Unfinished Tales

Unfinished tales 

By J.R.R. Tolkien

This is the last of my posts on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, for the near future at least…

As I have mentioned enough about Tolkien in previous posts I will not mention more here except for the fact that this book was also published posthumously form a selection of Tolkien’s notes, by Christopher Tolkien, his son and literary executor.

‘Unfinished tales, is the last of the main books of Middle-Earth, starting from ‘The Silmarillion’ to ‘The Hobbit’ and lastly ‘The Lord of the Rings’. It is less well known than the other three, though for no fault of its own. Only the fact that is a sort of a supplementary appendix to the rest of the books might account for this fallacy. The book is a delightful collection of stories, odds and ends, which while being complete in themselves, also help fill in the gaps in the other books. 

The stories are arranged chronologically within the time flow of Middle-Earth, from the First Age to the Third. There is also a section which deals with the origin of the wizards (Gandalf!!), the Palantirs and on the race of the Druedain, whom readers (but not viewers) of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ would recall. As an interesting aside, viewers of the extended edition of the movie might recall the climb of the King of Rohan and Aragorn to the camp in front of the mountain pass which leads to the ‘Paths of the Dead’. The way to the mountain is lined with weather beaten statues of the Druedain or Pukel men.

Highlights:

1.     The history of the Rohirrim and the ride of Eorl

2.     The essays on the Druedain and the Istari

3.     The description of Numenorian soldiers and weaponry.

Verdict:

            Overall 10/10

            High fantasy 10/10

            Ease of readability 10/10

Only drawback – needs prior reading of the other books in the Middle-Earth legendarium for a complete contextual understanding.

Tip – buy and read, if you haven’t already!

The Silamarillion

The Silmarillion

By J.R.R. Tolkien

The history of Middle-Earth…

I have already waxed eloquently (I Hope!) about J.R.R. Tolkien, whom readers would by now know to be among my favorite authors, if not the favorite.  So I will not bore you with further details about Tolkien! However, I do feel compelled to point out that ‘The Silmarillion’ was Tolkien’s magnum opus, the book or collection of stories, legends and myths that he tried to get published during his lifetime. Unfortunately, he failed, and it was left to his youngest son and literary executor, Christopher Tolkien, to arrange his notes and have the manuscript published posthumously. I guess by that time after his death, Tolkien’s fame had increased and every publisher was desperate to lay hands on any publishable material.

‘The Silmarillion’ is a sort of backdrop story to ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings’. It tells of the story of the creation, how Middle-Earth came into being, the history of the elves, dwarves and men and the long war with Morgoth, the original Dark Lord of whom Sauron was only a servant. The book is divided into three parts – the first part or the Ainulindale narrates the creation myth. The second part or the Valaquenta, makes up most of the book and tells the story of the three races (Elves, men and dwarves) and the long and fruitless conflict with Morgoth over the theft of the great Jewels, the Silmarilli, after which the book is named.

The last part or the Akallabeth, tells the story of the Isle of Numenor, which was gifted to the men who fought against Morgoth in the great war. It is somewhat inspired from the story of Atlantis, though in a subtle manner. There is some additional material about the Second Age of Middle-Earth and about the making of the Rings of Power; also some material on the war of the elves with Sauron.

Those looking for a quick read in the manner of Tolkien’s other works would be better off looking elsewhere. The book is full of archaic terms and feels like a poetic saga turned into prose. However, dedicated Tolkien fans will find a goldmine here, as would those who after reading or seeing Peter Jackson’s movies are curious to know more.

Highlights:

1.     The creation of the world

2.     The first appearance of the dwarves

3.     The fight between Fingolfin and Morgoth

4.     The fight between Glorfindel and the Balrog

5.     Glaurung!

Verdict:

            Overall 8/10

            Historical high fantasy 10/10

            Ease of reading 6/10

Tip: Not for minors

The Hobbit

The Hobbit

By J.R.R. Tolkien

In a hole in the ground lived a hobbit…

 

A well thumbed copy!

J.R.R. Tolkien is indisputably the author of the twentieth century. The books written by him have achieved the rare and enviable distinction of being best sellers, classics of literature and fan favorites! One could hardly have predicted that a poor, orphaned boy who grew up in foster homes, would reach this pinnacle. But, with perseverance, hard work and not a little luck, he was able to get along. He received a more than decent education and became an outstanding philologist and an academic, serving in important posts like the Professor of Anglo-Saxon and the Professor of English Literature at various colleges in Oxford University.

Tolkien was extremely interested in language – not in the form as communication, but as whole and worthy of study in itself. He started inventing his own from an early age, with grammar, script and vocabulary. He welded and melded this love with his interest in epic sagas and myths especially from the Northern part of Europe. Major influences on him included the Norse epics and poetic literature, Icelandic myths and Anglo-Saxon traditions and heritage. The result was the creation of the Middle-Earth ‘Legendarium’ – a series of interconnected legends, myths and heroic stories in an invented or legendary world. One can say that most authors write stories and fit worlds and languages to fit them, while Tolkien added worlds and stories to fit out his constructed languages!

Coming back to ‘The Hobbit’, it was originally written as a bed time story for Tolkien’s children and its light tone and ambience clearly indicates so. However, it is extremely readable for all ages and does not feel faded even after multiple re-reads. The story is that of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit, a member of a diminutive race distantly related to humans, who sets off on an adventure to burgle a dragon. He is accompanied by a company of dwarves and has numerous adventures, from encounters with trolls to meeting elves, from fighting goblins and wolves to flying off with eagles. And of course, he finds the Ring. 

Reading Tolkien is like boating on a meandering and peaceful river. As the words flow around, one can watch the banks go by, listen to the murmur and chatter of the water and feel the sun on one’s face. One can get on or off anytime and it is the same nevertheless.  The description of the world of Middle-Earth is immersive and tugs the reader into it. One can think if very few writers who could stand to comparison. 

Highlights:

            Too many to count but I’ll try and list some of my favorite moments. 

1.     The Dwarves song in Bilbo’s house

2.     The fight of the rock giants in the Misty Mountains

3.     The fight with the wolves and the flight with the eagles

4.     Beorn’s house

5.     Bilbo’s first encounter with the dragon Smaug, his descent into the tunnel for the first time and Samug the Golden!

Readability

            

            Overall – 10/10

            High fantasy – 10/10