La storia della Terra di Mezzo rappresenta uno dei progetti letterari più ambiziosi del Novecento. Non è soltanto un insieme di racconti, ma un vero archivio mitologico che mostra come Tolkien abbia costruito, strato dopo strato, un mondo coerente, vivo e profondamente umano. La lettura di questi volumi richiede attenzione e curiosità: non sono romanzi nel senso tradizionale, ma documenti narrativi che rivelano l’evoluzione di personaggi, lingue, genealogie e intere epoche. Il fascino principale sta nella possibilità di osservare la nascita delle idee che porteranno al Silmarillion, al Signore degli Anelli e oltre. Ogni testo, anche il più frammentario, illumina un dettaglio nuovo: la tragedia degli Elfi, la caduta di Númenor, le prime ombre di Sauron. È una lettura che premia chi ama immergersi nella costruzione di un mondo e scoprire come una mitologia prende forma nel tempo.
More about the book
In 1955, J.R.R. Tolkien expressed his enjoyment of alliterative verse, noting that he had published little beyond fragments in The Lord of the Rings and The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth. This collection features the unpublished Lay of the Children of Húrin, Tolkien's early and most extensive work in ancient English metre, which aimed to narrate the tragedy of Túrin Turambar on a grand scale. Although incomplete, it powerfully recounts Túrin's killing of his friend Beleg and offers a unique depiction of Nargothrond. This lay was later succeeded by the Lay of Leithian, which tells another major legend from the Elder Days in rhyme. While this poem is also unfinished, it encompasses the entire Quest of the Silmaril, concluding after the encounter with Morgoth in his fortress. After completing The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien revisited the Lay of Leithian, creating a new version from the start, which is included here. The collection features commentaries on the development of the Elder Days' history, shaped during the compositions of both lays. Additionally, it contains detailed criticism of the Lay of Leithian by C.S. Lewis, who read the poem in 1929. This volume is part of The History of Middle-earth series, edited by Christopher Tolkien, following the Book of Lost Tales, Parts I and II.
Book purchase
The Lays of Beleriand, J. R. R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien
- Language
- Released
- 1985
- product-detail.submit-box.info.binding
- (Hardcover)
Payment methods
- Language
- English
- Authors
- J. R. R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien
- Publisher
- George Allen & Unwin
- Released
- 1985
- Format
- Hardcover
- Pages
- 393
- ISBN10
- 0048232777
- ISBN13
- 9780048232779
- Series
- Tags
- Fiction, Fantasy, Poetry, Classics, Science Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
- Rating
- 4.05 out of 5
- Description
- In 1955, J.R.R. Tolkien expressed his enjoyment of alliterative verse, noting that he had published little beyond fragments in The Lord of the Rings and The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth. This collection features the unpublished Lay of the Children of Húrin, Tolkien's early and most extensive work in ancient English metre, which aimed to narrate the tragedy of Túrin Turambar on a grand scale. Although incomplete, it powerfully recounts Túrin's killing of his friend Beleg and offers a unique depiction of Nargothrond. This lay was later succeeded by the Lay of Leithian, which tells another major legend from the Elder Days in rhyme. While this poem is also unfinished, it encompasses the entire Quest of the Silmaril, concluding after the encounter with Morgoth in his fortress. After completing The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien revisited the Lay of Leithian, creating a new version from the start, which is included here. The collection features commentaries on the development of the Elder Days' history, shaped during the compositions of both lays. Additionally, it contains detailed criticism of the Lay of Leithian by C.S. Lewis, who read the poem in 1929. This volume is part of The History of Middle-earth series, edited by Christopher Tolkien, following the Book of Lost Tales, Parts I and II.