The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien - Illustrated Middle-earth Fantasy Classic - Hardback

Condition: BRAND NEW. Format: Hardback. ISBN: 9780008537890. Publisher: HarperCollins. Age Range: Adult / General Readers. Overview:. This special illustrated hardback brings J.R.R. Tolkien's legendary prequel to The Lord of the Rings to life through his own artwork. Edited by his son Christopher Tolkien, The Silmarillion traces the earliest ages of Middle-earth, from the shaping of the world to the wars against the Dark Lord Morgoth. Featuring dozens of Tolkien's original paintings and drawings alongside the complete two-colour text, this edition offers devoted fans and newcomers a richer way to experience the mythology behind Middle-earth's greatest tales.. About the Book:. The Silmarillion recounts the ancient history of the Silmarilli, three flawless jewels crafted by Fëanor, most gifted of the Elves, which once held the final light of the Two Trees of Valinor. When the Dark Lord Morgoth steals the jewels and sets them in his iron crown within the fortress of Angband, Fëanor and his kindred swear a terrible oath and rebel against the gods, abandoning Valinor to pursue their vengeance. What follows is an age of war, doomed love and extraordinary heroism against impossible odds. The volume also gathers Tolkien's shorter works: the Ainulindalë, his myth of creation, and the Valaquenta, describing the Valar and Maiar, plus the Akallabêth and Of the Rings of Power. These are the ancient tales to which the characters of the later saga look back with reverence, in which figures such as Elrond and Galadriel took part. This edition is the first to present Tolkien's own paintings and drawings alongside his prose, deepening every subsequent reading of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, while standing remarkably well on its own for readers meeting Middle-earth's deep history for the first time.. Key Benefits:. Illustrated throughout in colour using Tolkien's own original artwork. Complete text printed in two colours throughout. Provides the essential mythological backsto