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nwhyte's review against another edition
3.0
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1654508.html
Second in the series edited by Christopher Tolkien. Here we are looking at two of the core stories of The Silmarillion, and several other narratives which were largely or completely set aside as Tolkien's work developed. I found the very first story, "The Tale of Tinúviel", particularly interesting. For the first time I was struck that it is a tale if love between one character with a short name starting with B and another with a longer name starting with T, whose father opposes the romance just as Tolkien's own guardian opposed his relationship with Edith Bratt. Beren goes off to prove himself in battle and returns maimed, as Tolkien returned with trench fever from the Great War (though after his marriage rather than before). And of course Tolkien was himself always explicit that Tinúviel's dancing in the forest was inspired by Edith dancing for him one day in 1917 when they were out in the woods near his base. His personal identification with this particular story can be seen on his tombstone. I was always a bit disappointed that the version in The Silmarillion doesn't convey much emotional freight, but The Book of Lost Tales is worth getting for this chapter alone.
(We also meet the earliest version of Sauron, as Tivaldo the evil king of cats and servant of Melko, a counterpart to Beren's heroic dog.)
The other story treated in depth here is "Turambar and the Foalókë", which however has since been published in a pretty definitive format as The Children of Húrin; I found the joins between Beowulf, Kullervo and Tolkien's own imagination much more visible here.
The most interesting of the other chapters is "The Tale of Eärendel", another story which is curiously flat in The Silmarillion, a lost tale that underlies a fair bit of Middle Earth mythology but never seems to have found a definite written form; one almost senses Tolkien feeling more comfortable with it inside his head, so that Bilbo and Aragorn could make in-jokes about it in Rivendell, rather than spoiling it by putting too much down on paper.
(Also a shout out for "The Fall of Gondolin", with its gripping account of hand-to-hand combat as the city is taken.)
Despite the density of the prose I have found both Lost Tales volumes fairly quick reading, Tolkien's prose being as fluent in his twenties as it was later in his life, and Christopher Tolkien's annotations being complete enough to satisfy curiosity without being overwhelming. I'm glad to have got back into this series of books.
Second in the series edited by Christopher Tolkien. Here we are looking at two of the core stories of The Silmarillion, and several other narratives which were largely or completely set aside as Tolkien's work developed. I found the very first story, "The Tale of Tinúviel", particularly interesting. For the first time I was struck that it is a tale if love between one character with a short name starting with B and another with a longer name starting with T, whose father opposes the romance just as Tolkien's own guardian opposed his relationship with Edith Bratt. Beren goes off to prove himself in battle and returns maimed, as Tolkien returned with trench fever from the Great War (though after his marriage rather than before). And of course Tolkien was himself always explicit that Tinúviel's dancing in the forest was inspired by Edith dancing for him one day in 1917 when they were out in the woods near his base. His personal identification with this particular story can be seen on his tombstone. I was always a bit disappointed that the version in The Silmarillion doesn't convey much emotional freight, but The Book of Lost Tales is worth getting for this chapter alone.
(We also meet the earliest version of Sauron, as Tivaldo the evil king of cats and servant of Melko, a counterpart to Beren's heroic dog.)
The other story treated in depth here is "Turambar and the Foalókë", which however has since been published in a pretty definitive format as The Children of Húrin; I found the joins between Beowulf, Kullervo and Tolkien's own imagination much more visible here.
The most interesting of the other chapters is "The Tale of Eärendel", another story which is curiously flat in The Silmarillion, a lost tale that underlies a fair bit of Middle Earth mythology but never seems to have found a definite written form; one almost senses Tolkien feeling more comfortable with it inside his head, so that Bilbo and Aragorn could make in-jokes about it in Rivendell, rather than spoiling it by putting too much down on paper.
(Also a shout out for "The Fall of Gondolin", with its gripping account of hand-to-hand combat as the city is taken.)
Despite the density of the prose I have found both Lost Tales volumes fairly quick reading, Tolkien's prose being as fluent in his twenties as it was later in his life, and Christopher Tolkien's annotations being complete enough to satisfy curiosity without being overwhelming. I'm glad to have got back into this series of books.
zlwrites's review against another edition
3.0
I read as much as I'm going to. With outlines of the chapters Tolkien never gets to, I gave up. I enjoyed the Silmarillion, but this is almost too much. I'm putting these on hold for a while. Perhaps after the kiss is born. Way after.
gameofmo's review against another edition
5.0
A nice introduction to all three great tales for those not familiar with them. But the highlight is certainly “The History of Eriol or Ælfwine and the End of the Tales.” This is arguably where the early conceptions most drastically differed from the later ones, making this a particularly interesting stage of the mythology’s evolution.
dernichtraucherin's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
annarien's review against another edition
4.0
The first versions of the Great Tales are very entertaining and amusing to read. Especially in the case of Gondolin, where the account in this book is the only full and detailed one we get.
The last part of this book, however, makes me thankful that Tolkien later dropped it like a hot potato. While his efforts to incorporate the Elves into the history and mythology of England are laudable, the atempted reconstruction of his notes into a coherent narative always makes me skim the pages. It is simply too convoluted and contradictory a tale to try to retain. Perhaps if it had gotten polished and if it had been given a narrative form, the whole tie in with real human history would have made sense. But as it is... better to leave it a lost tale.
The last part of this book, however, makes me thankful that Tolkien later dropped it like a hot potato. While his efforts to incorporate the Elves into the history and mythology of England are laudable, the atempted reconstruction of his notes into a coherent narative always makes me skim the pages. It is simply too convoluted and contradictory a tale to try to retain. Perhaps if it had gotten polished and if it had been given a narrative form, the whole tie in with real human history would have made sense. But as it is... better to leave it a lost tale.
octavia_cade's review
3.0
If this were just the stories, I'd probably give it four stars. Even bloody Turin is tolerable here (he's always bloody Turin to me, the least attractive character in all of Tolkien and yet the one we're all supposed to be obsessed with, apparently, given the mountain of appearances of his horrible self in the Tolkien money-making machine). Then there's "The Fall of Gondolin", and I was riveted at that one, the real stand-out piece of the collection; the image of Ecthelion, the Balrog, and the fountain will stay with me a long time.
Unfortunately, weighing down all these wonderful stories are the histories and explanations of the editor. And you know, perhaps from an academic point of view this might be valuable. But reading as a layperson, while parts of it were mildly interesting, most of it was deathly dull, and that largely due to the endless amount of repetition. It's not enough to explain at referential length how the Lost Tales version of story X differs from every other version ever, it all gets quoted, and quoted, and quoted, even if the difference was from a Lost Tales story right before that one and a flatworm could recall it. Interminable.
Unfortunately, weighing down all these wonderful stories are the histories and explanations of the editor. And you know, perhaps from an academic point of view this might be valuable. But reading as a layperson, while parts of it were mildly interesting, most of it was deathly dull, and that largely due to the endless amount of repetition. It's not enough to explain at referential length how the Lost Tales version of story X differs from every other version ever, it all gets quoted, and quoted, and quoted, even if the difference was from a Lost Tales story right before that one and a flatworm could recall it. Interminable.
fictionista3's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
henryarmitage's review against another edition
3.0
Continues from Part 1 with more of Tolkien's early writings. Mostly I liked this, though
the final 2 chapters became rather dry and scholarly.
the final 2 chapters became rather dry and scholarly.
lisa_setepenre's review against another edition
4.0
This book offers a chance to expand on some of the stories contained in [b:The Silmarillion|7332|The Silmarillion|J.R.R. Tolkien|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255678090s/7332.jpg|4733799] and gives a glimpse into their creation. We are given the complete narratives of the Necklace of the Dwarves and the Fall of Gondolin – the latter should be read by those who believe that Glorfindel of Gondolin and Glorfindel of Rivendell to be the same Elf – as well as earlier drafts of some of Tolkien's more well-known stories from the First Age – Turin and the Dragon, Lúthien and Beren, and Eärendil. The story of Ælfwine, while not as well-known as some of the characters, is fascinating as it allows readers to view Middle-Earth becoming the world we know and, perhaps, a Middle-Earth in which Sauron's Ring never existed.
jlsigman's review against another edition
2.0
I understand what Christopher Tolkein was trying to do with these. But, honestly, it's a confusing mess as best with names and details changed from what is "canon". I had thought to read more of these, but I think I'll just stick with the trilogy, "The Hobbit", and "The Similarion".