The Silmarillion is a collection of myths telling the history of Middle Earth from creation through the events of the Third Age or the events described in detail in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
It consists of five parts:
- “Ainulindalë” – Creation of Eä (the world) by Ilúvatar
- “Valaquenta” – Tale of Valar and Maiar, subordinate deities
- “Quenta Silmarillion” – The first age of Middle Earth (primarily tale of the elves)
- “Arkallabeth” – The Second Age, the rise and fall of Numenor (highest race of mortal men)
- “Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age”
It was published posthumously and extensively edited by Christopher Tolkien and Guy Gavriel Kay.
This was my third re-read. I first read it in 1977, the year it was published. I’d read The Lord of the Rings in 1971 and was thrilled to have something new by my favorite author. I was a bit disappointed at the time. It wasn’t nearly as fun. It is more of a history book. Still, it was more Middle Earth, and I was happy to read it. I still have my first American Edition (pictured above).
I read it to refresh my memory and check the accuracy of the recent television series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. I found the television series entertaining in its own right, but it IS NOT true to The Silmarillion.
It was better on this re-read. It is filled with back story for Aragorn, Elrond, Galadriel, Sauron, and the Nazgul; new heroes Turin and Tuor; the three elven fathers Olwë, Elwë, Finwë; the tragic line of Fëanor son of Finwë; and as seems fitting, very little of Hobbits.
A MUST-READ for Tolkien fans!
.
I need to reread this. I read it once, a few years ago, with a read-along and... I got through it, but I've forgotten most of it.
ReplyDeleteHaven't watched Rings of Power yet, but hoping to do so this winter!
it's definitely not as entertaining as The Hobbit or LOTR, but I did catch a few additional items and back story details that made sense in that context.
Delete