The Silmarillion - Softcover

Tolkien, J. R. R.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0261102443 ISBN 13: 9780261102446

Publisher: HarperCollins, 1999

Synopsis

A new B-format edition with a cover design by Tolkien himself, to complement the popular Hobbit and Lord of the Rings B-formats. Includes new Preface by J R R Tolkien unique to this edition.

The Silmarillion is an account of the Elder Days, of the First Age of Tolkien’s World. It 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 tales of The Silmarillion are set in an age when Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, dwelt in Middle-Earth, and the High Elves made war upon him for the recovery of the Silmarils, the jewels containing the pure light of Valinor.

Included in the book are several shorter works. The Ainulindale is a myth of the Creation and in the Valaquenta the nature and powers of each of the gods is described. The Akallabeth recounts the downfall of the great island kingdom of Númenor at the end of the Second Age and Of the Rings of Power tells of the great events at the end of the Third Age, as narrated in The Lord of the Rings.

About this title

About the Author

J.R.R.Tolkien (1892-1973) was a distinguished academic, though he is best known for writing The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, plus other stories and essays. His books have been translated into over 80 languages and have sold many millions of copies worldwide.

From the Back Cover

Tolkien's epic legendary precursor to 'The Lord of the Rings'

The Silmarilli were three perfect jewels, fashioned by Fëanor, most gifted of the Elves, and within them was imprisoned the Last of the Two Trees of Valinor. When the first Dark Lord, Morgoth, stole the jewels and set them within an iron crown in the impenetrable fortress of Angband, Fëanor and his kindred took up arms against the great Enemy and waged a long and terrible war to recover them.

'The Silmarillion' tells the story of the rebellion by Feanor's allies against the gods, their exile from Valinor and return to Middle-earth. It is the history of the heroic First Age in Tolkien's world, the ancient drama long before the time of 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings.'

The new edition of 'The Silmarillion' includes by way of introduction a letter written by J.R.R. Tolkien in 1951 which provides a brilliant exposition of his conception of the earlier Ages.

The cover of this edition of 'The Silmarillion' Shows J.R.R. Tolkien's own painting from July 1928, 'halls of Manwë on the Mountains of the World above Faerie. 'The painting shows the mountain Taniquetil, highest of the mountains that guarded Valinor against Melkor, in the time after the destruction of the Two Trees: for the slopes on one side of the Taniquetil are bathed in sunlight, while those on the other side shine more coldly in the light of the crescent moon. On the height of the mountain, Manwë and his spouse Varda dwelt in a house of white and blue marble upon a field of snow, and their halls are depicted in a glow of light at the summit. At the foot of the mountain is one of the towns of the seafaring Elves, the Teleri, and two of their ships are visible, each with a carved prow like the upheld neck of a swan.

Edition details

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0261102443
• ISBN 13: 9780261102446
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 384