Christopher Tolkien, son of Lord of the Rings creator J.R.R., opens this tale that occurs towards the end of Middle-earth’s First Age with warning that it doesn’t have much of the power and immediacy of the fabled fantasy trilogy. He notes in the prologue that follows that his father penned the tale of The Fall of Gondolin during sick-leave from the army in 1917, and the original version of Beren and Lúthien in the same year. The younger Tolkien notes Middle-earth backstory such as the dispatch of the Nine Valar for governance of the world, and the rebellion by Morgoth, the Demon of Dark, against their overlordship.
Next comes the tale of The Fall of Gondolin proper, beginning with the description of Tuor as a man who lived in a northern land called Dor-lómin or the Land of Shadows, to whom Ulmo speaks. Tuor arrives at the city of Gondolin on Amon Gwareth, which has very vivid description, and where he receives a house built upon the southern walls. Tuor dwells among the Gondothlim for years, and Gothmog, the lord of the Balrogs, captain of the hosts of Melko, threatens the city. The story ends with the exiles of Gondolin dwelling at the mouth of the river Sirion by the Great Sea.
The younger Tolkien describes important elements in the evolution of his father’s text, and describes a short prose piece with the title Turlin and the Exiles of Gondolin, where Tuor, son of Peleg, son of Indor, son of Fengel marches to the East with his folk. Following this is the story as told in the elder Tolkien’s Sketch of the Mythology, beginning with a lively description of the river Sirion and its delta, where Tuor leads his company into the frozen pass of Cristhorn, the Eagle’s Cleft. There, Orcs ambush them, although the valor of Glorfindel, chief of the house of the Golden Flower of Gondolin, rescues them.
Afterward comes a version of the story as told in the Quenta Noldorinwa, where scouts of Turgon’s people fleeing from the Battle of Unnumbered Tears discover the vale of Gondolin. They come first into the Land of Willows, Nan-tathrin, hydrated by the Narog and by Sirion, with plentiful flora and fauna. Ulmo appears before them, and they take to the seas. In yet another version, Rían, wife of Huor, lives with the people of the house of Hador, although when rumor comes to Dor-lómin of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, the Battle of Unnumbered Tears, she wanders the wild alone.
The younger Tolkien goes on to describe the evolution of the story, which his father would abandon for some time, and where the Quenta Silmarillion tells of Turgon, leader of the Noldor who dared the Helkaraksë, the Grinding Ice, whilst crossing to Middle-earth. He alludes to another lost tale that followed The Fall of Gondolin chronologically, the Tale of the Nauglafring (the Necklace of the Dwarves, upon which is set the Silmaril). Then comes the conclusion of the Sketch of the Mythology, where Elwing, daughter of Dior, receives the survivors of Gondolin.
After that is the conclusion of the Quenta Noldorinwa, where in Valinor Ulmo speaks to the Valar of the need of the Elves to seek salvation from Morgoth and win back the Silmarils. Eärendel sees no help in the lands of the Sirion, and seeks to go to Valinor with Elwing at his side. Little is known of the march of the host of Fionwë to the North, with the Silmarils left to be recovered out of the sea, earth, and air. Ending the book is a useful list of names, as well as additional notes about terminology such as the Ainur, the Holy Ones, and other things such as the prophecy of Mandos, after which come family trees.
Overall, this was definitely an interesting read, incredibly deep and descriptive, although the younger Tolkien was certainly right in mentioning that it doesn’t have nearly the action or immediacy of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogy. It definitely gives a good look into the creative process the elder Tolkien underwent when formulating his stories, not just The Fall of Gondolin, but beyond it as well, although the book somewhat lacks cohesion without a single unifying narrative, and feels oftentimes fragmented and inconsistent. Hardcore Tolkien fans are certain to get the most out of this book.
Next comes the tale of The Fall of Gondolin proper, beginning with the description of Tuor as a man who lived in a northern land called Dor-lómin or the Land of Shadows, to whom Ulmo speaks. Tuor arrives at the city of Gondolin on Amon Gwareth, which has very vivid description, and where he receives a house built upon the southern walls. Tuor dwells among the Gondothlim for years, and Gothmog, the lord of the Balrogs, captain of the hosts of Melko, threatens the city. The story ends with the exiles of Gondolin dwelling at the mouth of the river Sirion by the Great Sea.
The younger Tolkien describes important elements in the evolution of his father’s text, and describes a short prose piece with the title Turlin and the Exiles of Gondolin, where Tuor, son of Peleg, son of Indor, son of Fengel marches to the East with his folk. Following this is the story as told in the elder Tolkien’s Sketch of the Mythology, beginning with a lively description of the river Sirion and its delta, where Tuor leads his company into the frozen pass of Cristhorn, the Eagle’s Cleft. There, Orcs ambush them, although the valor of Glorfindel, chief of the house of the Golden Flower of Gondolin, rescues them.
Afterward comes a version of the story as told in the Quenta Noldorinwa, where scouts of Turgon’s people fleeing from the Battle of Unnumbered Tears discover the vale of Gondolin. They come first into the Land of Willows, Nan-tathrin, hydrated by the Narog and by Sirion, with plentiful flora and fauna. Ulmo appears before them, and they take to the seas. In yet another version, Rían, wife of Huor, lives with the people of the house of Hador, although when rumor comes to Dor-lómin of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, the Battle of Unnumbered Tears, she wanders the wild alone.
The younger Tolkien goes on to describe the evolution of the story, which his father would abandon for some time, and where the Quenta Silmarillion tells of Turgon, leader of the Noldor who dared the Helkaraksë, the Grinding Ice, whilst crossing to Middle-earth. He alludes to another lost tale that followed The Fall of Gondolin chronologically, the Tale of the Nauglafring (the Necklace of the Dwarves, upon which is set the Silmaril). Then comes the conclusion of the Sketch of the Mythology, where Elwing, daughter of Dior, receives the survivors of Gondolin.
After that is the conclusion of the Quenta Noldorinwa, where in Valinor Ulmo speaks to the Valar of the need of the Elves to seek salvation from Morgoth and win back the Silmarils. Eärendel sees no help in the lands of the Sirion, and seeks to go to Valinor with Elwing at his side. Little is known of the march of the host of Fionwë to the North, with the Silmarils left to be recovered out of the sea, earth, and air. Ending the book is a useful list of names, as well as additional notes about terminology such as the Ainur, the Holy Ones, and other things such as the prophecy of Mandos, after which come family trees.
Overall, this was definitely an interesting read, incredibly deep and descriptive, although the younger Tolkien was certainly right in mentioning that it doesn’t have nearly the action or immediacy of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogy. It definitely gives a good look into the creative process the elder Tolkien underwent when formulating his stories, not just The Fall of Gondolin, but beyond it as well, although the book somewhat lacks cohesion without a single unifying narrative, and feels oftentimes fragmented and inconsistent. Hardcore Tolkien fans are certain to get the most out of this book.
No comments:
Post a Comment