The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien is a dense, yet rewarding read that rewards the reader with a deep insight into Middle-earth and its history before the time of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. In the Silmarillion, Tolkien creates a complex yet beautiful narrative spanning the ages and this world he so carefully crafted.
The narrative begins at the beginning of time, when an angelic figure known as Eru Ilúvatar emerges and sets the universe in motion. He creates the Ainur, a group of spiritual beings, who in turn bring life to the world. The story then takes us back even further, to the creation of Middle-earth and its discovery by the Elves. The elves travel across Middle-earth in their search of the Silmarils, precious jewels crafted by the great Noldorin elven jeweler Fëanor.
The story follows Fëanor’s quest to protect the Silmarils against all enmities, including the menacing Sauron who seeks to corrupt the world using his power and influence. In this quest, Fëanor gathers followers from all corners of the world and leads them in a bloody war against Sauron’s forces. This war plunges the realm of Arda, as Middle-earth is known to the elves, into darkness and despair.
With the coming of Morgoth, the ultimate evil, the battle for the fate of Middle-earth escalates. Morgoth destroys the two trees that had nourished Middle-earth, leaving a gaping wound torn in the world’s landscape. In order to defeat Morgoth, Fëanor’s sons, Maedhros, Maglor, and Fingon, lead the charge in a desperate push to reclaim the Silmarils. After a long, hard fought battle against the forces of evil, the Silmarils are eventually returned to their rightful owners, the elves.
The Silmarillion goes on to tell the story of how the free people of Middle-earth struggle to rebuild their world, how they attempt to resist the forces of evil, and how they eventually come to accept new allies, the Men of Gondor, to come to their aid.
This book is an excellent introduction to the world of Middle-earth as it gives us an insight into the culture, mythology and history of the elves and the humans who inhabit Middle-earth. It shows us the flaws of both good and evil and helps us to understand how each is fought against, and in the case of the elves, how they continue to fight even in despair.
The writing is quite complex, as each chapter is filled with poems and mythology that resonates with readers. It is a powerful book that speaks to the heart, and will leave readers with a much deeper understanding of the world and characters created by Tolkien.
