J. R. R. Tolkien: Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-Earth

Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-Earth is a collection of stories and essays by J.R.R. Tolkien that were edited and published posthumously by his son Christopher Tolkien in 1980. The book includes a wide range of material, including both completed and unfinished stories, drafts, and essays that provide insight into the development of Tolkien’s mythological universe of Middle-Earth.

BOOK INFO

version: CLASSIC, EBOOK, AUDIOBOOK

number of pages: 472

literary movement: MODERNISM

literary genre: FANTASY

1st edition: 1980

years of writing: 1910 - 1960

SUMMARY

One of the primary themes of the book is the idea of unfinishedness, which is reflected in the title itself. Many of the stories and essays in the book are incomplete, or exist only as fragments or outlines. This is particularly true of the sections on the early history of Middle-Earth, which contain many fascinating but incomplete stories and drafts that shed light on the development of Tolkien’s legendarium.

Another important theme of Unfinished Tales is the idea of sub-creation, which is central to Tolkien’s philosophy of art and writing. In his view, the act of creating a fictional world is akin to the act of sub-creation, in which the artist or writer assumes a god-like role and creates a world that is in some sense independent of the real world. This theme is reflected in many of the stories and essays in the book, which explore the history and mythology of Middle-Earth in intricate detail.

The book is divided into several sections, each of which focuses on a particular theme or time period in the history of Middle-Earth. Some of the key sections of the book include:

• The First Age: This section includes several incomplete or unfinished stories that cover the early history of Middle-Earth, including the story of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin, as well as the story of Beren and Lúthien.
• The Second Age: This section focuses on the history of Númenor, the great island kingdom that was founded by the Edain. It includes several stories and essays that explore the culture and history of the Númenóreans, as well as the downfall of the island kingdom.
• The Third Age: This section includes several stories and essays that cover the later history of Middle-Earth, including the story of Isildur and the One Ring, as well as the history of the Dúnedain and the Rangers of the North.

One of the most significant contributions of Unfinished Tales is the additional material on the history and culture of the Elves. This includes a detailed account of the founding of the hidden city of Gondolin, and the history of the Elvish kingdoms of Doriath and Nargothrond. The book also includes several previously unpublished stories and fragments that shed new light on the history of Middle-Earth.

TOP 10 POINTS

• The book provides a wide range of material, including both completed and unfinished stories, drafts, and essays that provide insight into the development of Tolkien’s mythological universe of Middle-Earth.
• One of the primary themes of the book is the idea of unfinishedness, which is reflected in the title itself. Many of the stories and essays in the book are incomplete, or exist only as fragments or outlines, providing a glimpse into Tolkien’s creative process.
• The book includes additional material on the history and culture of the Elves, including a detailed account of the founding of the hidden city of Gondolin, and the history of the Elvish kingdoms of Doriath and Nargothrond.
• The section on the early history of Middle-Earth includes several incomplete or unfinished stories that cover the early history of the world, including the story of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin, providing a window into the earliest stages of Tolkien’s legendarium.
• The section on the history of Númenor provides a detailed account of the rise and fall of the great island kingdom, including several stories and essays that explore the culture and history of the Númenóreans, adding depth and detail to one of the most fascinating aspects of Middle-Earth history.
• The book includes several previously unpublished stories and fragments that shed new light on the history of Middle-Earth, including the story of Isildur and the One Ring, and the history of the Dúnedain and the Rangers of the North.
• Many of the stories and essays in the book explore the themes of sub-creation and the role of the artist or writer in creating a fictional world, providing insight into Tolkien’s own philosophy of art and writing.
• The book provides a fascinating glimpse into the development and evolution of Tolkien’s fictional world of Middle-Earth, and the many ideas and themes that he explored over the course of his life.
• Unfinished Tales is a valuable resource for scholars and fans of Tolkien’s work, and provides a wealth of new information and insights into the history and mythology of Middle-Earth, making it a must-read for serious fans of the legendarium.
• While the book is dense and complex, it is also deeply rewarding and offers a rich and detailed exploration of Tolkien’s world of Middle-Earth, providing new insights and perspectives on this beloved fictional universe.

Overall, Unfinished Tales is a fascinating and illuminating work that provides a wealth of new information and insight into Tolkien’s fictional world of Middle-Earth. The book is an essential read for fans of Tolkien’s work, and provides a valuable addition to the canon of Middle-Earth literature.

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