Children Of Hurin

[hoosieranna]

[quote name='BullnaChinaShop' post='1228798' date='Apr 3 2007, 04:09 PM']This comes well before the fall of Numenor. Numenor doesn't even exist at the point when this story takes place. The story is a great tragedy about the children of one of the early lords of men who served along with the exiled elf lords against Melkor. There is a version of the story in the Silmarilian in the tale of Túrin Turambar and another in the book of Unfinished Tales called "Narn i Hîn Húrin: The Tale of the Children of Húrin."[/quote]

Thanks. It's been so long since I've read any of the histories. I seem to remember a woman named Niniel or Nienor, because she weeps. She's somebody's sister. I'm looking forward to it.

[Mitchell_b55]

[quote name='Nadezhda']I heard about it. I'm not really thrilled that Chris Tolkien is going to be the one finishing it. I can't remember what book he did (Lays of Beleriand, the Silmarillion, whatever), but it wasn't as good as the stuff his father actually finished. Other than that, I'm one excited nerd.[/quote]

Sir, Christopher Tolkien is not writing the Chidlren of Hurin. He has simply compiled the dozens of manuscripts and edited the work so that it had a logical structure and is typographically fit for publication. The Silmarillion was also published posthumously in this manner. The work is entirely Tolkien's, his son acts only as editor. In the 12 volume History of Middle Earth collection, Christopher provided a running commentary and explanation text, but these books are not intended to be read as novels, but as a scholarly compilation with notes so that the largely incomplete and unpublishable works of Tolkien could be read by the average Joe. The Children of Hurin (though in a more mythological strain with an antiquated style) will like the Silmarrilion will not achieve the prose worship that the Lord of the Rings has. However, it will likely be just as good if not better than the Silmarillion, not to mention considerably darker in mood and content. I am very much excited about this book and already have it preordered in the special edition.

Edit: The reason that it is so significant a publication is because IT IS the newest complete story, finished but not revised by Tolkien. The other complete stories were the Silmarillion, Roverandom, and a couple of minor essays, works, lectures, and children stories, plus letters &c.

Edit Two: I should have mentioned that I am a disciple of the Professor. I have a fixation on his scholarly work and his accomplished style, which mirrors almost perfectly the early mythological Lays. His mythopoeic pricniples and his views of Myth and religion are particularly fascinating. I have read the Lord of the Rings once to twice a year since I first read it in fourth grade, the Hobbit nearly twice as much as that, and the Silmarillion half a dozen times. I have eight 1" notebooks with careful notes, commentary, and what not. In 2004 I purchased the 2005 50th Anniversary Edition and it is actually displayed on a book display stand on my 'Tolkien Shelf.' As you said, my dear sir, I know more about Middle Earth than I should care to admit.

Edited April 4, 2007 by petrus_scholasticus

[BullnaChinaShop]

[quote name='Nadezhda' post='1229033' date='Apr 3 2007, 10:29 PM']Thanks. It's been so long since I've read any of the histories. I seem to remember a woman named Niniel or Nienor, because she weeps. She's somebody's sister. I'm looking forward to it.[/quote]

They are two names of the same person, the sister of Turin. These are the two children of Hurin alluded to in the title.

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='BullnaChinaShop' post='1228798' date='Apr 3 2007, 11:09 PM']This comes well before the fall of Numenor. Numenor doesn't even exist at the point when this story takes place. The story is a great tragedy about the children of one of the early lords of men who served along with the exiled elf lords against Melkor. There is a version of the story in the Silmarilian in the tale of Túrin Turambar and another in the book of Unfinished Tales called "Narn i Hîn Húrin: The Tale of the Children of Húrin."[/quote]

Hey cousin! So, since you seem to know a lot about this, do you have the book and can I borrow it? I mean, I will actually be in the same country as you, even the same state as you, in 1 week.

[BullnaChinaShop]

[quote name='Archaeology cat' post='1229568' date='Apr 4 2007, 12:35 PM']Hey cousin! So, since you seem to know a lot about this, do you have the book and can I borrow it? I mean, I will actually be in the same country as you, even the same state as you, in 1 week. [/quote]

I have the Silmarillion and the Unfinished Tales book, so I have read two different versions of this story. I could send you one or both of these.

[hoosieranna]

[quote name='petrus_scholasticus' post='1229457' date='Apr 4 2007, 09:26 AM']Sir, Christopher Tolkien is not writing the Chidlren of Hurin. He has simply compiled the dozens of manuscripts and edited the work so that it had a logical structure and is typographically fit for publication. The Silmarillion was also published posthumously in this manner. The work is entirely Tolkien's, his son acts only as editor. In the 12 volume History of Middle Earth collection, Christopher provided a running commentary and explanation text, but these books are not intended to be read as novels, but as a scholarly compilation with notes so that the largely incomplete and unpublishable works of Tolkien could be read by the average Joe. The Children of Hurin (though in a more mythological strain with an antiquated style) will like the Silmarrilion will not achieve the prose worship that the Lord of the Rings has. However, it will likely be just as good if not better than the Silmarillion, not to mention considerably darker in mood and content. I am very much excited about this book and already have it preordered in the special edition.

Edit: The reason that it is so significant a publication is because IT IS the newest complete story, finished but not revised by Tolkien. The other complete stories were the Silmarillion, Roverandom, and a couple of minor essays, works, lectures, and children stories, plus letters &c.

Edit Two: I should have mentioned that I am a disciple of the Professor. I have a fixation on his scholarly work and his accomplished style, which mirrors almost perfectly the early mythological Lays. His mythopoeic pricniples and his views of Myth and religion are particularly fascinating. I have read the Lord of the Rings once to twice a year since I first read it in fourth grade, the Hobbit nearly twice as much as that, and the Silmarillion half a dozen times. I have eight 1" notebooks with careful notes, commentary, and what not. In 2004 I purchased the 2005 50th Anniversary Edition and it is actually displayed on a book display stand on my 'Tolkien Shelf.' As you said, my dear sir, I know more about Middle Earth than I should care to admit.[/quote]

Miss, actually. Thanks for the explanation. Like I said, it's been a significant interval since I've read any of the histories. For what it may be worth, I've read the Silmarillion, The Lost Road, at least one of the books of Lost Tales, and the Lays of Beleriand. I like reading them to see what might be gleaned about Tolkien's views of ecology. I also enjoy the allusions to the Kalevala and ancient epic writings. I'm not totally clueless, I just can't remember every minute detail. Again, thanks.

[Mitchell_b55]

My apologies, Miss. I did not wish to offend you. I hope I did not come accross as thinking you 'clueless.' Not every fan of Tolkien enjoys an intimate knowledge of how the books came to be. I can't tell where, why, and how Twain wrote a Conneticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, though I can tell you the entire plotline. For me, Tolkien is different, I make it a secondary purpose in life to study his works on many different levels, including Biographical analysis which includes the circumstances under which the books were written. Again, my apologies. Not the least of which is for my gender confusion. By the way, your avatar is one of my favourtie pieces of Japanese art and I attempted to duplicate it (not with any particular skill or success) with a linoleum print and gauche. It was semi-successful, though not nearly as intricate, fine, and crisp. I enjoy Eastern art and culture, mostly as an oddity. I am a thoroughly western individual, with western sentiments, western tastes, and a love of the Graeco-Roman-Christian Tradition in every aspect of its manifestation, even unto aesthetics. But I digress, did you say that you are interested in the Professor's slant on ecology? I would interested to hear what you have to say on the matter, please PM me if you care to.

Edited April 4, 2007 by petrus_scholasticus

[hoosieranna]

[quote name='petrus_scholasticus' post='1229839' date='Apr 4 2007, 01:47 PM']I would interested to hear what you have to say on the matter, please PM me if you care to.[/quote]

Happily, later. Currently, schoolwork calls.

Anna

[azaelia]

Haha, I wonder if my Professor knows about this (he teaches the Tolkien class I'm taking).

[Tindomiel]

I'm still waiting for a copy to come back to any of the Maine libraries... I should have put a hold down sooner.

I've been waiting for this since last summer.

[goldbug16]

I need to get to Barnes and Noble and pick it up. Hopefully in hardcover.... :

[theculturewarrior]

I finished reading it friday. It is amazing. But yes, it is dark and tragic, and if Tolkien were still alive, it would wrench tears from anybody.

[Tindomiel]

Gah! It's still not in!

I've re-read the story, piecing together sections from the Silmarillion and the Book of Lost Tales, but I want to read it all put together.

[kenrockthefirst]

OK, I finished this yesterday. Not sure how I feel. It was readable, but unremittingly negative. I understand that the story is a tragedy, and that Turin was cursed. But he was also a jerk. I'm disappointed in the fact that Turin didn't really have any redeeming qualities. I found it hard to care about him, to connect with him, and because of that I ultimately found the story a let-down.

[Lounge Daddy]

My wife read it and enjoyed it... except for the tragedy in the story from start to finish