The Story of Kullervo

★ 6.00 / 7

Edited by Verlyn Flieger.

The world first publication of a previously unknown work of fantasy by J.R.R. Tolkien, which tells the powerful story of a doomed young man who is sold into slavery and who swears revenge on the magician who killed his father.

Kullervo son of Kalervo is perhaps the darkest and most tragic of all J.R.R. Tolkien’s characters. ‘Hapless Kullervo’, as Tolkien called him, is a luckless orphan boy with supernatural powers and a tragic destiny.

Brought up in the homestead of the dark magician Untamo, who killed his father, kidnapped his mother, and who tries three times to kill him when still a boy, Kullervo is alone save for the love of his twin sister, Wanona, and guarded by the magical powers of the black dog, Musti. When Kullervo is sold into slavery he swears revenge on the magician, but he will learn that even at the point of vengeance there is no escape from the cruellest of fates.

Tolkien himself said that The Story of Kullervo was ‘the germ of my attempt to write legends of my own’, and was ‘a major matter in the legends of the First Age’. Tolkien’s Kullervo is the clear ancestor of Túrin Turambar, tragic incestuous hero of The Silmarillion. In addition to it being a powerful story in its own right, The Story of Kullervo – published here for the first time with the author’s drafts, notes and lecture-essays on its source-work, The Kalevala – is a foundation stone in the structure of Tolkien’s invented world.

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Updated 04/07/2025

Category: Fantasy

Release date: August 25, 2015

J. R. R. Tolkien

J. R. R. Tolkien, the creator of Middle-earth, was not just a writer; he was a weaver of worlds, a philologist whose deep understanding of language and mythology breathed life into epic landscapes, timeless characters, and legends that still captivate readers around the world. Born in 1892 in Bloemfontein, South Africa, Tolkien’s early years were marked by tragedy—his father’s untimely death and the loss of his mother, both of which shaped the tone of his writing. His roots in the English countryside, where he moved as a child, became the fertile ground for the stories that would define an entire genre.

A professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford, Tolkien’s passion for ancient languages and myths guided his creative journey. It was through his academic work that he cultivated an understanding of storytelling traditions that would later inform The Hobbit (1937) and The Lord of the Rings trilogy (1954-1955). These novels, which began as a simple bedtime story for his children, transformed into a vast, intricate epic that combined linguistics, folklore, and his personal experiences—especially his time as a soldier in World War I. The desolate landscapes of war inspired much of the darkness found in Middle-earth, from the vast, haunted wilderness of Mordor to the sorrowful journeys of characters like Frodo Baggins.

Tolkien's approach to writing was as meticulous as his scholarship. His world-building is legendary, with languages and cultures as fully realized as any character in his books. His characters, from the humble hobbits to the noble elves, embody themes of bravery, friendship, and sacrifice. Yet, beneath the surface of his high fantasy is a deep reflection on the nature of evil and the fragility of power—lessons drawn from his own experiences and the history he so passionately studied.

Beyond his literary genius, Tolkien was a devoted family man. His deep affection for his wife, Edith, inspired much of the romance in his works, particularly the relationship between Beren and Lúthien in The Silmarillion. Tolkien’s children, too, played a part in his creative process, often offering playful suggestions that found their way into his stories.

Though he passed away in 1973, Tolkien's legacy continues to resonate. His works have been translated into dozens of languages, adapted into blockbuster films, and studied for their rich mythological and linguistic elements. Middle-earth has become more than just a fictional world; it is a cultural touchstone, one that generations continue to return to for solace, adventure, and the reminder that even in the darkest times, hope can be found.

As Tolkien once said, “Not all those who wander are lost.” It is this sense of adventure, of exploring worlds beyond our own, that remains at the heart of his enduring appeal. His influence stretches far beyond the pages of his books, making J. R. R. Tolkien not just a cornerstone of fantasy literature, but a creator whose imagination has shaped the way we see the world itself.