A review by ceallaighsbooks
The Fall of Gondolin by J.R.R. Tolkien

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

“‘…For though I am indeed willing to do as my father and stand by that king in his need, yet of little avail shall I be, a mortal man alone, among so many and so valiant of the High Folk of the West.' 'If I choose to send thee, Tuor son of Huor, then believe not that thy one sword is not worth the sending. For the valour of the Edain the Elves shall ever remember as the ages lengthen, marvelling that they gave life so freely of which on earth they had so little. But it is not for thy valour only that I send thee, but to bring into the world a hope beyond thy sight, and a light that shall pierce the darkness.’”

TITLE—The Fall of Gondolin
AUTHOR—JRR Tolkien
EDITED BY—Christopher Tolkien
PUBLISHED—2018
PUBLISHER—Harper Collins

GENRE—literary fantasy 
SETTING—Beleriand
MAIN THEMES/SUBJECTS—the Fall of Gondolin and the end of the First Age and the beginning of the last days of Beleriand, the Doom of Mandos, Ulmo’s whisper of sea-longing, hope in the darkness & the light that comes after the dark, the legacy of the heroes of the Edain in the First Age, epic journeys & battles, Tolkien’s writing process/evolution, Faith vs Fear, the power of pity & hope

WRITING STYLE—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
CHARACTERS—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STORY/PLOT—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

BONUS ELEMENT/S—The fact that this was the first story JRR Tolkien wrote for his legendarium and the last book that his son Christopher ever published of his father’s works before he died was 🥹 really sweet and a beautiful tribute to both of their legacies.

PHILOSOPHY—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
PREMISE—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
EXECUTION—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Now is the face of that chieftain grim and he looks not to live long—and there in his house upon the walls Idril arrays herself in mail, and seeks Eärendel. And that child was in tears for the strange lights of red that played about the walls of the chamber where he slept; and tales that his nurse Meleth had woven him concerning fiery Melko at times of his waywardness came to him and troubled him. But his mother coming set about him a tiny coat of mail that she had let fashion in secret, and at that he was glad and exceeding proud, and he shouted for pleasure. Yet Idril wept, for much had she cherished in her heart the fair city and her goodly house, and the love of Tuor and herself that had dwelt therein; but now she saw its destroying nigh at hand, and feared that her contriving would fail against this overwhelming might of the terror of the serpents.”

My thoughts:
I had so much fun reading this book along with #TheFellowshipOfTheReaders BookClub.

This was my first time reading this tale and it was so interesting to revisit the beginning of the creation of Tolkien’s legendarium through the eyes of his son and in the context of what was going on in Tolkien’s life when he wrote the first pieces, (while he was in a field hospital during WWI) and later in his life (when he was advocating for the publication of THE SILMARILLION and being met with so many roadblocks and senseless criticisms and critiques). I am *forever* depressed that we’ll never get part II of the tale written in his expanded and elevated style that the treatment of part I of the tale got for its inclusion in SILM. 😩 Being able to see Tolkien’s writing process and the evolution of his stories and ideas and even philosophy through these different versions was really interesting as well!

I would recommend this book to readers who are fans of Tolkien’s works (and have read at least THE SILMARILLION). Also to those readers who have an especial interest in the overall writing, and world building and philosophy development process in fantasy writing. This book is best read after reading THE SILMARILLION. Some understanding of some examples of Old English and Old Norse literature along with the associated story-telling devices makes it an even more enriching experience too.

Final note: Very much looking forward to reading BEREN AND LÚTHIEN with the bookclub group next!

“For heart that is pitiless counteth not the power that pity hath, of which stern anger may be forged and a lightning kindled before which mountains fall.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Further Reading—
  • THE SILMARILLION by JRR Tolkien
  • UNFINISHED TALES by JRR Tolkien
  • THE CHILDREN OF HÚRIN by JRR Tolkien
  • THE HISTORY OF MIDDLE EARTH by Tolkien—TBR
  • THE LETTERS OF JRR TOLKIEN by JRR Tolkien, edited by Christopher Tolkien & Humphrey Carpenter
  • JRR TOLKIEN: A BIOGRAPHY by Humphrey Carpenter
  • BEOWULF translated by JRR Tolkien
  • THE LEGEND OF SIGURD & GUDRÚN by JRR Tolkien—TBR
  • THE FALL OF ARTHUR by JRR Tolkien—TBR
  • SONG OF THE VIKINGS by Nancy Marie Brown