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The Children of Húrin

J.R.R. Tolkien

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What Members Thought

Mar 25, 2022 Markus rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, tolkien

Masterful stories.
Masterful editing.
Masterful introduction.

Pure perfection, as always.

25 likes · Like · see review

Dec 03, 2014 Liam rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

A beautiful, and extremely tragic tale of a cursed family.

4 likes · Like · see review

Jan 19, 2018 A.M. Reynwood rated it really liked it

Shelves: why-i-love-reading, inspirational-books-and-authors

Oh, boy. I think that's an accurate place to start. If you love a good tragedy, this is the book for you.

The Children of Húrin is a part of the History of Middle-Earth, taking place long, long, long before the events of The Lord of the Rings as part of the world's lore. This tale chronicles the life of Túrin son of Húrin, the one man who had dared to defy and scorn the Dark Lord Morgoth. (Familiar with the 'Balrog of Morgoth' from the trilogy? Yeah. It's that Morgoth. The guy so bad that Sauron Oh, boy. I think that's an accurate place to start. If you love a good tragedy, this is the book for you.

The Children of Húrin is a part of the History of Middle-Earth, taking place long, long, long before the events of The Lord of the Rings as part of the world's lore. This tale chronicles the life of Túrin son of Húrin, the one man who had dared to defy and scorn the Dark Lord Morgoth. (Familiar with the 'Balrog of Morgoth' from the trilogy? Yeah. It's that Morgoth. The guy so bad that Sauron was his lackey back in those days).

Morgoth's hatred for Húrin extended to his children, Túrin and Niënor, in a curse of doom, which was to follow them until the end of their days. Túrin suffered hardship and woe over and over again, dogged by the shadow cast upon him by the Dark Lord. His life was overshadowed by a dark doom since childhood, when his father was taken captive by Morgoth, his country forfeit to the Dark Lord and his minions, and himself sent away from kith and kin alone to escape thralldom. Yet even so he was determined to overcome the evil curse and master his own destiny. The strength of his will and his honor endeared him to many people, but even so he never stayed long in any one place ere something bad would happen that drove him away. Often enough it was his own temper that got the better of him, prompting him to do less-than-noble deeds, but he and Niënor both were deceived and manipulated by the evil dragon Glaurung, too; lied to and spited in an ever descending spiral of malice.

This tale marks Túrin's efforts to master his destiny, but in so doing ends up succumbing to it; the epitome of 'you can't escape fate'. In that regard I say this is very much a tragedy, that despite his efforts, his desires, and his mighty deeds, Túrin yet fell, hated and grief stricken ─ but not altogether friendless and unmourned.

This is a sad story, but a good one; definitely worth reading. The world that J.R.R. Tolkiencreates is vast, filled with beauty and sorrow alike, for what was and is now lost. The characters are vivid and diverse in personality, the narrative is easy to read, and the heart of the story is compelling. I am reminded of what makes Tolkein and his stories so great, and I am grateful to his son, Christopher Tolkien, for his efforts in bringing to us what his father could not. ...more

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Nov 14, 2020 Dan McCollum rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mythology

In many ways, I find this to be the best of Tolkein's works. Dipping into his love of northern mythology, Tolkein delivers a tale that is seeped in the tragedy of many a Saga and the Kalevala. The tale of Turin was always important to Tolkein, and he figures into the author's view of the apocalypse, wherein Turin will drive his sword through the heart of Morgoth and end evil once and for all. Although appearing in the Silmarillion, the Children of Hurin is a much expanded version of the tale. It ...more

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