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The Fall of Gondolin

Tales of Middle-Earth ✓
by J. R. R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien
The Fall of Gondolin (Tales of Middle-Earth) by J. R. R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien
  ★ 8.60 / 5
1★2★3★4★5★16★7★18★19★210★

Edited by Christopher Tolkien. Illustrated by Alan Lee.

In the Tale of The Fall of Gondolin are two of the greatest powers in the world. There is Morgoth of the uttermost evil, unseen in this story but ruling over a vast military power from his fortress of Angband. Deeply opposed to Morgoth is Ulmo, second in might only to Manwë, chief of the Valar: he is called the Lord of Waters, of all seas, lakes, and rivers under the sky. But he works in secret in Middle-earth to support the Noldor, the kindred of the Elves among whom were numbered Húrin and Túrin Turambar.

Central to this enmity of the gods is the city of Gondolin, beautiful but undiscoverable. It was built and peopled by Noldorin Elves who, when they dwelt in Valinor, the land of the gods, rebelled against their rule and fled to Middle-earth. Turgon King of Gondolin is hated and feared above all his enemies by Morgoth, who seeks in vain to discover the marvellously hidden city, while the gods in Valinor in heated debate largely refuse to intervene in support of Ulmo's desires and designs.

Into this world comes Tuor, cousin of Túrin, the instrument of Ulmo's designs. Guided unseen by him Tuor sets out from the land of his birth on the fearful journey to Gondolin, and in one of the most arresting moments in the history of Middle-earth the sea-god himself appears to him, rising out of the ocean in the midst of a storm. In Gondolin he becomes great; he is wedded to Idril, Turgon's daughter, and their son is Eärendel, whose birth and profound importance in days to come is foreseen by Ulmo.

At last comes the terrible ending. Morgoth learns through an act of supreme treachery all that he needs to mount a devastating attack on the city, with Balrogs and dragons and numberless Orcs. After a minutely observed account of the fall of Gondolin, the tale ends with the escape of Túrin and Idril, with the child Eärendel, looking back from a cleft in the mountains as they flee southward, at the blazing wreckage of their city. They were journeying into a new story, the Tale of Eärendel, which Tolkien never wrote, but which is sketched out in this book from other sources.

Following his presentation of Beren and Lúthien Christopher Tolkien has used the same 'history in sequence' mode in the writing of this edition of The Fall of Gondolin. In the words of J. R. R. Tolkien, ’it was the first real story of this imaginary world’ and, together with Beren and Lúthien and The Children of Húrin, he regarded it as one of the three 'Great Tales' of the Elder Days.

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Standard Shelves
Updated 04/07/2025
Category: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Middle-earth
Release date: August 28, 2018

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J. R. R. Tolkien

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.

Read more ...

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.

Tales of Middle-Earth

Tales of Middle-Earth consists of 4 total books — considered a complete series. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.

The Children of Húrin (Tales of Middle-Earth)
  ★ 7.80 / 45
Beren and Lúthien (Tales of Middle-Earth)
  ★ 9.00 / 1
The Fall of Gondolin (Tales of Middle-Earth)
  ★ 8.60 / 5
The Fall of Númenor (Tales of Middle-Earth)
  ★ 9.00 / 3


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