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A review by annarien
The Book of Lost Tales, Part Two by J.R.R. Tolkien
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.