The Children of Hurin-Tolkien

[homeworld]

Has anyone read this yet? I just bought it but don't want to start it until I finish school in a couple of weeks. I'm excited. Let me know what you all think.

[Tegid]

I don't have it yet, but I've read the versions of the story in The History of Middle Earth and The Silmarillion. (I may yet get this one; I need something to couple with my order of L.B. Graham's new book, Father of Dragons, so I don't have to pay for shipping.)

The rich tapestry of stories of the First Age that forms the backdrop of The Lord of the Rings is so tantalizing that it's hard for the one who appreciates that book not to be curious enough to want to read the more detailed accounts. At twelve volumes, though, the History can be a little daunting for the not-truly-hardcore, and it can be good to have a guide to pick and choose a detailed 'best of' the different versions of the imporant tales there. Silmarillion is a quick intro; some of those tales beg for more in-depth coverage than they were afforded there. The Children of Hurin, the tale of Luthien and Beren, and the founding and fate of Gondolin are what I would consider the three most deserving such a treatment. It would be nice if someday those other two tales would also get their turn. (Aside: And I'd still love for Tolkien's Beowulf to see the light of day.)

There was a little something that started to nag at me after I'd read some of the First Age stories, and it bothered me more and more until finally when I was reading about Hurin and Turin I realized what it was. It seemed like the power to pronounce doom and to place curses was so prevalent, with good being defenseless against it, while there appeared to be a virtual absence of the ability or even the desire for anyone to bless. What a dark time the First Age was, on the whole, for this reason if for no other.

Maybe the hope and the light we have spoil me? Wait, no ...

[Child of Immanuel]

I had collected the first eight volumes of the Histories of Middle-Earth but eventually sold them. There were a few gems of poems and drafts that I came across, but the vast bulk of drafts and commentaries was killing my enjoyment of things Tolkien.

Anyway, I've reserved my library's copy of the new book. When whoever has had it for the past five weeks (and new books go out for only two weeks) gets around to returning it I'll tell you what I think.

[Jherprincess]

I too wish the other two stories would get their chance! The Fall of Gondolin is my favorite!

I have not made my way completely through Children of Hurin yet (though I have reasd the older versions, so I'm familiar with the story) I like it, but its soo sad! I love the illustrations though!

[Child of Immanuel]

I finally got my hands on it. It's very good, of course, and almost exactly like The Silmarillion's version except for a few things. The illustrations are great, but apart from those there isn't much new about it. I did enjoy having it between two covers of its own.

[Dred]

Is it flushed out at all because I thought the story in Silmarillion wasn't very long in terms of page number? I'm curious about the "few things" you're talking about as well. If it has illustrations that might be enough for me to get it.

[Child of Immanuel]

It wasn't very fleshed out at all. The only two things that struck me as different were a single line that was changed (instead of saying 'Orc-work in the woods for orc-words in the hall' Turin says 'Orc-work there was, this is only orc-play' when chasing Saeros through the woods) and the fact that all Hurin's experiences after being released from Angband were omitted.

[Dred]

Oh wow. Hurin's experiences after getting out of Angband were omitted? That's kind of huge in my mind. It really showed how things had changed for him and his family. I think I'll still get the book if only to read it and have it as a separate story from Silmarillion.

[reguba]

I thought it was awesome! I definately think it was worth the money paid to get it, and more. As to the observation that it seemed kind of dark in the Melkor respect, I think it was to emphasize that they were fighting an enemy that they had no chance to defeat, without the help of the Valar.

[acrux]

For those who really enjoyed The Children of Hurin, I'd highly recommend Unfinished Tales. It's a collection of sketches and short stories that fill in much of the "behind the scenes" information from LoTR and the Silmarillion. One of my favorite stories, "The Mariner's Wife" is in this one, as well as a glimpse into why Bilbo was chosen and dwarven psychology in "The Quest for Erebor".

[Elder Poet]

Great book. Brings depth to the shortened version in The Silmarillion.

[reguba]

I really liked Unfinished Tales (The Quest for Erebor was very enlightening) and I liked the story behind Celeborn and Galadriel.

[Danath]

I have often seen the History of Middle-earth in book stores and online, and wondered about opinions regarding it. Does it detract from the rest of Tolkien, or make it more enjoyable?

[Tegid]

The short answer is, "Yes and no."

The slightly longer answer is, "Son Christopher's notes can start to detract after a while, and eventually they can overwhelm. However, the versions of tales of the First Age make it worth putting up with some of the notes, and you can always ignore them once you think you're reaching saturation."

In the Silmarillion, Christopher tried to cobble together a story of the First Age that was as unified throughout in style as he thought he could. As such, it isn't really what Tolkien wrote. To me, Silmarillion comes across as rather prosaic (and plodding in places). JRR at times dwelt in great detail on certain lives and events; some of those even moved him to write epic poetry after the manner of Beowulf, sustained for close to 2000 lines. This artistry doesn't come across in the Silmarillion. The Children of Hurin is a taste of what can be found in the History, but even it is not the full story (the end is omitted), nor is the reader treated to the poetic rendering of this tale.

May I recommend that you try the first five volumes of the History? (I think you can get a relatively inexpensive bundle deal on those.) They trace Tolkien's development of the mythology up to the time he started LotR.

The first two volumes (The Book of Lost Tales, Vols 1 and 2) are the earliest version of the First Age, and in many ways is very different from what eventually was published in the Silmarillion. The very first couple of tales are almost totally unrecognizable as having anything to do with what later became Middle Earth; they are fascinating curiosities that were almost completely set aside as that world became more developed. The first appearance of the character whom Tolkien eventually made Sauron is somewhat comical, hard as that may be to believe. And even though much of the story changed before reaching its canonical form, some important things didn't, for example the Fall of Gondolin, and Vol 2 is the only place that disastrous battle is described in its entirety.

The third volume, The Lays of Beleriand, is quite simply spectacular! It gathers together the epic poems of Beren and Luthien, and of Hurin and Turin, both incomplete, but nevertheless indispensible reading for anyone who admires Tolkien's craftsmanship. If you love poetry at all, and if you can read only one of the twelve volumes, it should be this one.

The fourth and fifth volumes are the pre-LotR attempts to form a cohesive whole out of these tales. Among the other things you'll read here that don't survive in the Silmarillion are a couple stories that suggest ties between the mythology and the misty ancient history of England. Something we don't find in the Silmarillion is anything of the intent or hope Tolkien originally had of creating stories that could be a kind of national mythology for England, along the lines of what other northern European peoples had/have.

As I said, if the notes start to get cumbersome, skim or blip over them. But the stories themselves are too good to let the notes keep you away.

Who knows, you might like the notes. If you do, I'll just say that vols 6-9 are a blow-by-blow on how LotR came to be written, every period of writer's block, every cul-de-sac, every variant reading. A treasure trove for those who like that sort of thing, but very different from what the first five volumes were about. And vols 10-12 are basically a retrofitting of the Silmarillion to bring it from its stand-alone status in pre-LotR days to be more consistent with its new role as the first two ages of Middle Earth, something he did not at all have in mind originally. Here, the changes and the notes are more philosophical in nature, as he mulls over how this or that can be fleshed out or even be so, in light of the way things are in LotR.

The first five volumes, Danath. Give them a try.

[Dred]

That was a very well thought out and written explanation of the histories and I agree completely with what Tegid has provided for you Danath.

I have read through I believe the 5th or possibly the 6th book in the histories and can't disagree with what Tegid has stated. You'll find added detail in areas that shed new light on the stories in the Silmarillion and also show the variations in names that Tolkien used. At times it can be cumbersome but if you can get through the notes, I think you'll find at least making it through the first 5 books to be well worth the time.