
As an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner, Menrva Books earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more
The first publication of a deluxe edition of The Silmarillion, featuring the revised, reset text, bound in cloth and leather and set in a clothbound slipcase. 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 Numenor 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. For the first time, we are publishing a deluxe edition of this pivotal work, featuring the revised, corrected text and including, by way of an introduction, a fascinating letter written by Tolkien in 1951 in which he gives a full explanation of how he conceived the early Ages of Middle-earth. Bound in cloth and leather, and set in a cloth-bound slipcase, this attractive edition will prove a fine addition to any Tolkien collection.
The Silmarillion chronicles the primordial struggle between the Elves and the first Dark Lord, Morgoth, over the theft of the Silmarils, the sacred jewels containing the light of the world. The narrative functions as a foundational history of Middle-earth, spanning the creation of the universe through the end of the Third Age. It follows the tragic fates of the Noldor Elves as they defy the gods to wage a doomed war against an insurmountable evil. The text utilizes a formal, mythic tone, shifting between grand historical accounts, genealogical records, and tragic character-driven legends to establish the lore that underpins the later events of the Third Age.
This work is widely regarded as the essential cornerstone of Tolkien's legendarium, providing the deep historical context for his more famous novels. Readers often note the shift in tone from the accessible adventure of The Lord of the Rings to the dense, biblical prose style found here. The text is frequently praised for its immense scope and the intricate consistency of its invented languages and mythologies. While some find the sheer volume of names and lineages challenging, the consensus remains that it is a profound achievement in world-building that rewards patient study. It serves as the definitive source for understanding the motivations of characters like Galadriel and Elrond within the broader history of Middle-earth.
Page Count:
365
Publication Date:
2002-01-01
Publisher:
HarperCollins
ISBN-10:
0007136609
ISBN-13:
9780007136605