Silmarillion

The Silmarillion is a fully illustrated new edition of J.R.R. Tolkien's forerunner to The Lord of the Rings, telling the earlier history of Middle-earth, recounting the events of the First and Second Ages, and introducing some of the key characters. It is the core of Tolkien's imaginative writing and includes several shorter works, such as the Ainulindalë, Valaquenta, Akallabêth, and Of the Rings of Power. Tolkien could not publish it in his lifetime, so he left it to his son, Christopher, to edit and bring his father's vision to publishable form. This special edition presents a new version of this seminal first step towards mapping out the posthumous publishing of Middle-earth and the beginning of an illustrious forty years and more than twenty books celebrating his father's legacy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 480 pages
Publication date: 18 March 2021
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

The Silmarillion, a fully illustrated new edition, serves as a prelude to The Lord of the Rings, delving into the earlier history of Middle-earth, recounting the events of the First and Second Ages, and introducing some of the key characters, including Galadriel, Elrond, Elendil, and the Dark Lord, Sauron.

The Silmarillion, a compilation of narratives spanning from the Elder Days of Middle-earth to the Second Age and the rise of Sauron, is the cornerstone of J.R.R. Tolkien's imaginative writing. Set in a time when Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, reigned over Middle-earth, and the Elves waged war against him in his impenetrable fortress of Angband to reclaim the Silmarils, three jewels containing the last remaining pure light of Valinor, stolen by Morgoth and placed in his iron crown. Accompanying these tales are several shorter works, such as the Ainulindalë, which mythologizes the Creation, the Valaquenta, which explores the nature and powers of the gods, and the Akallabêth, which narrates the downfall of the great island kingdom of Númenor at the end of the Second Age.

Tolkien's masterpiece, The Silmarillion, could not be published during his lifetime as it continued to evolve alongside him. Therefore, he entrusted the task of editing the work from numerous manuscripts to his son, Christopher, to bring his father's great vision to fruition and publish it in a readable form. This special edition marks the initial step towards the posthumous publishing of Middle-earth, paving the way for an illustrious forty years and more than twenty books that celebrate Tolkien's legacy.

In addition to the text, this edition includes a letter written by J.R.R. Tolkien, providing further insights into the creation of The Silmarillion and its significance in the realm of fantasy literature.

Weight: 1104g
Dimension: 156 x 229 x 47 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780008433949
Edition number: Illustrated ed