The Silmarillion Paperback - 2014

About this book

From the rear cover

Majestic! . . . Readers of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings will find in The Silmarillion a cosmology to call their own, medieval romances, fierce fairy tales, and fiercer wars that ring with heraldic fury . . . It overwhelms the reader. Time
The story of the creation of the world and of the First Age, this is the ancient drama to which the characters in The Lord of the Rings look back and in whose events some of them, such as Elrond and Galadriel, took part. The three Silmarils were jewels created by Feanor, most gifted of the Elves. Within them was imprisoned the Light of the Two Trees of Valinor before the Trees themselves were destroyed by Morgoth, the first Dark Lord. Thereafter, the unsullied Light of Valinor lived on only in the Silmarils, but they were seized by Morgoth and set in his crown, which was guarded in the impenetrable fortress of Angband in the north of Middle-earth. The Silmarillion is the history of the rebellion of Feanor and his kindred against the gods, their exile from Valinor and return to Middle-earth, and their war, hopeless despite all their heroism, against the great Enemy.
A creation of singular beauty . . . magnificent in its best moments. Washington Post
Heart-lifting . . . a work of power, eloquence and noble vision . . . Superb! Wall Street Journal
J.R.R. TOLKIEN (1892 1973) is the creator of Middle-earth and the author of such classic and extraordinary works of fiction as The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and Unfinished Tales. His books have been translated into more than fifty languages and have sold many millions of copies worldwide.
CHRISTOPHER TOLKIEN is the third son of J.R.R. Tolkien. Appointed by Tolkien to be his literary executor, he has devoted himself to the editing and publication of unpublished writings.

"

First Edition Identification

Houghton Mifflin Company published the 1st US edition of The Silmarillion in 1977, as a hardcover. The First Printing of the First Edition has a full number line, and 'First Printing' on the copyright page. Subsequent printings have 'First Edition,' and not a full number line. The first edition contains Wall Street Journal publication information and Tolkien's Middle-earth fold-out map.

The first UK edition was published by George Allan & Unwin in 1977, as a cloth-covered hard-cover. Edited and Foreword by Christopher Tolkien. True First (Export Edition) with no price on DJ, with William Clowes imprint on copyright page. Emblems on unclipped DJ were designed by Tolkien. The emblem from the front panel ( 'Luthien Tinuviel' ) is also found in gilt at the head of spine. Book has blue boards and gilt text on the spine. Top edge dyed blue.