The Silmarillion
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The Silmarillion
Buy Now for $33.99
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Narrated by:
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Andy Serkis
About this listen
The forerunner to The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion tells the earlier history of Middle-earth, recounting the events of the First and Second Ages, and introducing some of the key characters, such as Galadriel, Elrond, Elendil and the Dark Lord, Sauron.
The tales of The Silmarillion are set in an age when Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, dwelt in Middle-earth, and the High Elves made war upon him for the recovery of the Silmarils, the jewels containing the pure light of Valinor.
Included on the recording are several shorter works. The Ainulindalë is a myth of the Creation and in the Valaquenta the nature and powers of each of the gods is described. The Akallabêth recounts the downfall of the great island kingdom of Númenor at the end of the Second Age, and Of the Rings of Power tells of the great events at the end of the Third Age, as narrated in The Lord of the Rings.
This brand-new unabridged recording is read by the acclaimed actor, director and author, Andy Serkis.
©1977 The Tolkien Estate Limited and C.R. Tolkien (P)2023 HarperCollins PublishersCritic Reviews
‘How, given little over half a century of work, did one man become the creative equivalent of a people?’
The Guardian
‘Demanding to be compared with English mythologies… at times rises to the greatness of true myth’
Financial Times
‘A creation of singular beauty… magnificent in its best moments’
Washington Post
‘A grim, tragic, brooding and beautiful book, shot through with heroism and hope… its power is almost that of mysticism’
Toronto Globe & Mail
Clear and understandable pronunciation and volume
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I apologise in advance if I get my geek on as Fantasy Fiction is a rare but guilty pleasure of mine.
For those unsure what Silmarillion even are (As I was) they were three perfect jewels, fashioned by our protagonist and elf, Feanor, most gifted of his time. But the first of the Dark Lords, Morgoth, precursor to Sauron, stole these jewels and set them in his iron crown he himself fashioned. And yes, you guessed it, he held it in an impregnable fortress in an area not dissimilar to Mordor, called Angband.
The book covers 10,000 of history preceding The Lord of The Rings called The First & Second Ages. Following the arc of Joseph Campbell's classic Hero's Journey and Quest, our elven narrator Feanor and his kindred wage a war, hopeless despite all the heroism, against an ancient enemy to get back what was lost.
What I found most interesting, was the book also included several shorter works, like the esoteric Ainulindale, which is the creation mythos of Middle Earth that bears many similarities to Judeo-Christian texts. "There was Eru, The One...and he made the first of the Ainur, The Holy Ones...that were the offspring of his thought."
Like the Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien first told his stories to his children at bed-time, and while he could not publish the Silmarillion in his lifetime, as it was a moveable feast, his son Christopher took up the mantle. He poured over his father's old manuscripts and notes and put together his father's great vision to publishable form, thus completing arguably the literary achievement of a generation.
The special edition is quite noteworthy as it presents anew many of Tolkien's illustrations, paintings and hand-written notes which reveal the beauty and breathtaking grandeur of J.R.R. Tolkien's world of Middle Earth. A nice little Easter egg is a letter written by Tolkien in 1951 which provides a brilliant exposition of The Silmarillion as a whole and ealrier ages.
What I've always found fascinating is writers are always told to "write what you know", so it begs the question, how did Tolkien and other fiction writers like George R.R. Martin, Terry Pratchett et. al create these elaborate and rich worlds so different to our own?
Perhaps it's better not to know, and leave the alchemy of the written word to work it's magic.
Happy reading
CPH
Book Review 21 (2024) - 5/5 - 'The Silmarillion
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Andy Serkis is the GOAT
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And the tale of Baren and Lúthien moved me unlike any other love story I’ve experienced.
Masterful.
The stories within this book are unmatched…
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The Silmarillion
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I am most amazed by his performances in The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and now in the Silmarillion!
About Andy Serkis’ performance reading audiobooks
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The stories vary in tone and pace, with the romance of Beren and Lúthien standing out as a beautifully tender tale amidst the darker themes of betrayal and tragedy. Each story enriches the world, transforming familiar elements into something far deeper and more meaningful. Reading The Silmarillion gave me a new appreciation for the depth of Tolkien’s world, making Middle-earth feel like a realm steeped in ancient history.
While the book can be dense, it's a treasure trove for fans willing to immerse themselves in its rich lore. It’s a challenging but ultimately rewarding journey into the heart of Tolkien’s mythology.
My Rating: 4.4/5
A must read for fans of Lord of the Rings
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Superbly engaging
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Andy Serkis is the perfect narrator.
The Silmarillion is packed with lore. Recommend reading with a map and family trees open to make it easier to follow.
Amazing
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Otherworldly
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