The Silmarillion: by J. R. R. Tolkien (Author, Illustrator)

Product Information

This overwhelmingly positive response resulted in the first ever edition of The Lord of the Rings illustrated by its author, which proved hugely popular with readers around the world, and it is with great pleasure that we are now able to accompany this with an edition of The Silmarillion, at last presented with a wonderful selection of J R R Tolkien’s paintings, drawings and designs that capture the beauty and drama of the First and Second Ages of Middle-earth.” This just ended up being so rewarding to read and I'm really glad for that. It's definitely reignited my love for this world, which never dies but does sleep from time to time as I immerse myself in other worlds. We meet Tolkien's most powerful villain. No, not Sauron. Morgoth (also called Melkor). The most powerful Ainur/Valar. We learn more about Valinor (Valinor is where Frodo and Bilbo depart at the end of the Lord of the Rings). Valinor is the home of the Valar (Ainur). We learn about the destruction of the Two Trees of Valinor by Morgoth and Ungoliant. All that remains is to refer you to my little collection of quotes and artwork from the most important scenes of the book. Most of you have already seen it, but for those who haven’t, please have a look: When the Valar entered into Eä they were at first astounded and at a loss, for it was as if naught was yet made which they had seen in vision, and all was but on point to begin and yet unshaped, and it was dark. For the Great Music had been but the growth and flowering of thought in the Timeless Halls, and the Vision only a foreshowing; but now they had entered in at the beginning of Time, and the Valar perceived that the World had been but foreshadowed and foresung, and they must achieve it. So began their great labours in wastes unmeasured and unexplored, and in ages uncounted and forgotten, until in the Deeps of Time and in the midst of the vast halls of Eä there came to be that hour and that place where was made the habitation of the Children of Ilúvatar.

This is an amazing piece of work by Tolkien which showcases a battle of good versus evil spanning across the three ages. It has a certain richness to it which almost makes it seems as though it could very well be a real piece of history (though we all know it isn’t). This deluxe slipcased edition contains the complete text, which is printed in two colours and features, for the very first time, more than 50 colour paintings, illustrations and designs drawn by J.R.R. Tolkien himself as he composed this epic work. even tho the paper don’t agree with me on this… it was self mutilation!!! She has no idea how “attached” Shall we mourn here deedless forever a shadow-folk mist-haunting dropping vain tears in the thankless sea?” From here we have a pantheistic legendarium of the Valar (the Ainur who stayed) and of their conflict with Melkor and of the coming of the elves and of men. One of the Ainu formed the dwarves and had to petition Eru for this transgression.She went then to the gardens of Lórien and lay down to sleep; but though she seemed to sleep, her spirit indeed departed from her body, and passed in silence to the halls of Mandos. The maidens of Estë tended the body of Míriel, and it remained unwithered; but she did not return. Then Finwë lived in sorrow; and he went often to the gardens of Lórien, and sitting beneath the silver willows beside the body of his wife he called her by her names. But it was unavailing; and alone in all the Blessed Realm he was deprived of joy. After a while he went to Lórien no more. Eru and his Valar, spirits of great power, create Arda, which is the Earth that is seen and there they make the world ready for the coming of the First Born, the Elves. The Second Born, Men, come too at some point. Silmarillion is broken into 4 parts: The character building in this book is just absolutely amazing. It really gives so much density and depth within it. You begin to really feel the emotions of everything that happens throughout the story. Why Sauron was such an evil character and where this stemmed from in the beginning of things. You even find out the origin of Aragorn’s ring and its origins (the ring with the two serpents, one devouring the other). Seeing the relationships between characters build and even fall apart is executed so well by Tolkien. The way Tolkien has merged the three books into one overall story really is just nothing short of incredible. During the 1980s and 1990s, Christopher Tolkien published most of his father's Middle-Earth-related writings as the 12-volume History of Middle-earth series.

This book is not for everyone. In fact, I would only recommend it to those who have read and loved both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. But I wouldn’t hesitate to call it the greatest masterpiece of worldbuilding the fantasy genre has ever had.

The one had leaves of dark green that beneath were as shining as silver, and from each of his countless flowers a dew of silver light was ever falling, and the earth beneath was dappled with the shadows of his fluttering leaves. The other bore leaves of a young green like the new-opened beech; their edges were of glittering gold. Flowers swung upon her branches in clusters of yellow flame, formed each to a glowing horn that spilled a golden rain upon the ground; and from the blossom of that tree there came forth warmth and a great light.

From the very beginning, one of the Ainur has evil intentions, and Melkor (aka Morgoth) swiftly becomes the Big Bad who lurks throughout this entire history, darkening all that the others create. His presence sows the seed of good vs evil, and suddenly this fancy new world is marred into something tragically more recognisable and honestly far more interesting. Notice how I did not say “best”. That was completely intentional. I do not believe it is the best book ever written, even though I know others think so, and I understand their opinions. I also know people who have given up on reading this book, or been baffled by the thought of even attempting it. And I understand them too. This is not the most exciting fantasy book you’ll find. But I stand by it being the most impressive one. It gets incredibly confusing, not least because of the multitude of characters but additionally because each character tends to come with several names, and reference to them is not consistent. He passed over Dor-nu-Fauglith like a wind amid the dust, and all that beheld his onset fled in amaze, thinking that Oromë himself was come: for a great madness of rage was upon him, so that his eyes shone like the eyes of the Valar. Thus he came alone to Angband’s gates, and he sounded his horn, and smote once more upon the brazen doors, and challenged Morgoth to come forth to single combat. And Morgoth came. Come on! This is GREAT stuff. :) And we even get to the ending of the First age, the ending of the Second age, getting the full story of Sauron's corrupting the Kings of Men, inflaming their desire to be immortal just like the Elves and ending with the utter destruction of their kingdom, their island, their Atlantis. :)Y como el universo y la humanidad, “El Silmarillion” es inabarcable en cuanto a la cantidad de temas y tipos de historia que tratan sus 24 historias. Quien lo lea encontrará que es un compendio en el que tienen cabida una gran cantidad de géneros. Encontramos desde la cosmología hasta la épica, pasando por la novela de aventuras e incluso la romántica. En este sentido tengo que decir que hay dos historias que me han gustado especialmente (aunque por supuesto todas las que he leído en este tomo me han encantado). Por un lado tenemos la de “Los hijos de Húrin “, que me ha recordado mucho a las grandes tragedias de la literatura griega (además que por causas obvias) por su sentido del destino, la tragedia y el pathos. Pero la palma es para la historia de “Beren y Lúthien”. No en pocas ocasiones había leído que era una de las más hermosas historias de amor que nos había legado en la literatura. Y ahora entiendo porque. Los hermanos Grimm cuentan el mito de Orfeo, protagonizado por una pareja de amantes prohibidos que se ponen el mundo por montera y desafían hasta la misma muerte por estar juntos. Es una historia desgarradoramente poética y que enternece. Tanto en contenido como por la forma en que está escrito me parece una de las cosas más preciosas que escribió Tolkien. No en vano, la relación entre la elfa y el humano está basada en su propia historia de amor con su esposa, Edith. De hecho, en las tumbas del matrimonio, bajo sus nombres y la fecha de su nacimiento y defunción aparecen los nombres de los amantes protagonistas. Un guiño de lo más entrañable que si ya me pareció encantador antes de leer este romance, ahora me lo parece infinitamente más. Unique to this edition are two poster-size, fold-out maps revealing all the detail of Beleriand as the tales grew, an illustrated booklet featuring 'A Brief Account of The Silmarillion and its Making' by Christopher Tolkien, and a printed art card reproducing 'Taniquetil'. Tolkien was a professor at the Universities of Leeds and Oxford for almost forty years, teaching Old and Middle English, as well as Old Norse and Gothic. His illuminating lectures on works such as the Old English epic poem, Beowulf, illustrate his deep knowledge of ancient languages and at the same time provide new insights into peoples and legends from a remote past. The closing chapters also talks about Numenor and the rise and fall of the that great island nation and how this society led to the line of kings of whom Aragorn was one. Let's not forget the glittering lamps that reach up like space elevators bathing the whole flat earth in light or their destruction. Or the gigantic trees that took their place, or the fruit and leaf of the destroyed trees that later became the sun and the moon, finally out of reach of the great corruptor.