From the Bookshelf of J.R.R. Tolkien…

Beren and Lúthien

J.R.R. Tolkien,

Christopher Tolkien (Editor)

Start date: June 2, 2017

Finish date: September 30, 2017

Discussion: Group Reads

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What Members Thought

Aug 04, 2017 Beth rated it it was amazing

Shelves: book-group-2017, fantasy, poetry, back-to-the-classics-2017, tolkien-challenge-2017

This book combines different versions of the story of Beren and Luthien, one of the Middle-earth legends mentioned in LotR, presented in one volume. (For those who haven’t read it, the real-world myths that Tolkien draws on here include the story of Rapunzel and the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, and he got the idea for the singing duels from the Kalevala.) I loved it! I really think the characters come across much more powerfully when you read all the different versions (especially the Lay of L This book combines different versions of the story of Beren and Luthien, one of the Middle-earth legends mentioned in LotR, presented in one volume. (For those who haven’t read it, the real-world myths that Tolkien draws on here include the story of Rapunzel and the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, and he got the idea for the singing duels from the Kalevala.) I loved it! I really think the characters come across much more powerfully when you read all the different versions (especially the Lay of Leithian).

There’s a prologue that explains "the story so far" for readers who haven’t read The Silmarillion. Most of this book consists of "Tale of Tinuviel" and the extracts from the poem "The Lay of Lethian," which present a more detailed version of the story than appears in The Silmarillion (chapter 19). But there is also some new material -- prose versions that add more to the story in The Silmarillion. There are a few things that made more sense to me after reading this book, compared to reading the Silmarillion version.

"The Tale of Tinuviel" was originally part of The Book of Lost Tales, Part Two. It’s more whimsical than either the later prose version, or the poem. Instead of Sauron, Beren and Luthien face down Tevildo the king of the Cats. And the Noldorin kingdom of Nargothrond wasn’t part of the story at this point, so the darkest elements of the tale are missing. And personally I really love that stuff, and the way it contrasts with one of the rare happy endings of the First Age.

I love the little detail that Beren could hear Luthien across the distance between them: "at night time it seemed to him that his heart heard her sometimes weeping softly for him far away in the woodlands of her home: and this was indeed true."

I have more to say in the spoiler tags below.

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Mar 02, 2018 L rated it it was amazing

Shelves: j-r-r-tolkien, middle-earth-history

Restored from Tolkien’s manuscripts and presented for the first time as a fully continuous and standalone story, the epic tale of Beren and Lúthien will reunite fans of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings with Elves and Humans, Dwarves and Orcs and the rich landscape and creatures unique to Tolkien’s Middle-earth. The tale of Beren and Lúthien was, or became, an essential element in the evolution of The Silmarillion, the myths and legends of the First Age of the World conceived by J.R.R. Tolkie ...more

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Jun 23, 2017 Andrew Higgins rated it really liked it

I just finished a first read of this really interesting and beautifully put together volume with excellent evocative art by Alan Lee. its a very interesting volume in terms of how Christopher Tolkien presents the evolving myth of Beren and Luthien - I need to think more about this (perhaps a paper for Kzoo next year?) but it does present, I think, an interesting model for how to study the major strands of Tolkien's legendarium - also CRRT provides some really insightful new commentary - need to ...more

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