The Lays of Beleriand
The third volume that contains the early myths and legends which led to
the writing of Tolkien’s epic tale of war, The Silmarillion.
This, the third volume of The History of Middle-earth, gives us a priviledged insight into the creation of the mythology of Middle-earth, through the alliterative verse tales of two of the most crucial stories in
Tolkien’s world – those of Turien and Luthien. The first of the poems is the unpublished Lay of The Children of Hurin, narrating on a grand
scale the tragedy of Turin Turambar. The second is the moving Lay of
Leithian, the chief source of the tale of Beren and Luthien in The
Silmarillion, telling of the Quest of the Silmaril and the encounter
with Morgoth in his subterranean fortress. Accompanying the poems are
commentaries on the evolution of the history of the Elder Days. Also
included is the notable criticism of The Lay of The Leithian by C. S.
Lewis, who read the poem in 1929.
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born on 1892 in Bloemfontein, South Africa. After serving in the First World War, he embarked upon academic career and was recognized as one of the finest philologists in the world. He was a professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford, a fellow of Pembroke College, and a fellow of Merton College until his retirement in 1959.
Tolkien is the creator of Middle-earth and author of the great modern classic, his epic masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien died in 1973 at the age of 81.
The History of Middle-earth
The History of Middle-earth consists of twelve books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
Related series The History of Middle-earth (omnibus editions)
