The Silmarillion

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.

An Account of the Elder Days

The Silmarillion is an epic tale of the Elder Days, focusing on the First Age of Tolkien’s world. It serves as the ancient drama to which the characters in The Lord of the Rings look back, with some—like Elrond and Galadriel—playing a part in its events.

Set in an era when Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, dwelt in Middle-earth, the story unfolds as the High Elves wage war against him to recover the Silmarils—jewels containing the pure light of Valinor.

Included Works

This masterpiece is complemented by several shorter works that enrich the lore:

• The Ainulindale: A myth of the Creation.
• The Valaquenta: A description of the nature and powers of each of the gods.
• The Akallabeth: A recounting of the downfall of the great island kingdom of Númenor at the end of the Second Age.
• Of the Rings of Power: A narration of the great events at the end of the Third Age, as told in The Lord of the Rings.

Revised and Corrected Text

This pivotal work features a revised, corrected text and includes, as an introduction, a fascinating letter written by Tolkien in 1951. In this letter, Tolkien provides a full explanation of how he conceived the early Ages of Middle-earth, offering readers an invaluable glimpse into his creative process.