainur had part in their making. Therefore when they beheld them, the more did they love them, being things other than themselves, strange and free, wherein they saw the mind of Ilúvatar reflected anew, and learned yet a little more of his wisdom, which otherwise had been hidden even from the Ainur.
Product details
- ASIN : B007978PGI
- Publisher : William Morrow; Reissue edition (February 15, 2012)
- Publication date : February 15, 2012
- Language : English
- File size : 5741 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Sticky notes : On Kindle Scribe
- Print length : 481 pages
- Page numbers source ISBN : 000752322X
- Best Sellers Rank: #23,583 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #72 in Classic American Literature
- #255 in Action & Adventure Fantasy (Kindle Store)
- #596 in Sword & Sorcery Fantasy eBooks
- Customer Reviews:
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About the author
J.R.R. Tolkien was born on 3rd January 1892. After serving in the First World War, he became best known for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, selling 150 million copies in more than 40 languages worldwide. Awarded the CBE and an honorary Doctorate of Letters from Oxford University, he died in 1973 at the age of 81.
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1998 edition:
Cover: “Maglor casts a Silmaril …” (male throwing white gem against red background)
18 illustrations by Ted Nasmith
Readable, nice, can be found around $20-$30 used. Crazy that this edition is almost 35 years old.
Art:
1. The Sea
2. The Lamp of the Valar
3. At Lake Cuiviénen
4. The Light of Valinor on the Western Sea
5. Fingolfin Leads the Host across the Helcaraxe
6. The First Dawn of the Sun
7. Maedhros's Rescue from Thangorodrim
8. Eöl Welcomes Aredhel
9. Felagund among Beor's Men
10. By Moonlight in Neldoreth Forest
11. Lúthien Escapes upon Huan
12. Morgoth Punishes Húrin
13. Túrin and his Band are Led to Amon Radh
14. Finduilas is Led past Túrin at the Sack of Nargothrond
15. Ulmo Appears before Tor
16. Eärendil the Mariner
17. The Eagles of Manwe
18. The Ships of the Faithful
Front over: Maglor Casts a Silmaril into the Sea
Back cover: Beren and Luthien are carried to Safety
2004 edition:
Cover: “White Ships of Valinor” (white boats sailing in fair weather, island in background)
45 illustrations by Ted Nasmith
Glossy paper, which can be a positive or negative I guess
Can be found around $25 new, which is a DEAL. This is mine for reading without fear of damaging a collector’s item.
Art:
1. The Sea
2. The Lamp of the Valar
3. Aule Prepares to Destroy His Children
4. At Lake Cuiviénen
5. The Light of Valinor on the Western Sea
6. The Ships of the Teleri Drawn by Swans
7. The Kinslaying at Alqualonde
8. Fingolfin Leads the Host across the Helcaraxe
9. The First Dawn of the Sun
10. The Burning of the Ships
11. Maedhros' Rescue from Thangorodrim
12. The Gates of Sirion
13. Eöl Welcomes Aredhel
14. Eöl is Led to the Walls
15. Felagund among Beor's Men
16. Fingolfin's Wrath
17. The Orc-Host is Ambushed in Brethil
18. Tarn Aeluin
19. By Moonlight in Neldoreth Forest
20. Lúthien Escapes upon Huan
21. Transformed
22. Beren and Lúthien are Carried to Safety
23. Huan's Leap
24. Morgoth Punishes Húrin
25. The Hill of Slain
26. Saeros' Fatal Leap
27. Túrin and his Band are Led to Amon Rûdh
28. Beleg is Slain
29. Túrin Bears Gwindor to Safety
30. Finduilas is Led past Túrin at the Sack of Nargothrond
31. Túrin Reaches the Abandoned Homestead
32. Up the Rainy Stair
33. Húrin Finds Morwen
34. Tuor Follows the Swans to Vinyamar
35. Ulmo Appears before Tuor
36. Tuor and Voronwe see Turin at the Pools of Ivrin
37. The Escape from Gondolin
38. Maglor Casts a Silmaril into the Sea
39. Earendil the Mariner
40. White Ships from Valinor
41. The Eagles of Manwe
42. Tar-Miriel and the Great Wave
43. The Ships of the Faithful
44. The Forging of the One
45. The White Tree
2021 edition:
Cover: “Ships of the Faithful” ship sailing amidst storm/red sky
49 illustrations by Ted Nasmith
Can be found closer to $40
Regular flat paper, not glossy. More standard book-shaped, whereas the 2004 version is more square, like a coffee table book. Mine was used and did NOT include a fold-out map, but the colorized Christopher Tolkien Beleriand map is in the front plate and endplate (inside the cover, both ends).
Art:
1. The Sea
2. The Lamp of the Valar
3. Aule Prepares to Destroy His Children
4. At Lake Cuiviénen
5. The Light of Valinor on the Western Sea
6. The Ships of the Teleri Drawn by Swans
7. The Kinslaying at Alqualonde
8. Fingolfin Leads the Host across the Helcaraxe
9. The First Dawn of the Sun
10. The Burning of the Ships
11. Maedhros' Rescue from Thangorodrim
12. The Gates of Sirion
13. Eöl Welcomes Aredhel
14. Eöl is Led to the Walls
15. Felagund among Beor's Men
16. Fingolfin's Wrath
17. Turgon at Fingolfin's Cairn
18. The Orc-Host is Ambushed in Brethil
19. At Tarn Aeluin
20. By Moonlight in Neldoreth Forest
21. Lúthien Escapes upon Huan
22. Transformed
23. Beren and Lúthien are Carried to Safety
24. Huan's Leap
25. Lúthien at Tol Galen
26. Morgoth Punishes Húrin
27. The Hill of Slain
28. Saeros' Fatal Leap
29. Túrin and his Band are Led to Amon Rûdh
30. Beleg is Slain
31. Túrin Bears Gwindor to Safety
32. Finduilas is Led past Túrin at the Sack of Nargothrond
33. Túrin Reaches the Abandoned Homestead
34. Up the Rainy Stair
35. The Slaying of Glaurung
36. Húrin Finds Morwen
37. Tuor Follows the Swans to Vinyamar
38. Ulmo Appears before Tuor
39. Tuor and Voronwe see Türin at the Pools of Ivrin
40. The Escape from Gondolin
41. Eärendil Searches Tirion
42. Maglor Casts a Silmaril into the Sea
43. Eärendil the Mariner
44. White Ships from Valinor
45. The Eagles of Manwe
46. Tar-Miriel and the Great Wave
47. The Ships of the Faithful
48. The Forging of the One
49. The White Tree
2022 edition:
Blue cover with circular design
59 illustrations by Tolkien himself – BUT more than half of these are “devices,” neat little square symbols at the start of a chapter and so on—not big full color paintings or drawings.
Around $40. Be aware, Tolkien’s artwork consists more of drawings and sketches with limited color. They are not the epic Ted Nasmith paintings you see in others. If you value his quaint older sketches, these are great. Personally, Nasmith’s objectively better work is more inspiring and helps me engage in the story. Tolkien is a GREAT writer, and a pretty good artist. Nasmith is a GREAT artist.
I like them all. If I was only going to get one, I’d get the 2004 version because you get a ton of great Nasmith artwork for an insanely cheap twenty-five bucks (today). Tolkien’s own art is neat, but if you want to be encouraged through a dense book, Nasmith’s art helps pull you in and pull you along.
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2022
1998 edition:
Cover: “Maglor casts a Silmaril …” (male throwing white gem against red background)
18 illustrations by Ted Nasmith
Readable, nice, can be found around $20-$30 used. Crazy that this edition is almost 35 years old.
Art:
1. The Sea
2. The Lamp of the Valar
3. At Lake Cuiviénen
4. The Light of Valinor on the Western Sea
5. Fingolfin Leads the Host across the Helcaraxe
6. The First Dawn of the Sun
7. Maedhros's Rescue from Thangorodrim
8. Eöl Welcomes Aredhel
9. Felagund among Beor's Men
10. By Moonlight in Neldoreth Forest
11. Lúthien Escapes upon Huan
12. Morgoth Punishes Húrin
13. Túrin and his Band are Led to Amon Radh
14. Finduilas is Led past Túrin at the Sack of Nargothrond
15. Ulmo Appears before Tor
16. Eärendil the Mariner
17. The Eagles of Manwe
18. The Ships of the Faithful
Front over: Maglor Casts a Silmaril into the Sea
Back cover: Beren and Luthien are carried to Safety
2004 edition:
Cover: “White Ships of Valinor” (white boats sailing in fair weather, island in background)
45 illustrations by Ted Nasmith
Glossy paper, which can be a positive or negative I guess
Can be found around $25 new, which is a DEAL. This is mine for reading without fear of damaging a collector’s item.
Art:
1. The Sea
2. The Lamp of the Valar
3. Aule Prepares to Destroy His Children
4. At Lake Cuiviénen
5. The Light of Valinor on the Western Sea
6. The Ships of the Teleri Drawn by Swans
7. The Kinslaying at Alqualonde
8. Fingolfin Leads the Host across the Helcaraxe
9. The First Dawn of the Sun
10. The Burning of the Ships
11. Maedhros' Rescue from Thangorodrim
12. The Gates of Sirion
13. Eöl Welcomes Aredhel
14. Eöl is Led to the Walls
15. Felagund among Beor's Men
16. Fingolfin's Wrath
17. The Orc-Host is Ambushed in Brethil
18. Tarn Aeluin
19. By Moonlight in Neldoreth Forest
20. Lúthien Escapes upon Huan
21. Transformed
22. Beren and Lúthien are Carried to Safety
23. Huan's Leap
24. Morgoth Punishes Húrin
25. The Hill of Slain
26. Saeros' Fatal Leap
27. Túrin and his Band are Led to Amon Rûdh
28. Beleg is Slain
29. Túrin Bears Gwindor to Safety
30. Finduilas is Led past Túrin at the Sack of Nargothrond
31. Túrin Reaches the Abandoned Homestead
32. Up the Rainy Stair
33. Húrin Finds Morwen
34. Tuor Follows the Swans to Vinyamar
35. Ulmo Appears before Tuor
36. Tuor and Voronwe see Turin at the Pools of Ivrin
37. The Escape from Gondolin
38. Maglor Casts a Silmaril into the Sea
39. Earendil the Mariner
40. White Ships from Valinor
41. The Eagles of Manwe
42. Tar-Miriel and the Great Wave
43. The Ships of the Faithful
44. The Forging of the One
45. The White Tree
2021 edition:
Cover: “Ships of the Faithful” ship sailing amidst storm/red sky
49 illustrations by Ted Nasmith
Can be found closer to $40
Regular flat paper, not glossy. More standard book-shaped, whereas the 2004 version is more square, like a coffee table book. Mine was used and did NOT include a fold-out map, but the colorized Christopher Tolkien Beleriand map is in the front plate and endplate (inside the cover, both ends).
Art:
1. The Sea
2. The Lamp of the Valar
3. Aule Prepares to Destroy His Children
4. At Lake Cuiviénen
5. The Light of Valinor on the Western Sea
6. The Ships of the Teleri Drawn by Swans
7. The Kinslaying at Alqualonde
8. Fingolfin Leads the Host across the Helcaraxe
9. The First Dawn of the Sun
10. The Burning of the Ships
11. Maedhros' Rescue from Thangorodrim
12. The Gates of Sirion
13. Eöl Welcomes Aredhel
14. Eöl is Led to the Walls
15. Felagund among Beor's Men
16. Fingolfin's Wrath
17. Turgon at Fingolfin's Cairn
18. The Orc-Host is Ambushed in Brethil
19. At Tarn Aeluin
20. By Moonlight in Neldoreth Forest
21. Lúthien Escapes upon Huan
22. Transformed
23. Beren and Lúthien are Carried to Safety
24. Huan's Leap
25. Lúthien at Tol Galen
26. Morgoth Punishes Húrin
27. The Hill of Slain
28. Saeros' Fatal Leap
29. Túrin and his Band are Led to Amon Rûdh
30. Beleg is Slain
31. Túrin Bears Gwindor to Safety
32. Finduilas is Led past Túrin at the Sack of Nargothrond
33. Túrin Reaches the Abandoned Homestead
34. Up the Rainy Stair
35. The Slaying of Glaurung
36. Húrin Finds Morwen
37. Tuor Follows the Swans to Vinyamar
38. Ulmo Appears before Tuor
39. Tuor and Voronwe see Türin at the Pools of Ivrin
40. The Escape from Gondolin
41. Eärendil Searches Tirion
42. Maglor Casts a Silmaril into the Sea
43. Eärendil the Mariner
44. White Ships from Valinor
45. The Eagles of Manwe
46. Tar-Miriel and the Great Wave
47. The Ships of the Faithful
48. The Forging of the One
49. The White Tree
2022 edition:
Blue cover with circular design
59 illustrations by Tolkien himself – BUT more than half of these are “devices,” neat little square symbols at the start of a chapter and so on—not big full color paintings or drawings.
Around $40. Be aware, Tolkien’s artwork consists more of drawings and sketches with limited color. They are not the epic Ted Nasmith paintings you see in others. If you value his quaint older sketches, these are great. Personally, Nasmith’s objectively better work is more inspiring and helps me engage in the story. Tolkien is a GREAT writer, and a pretty good artist. Nasmith is a GREAT artist.
I like them all. If I was only going to get one, I’d get the 2004 version because you get a ton of great Nasmith artwork for an insanely cheap twenty-five bucks (today). Tolkien’s own art is neat, but if you want to be encouraged through a dense book, Nasmith’s art helps pull you in and pull you along.
The Silmarilion is written entirely in the grand style. The stories are epic tales of gods, elves and men fighting against the first, and far mightier, dark lord Morgoth. There is little room for the sort of humble details of everyday life found in The Hobbit or the Lord of the Rings. The characters are all kings and heroes of ancient times, not humble gardeners. This is not to say that The Silmarilion is not a good book to read. It is an excellent book, and Tolkien is, in his way, comparable to the great composers of national epics like Homer or Vergil. That was indeed his intention when he began writing these stories of the Elder Days and to some extent he did succeed.
There are actually five parts to the Silmarilion. The first part is called the Ainulindale and tells of the creation of the world by Eru, the One, who the Elves call Illuvatar. Illuvatar first creates the angelic powers or Ainur, and teaches them to sing to a melody He has made. This song was a vision of the world and many of the Ainur longed to dwell in that world so Illuvatar created it and sent the Ainur, or Valar to complete the work of creating and ordering the world. This they did against the opposition of Melkor, the mightiest of the Valar, and one who sought to rule the world for himself.
The next section is called the Valaquenta, is simply a list of the chiefs of the Valar and their names, and attributes. There is not a narrative here, but it is useful to read it as a guide for later
The middle and longest section is the Quenta Silmarilion, or the Silmarion proper. This is the epic story of the Elves in the First Age of Middle Earth. The Silmarilion tells of the awakening of the Elves in the dark times when Melkor ruled Middle Earth. The Valar go to war against Melkor to save the Elves and he is defeated and imprisoned. TheValar then offer to take the Elves to their home, Valinor, far in the West. Many Elves agree to make the long journey and are named the Eldar. Many others prefer to stay in Middle East and call themselves the Avari.
The Eldar travel to Valinor and become mighty in lore and power. The most skilled of all the Elves is Feanor and his greatest work is the three jewels, the Silmarils in which he captured the light of the Two Trees of old. After a time Melkor feigns repentance and is released. He poisons the Two Trees, steals the Silmarils and flees to his stronghold in Middle Earth. Against the will of the Valar, Feanor leads his clan, the Noldor in pursuit of Melkor, who he has renamed Morgoth, the Black Enemy. Feanor is slain but the Noldor and their allies among Elves and the new race of Men continue the war. They fight bravely against Morgoth and managed to confine him to his stronghold for many years, but in the end, their war is hopeless. Morgoth has hosts of Orcs, troll, Balrogs and dragons and is himself a Valar, one of the mightiest beings in the world. The Elves and their allies are utterly defeated only the intervention of the Valar prevents Morgoth from ruling forever. Morgoth is defeated and the Silmarils are lost. Much of Middle Earth is damaged beyond repair and the Western lands where the Noldor fought and died is submerged beneath the sea.
The Akallabeth tells of the history of Numenor, the island that the Valar gave to the Men who fought on the side of the Elves. (Most Men sided with Morgoth). The Numenoreans were given a life span beyond any of the Men of Middle Earth though they were not immortal and could not travel to Valinor. Over time, the Numenoreans grew increasingly jealous of the immortality of the Elves and since they could not make themselves immortal, they began to seek for wealth and dominion in Middle Earth. The last king of Numenor, Ar-Pharazon challenged Sauron, the servant of Morgoth, for the rule of Middle Earth, actually defeated him, and carried him back to Numenor as a hostage. Sauron quickly gained the confidence of Ar-Pharazon, and preying on the old king's fear of death, induced him to assault the Valar and wrest immortality from them. This ended with the destruction of Numenor and the Numenoreans with the exception of a few refugees led by Elendil.
The final part of the Silmarilion, Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age, relates the history of the dealings of Sauron and the Elves of Middle Earth. Sauron deceived the Elves into creating the rings of power and attempted to enslave them by forging his own One Ring in Mordor. There is a brief summary of the history told in the Lord of the Rings and a brief mention of the destruction of the ring by Frodo the Halfling and his servant Samwise. After this, the last remaining Eldar of Middle Earth, rendered powerless, leave for Valinor and the cycle is finished.
This is a rather grim cycle of tales, probably inspired by Tolkien's love of the rather grim Nordic mythology. Unlike the Norse tales, evil is defeated in the end, but the damage done can never wholly be undone. Then evil arises again after an age. Oftentimes evil corrupts or misleads the good and sometimes the most damage is done by those who fight most valiantly against evil. Beren and Luthien wrest a Silmaril from Morgoth so that Beren can present it to Luthien's father as bride price, but the Silmaril causes wars among Elves and Dwarves and the sons of Feanor and eventually causes the destruction of all the Elf-kingdoms. Turin son of Hurin spends his whole life fighting the servants of Morgoth, and is cursed because in the end all his valiant deeds only bring about Morgoth's victory. Even when Morgoth is defeated, the evil he does lives on to afflict later ages, as does his servant Sauron.
When Sauron is, in his turn defeated, and his Ring is destroyed, the Eldar also rendered powerless, no longer wish to live in Middle Earth and return at last to Valinor leaving a colder, grayer world for those of us who are doomed to stay behind.
really high quality and it arrived early and in perfect condition.
thank you.
Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2024
really high quality and it arrived early and in perfect condition.
thank you.