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The narrative returns have been rapidly diminishing since The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales. THoME is a real slog after books 1-3. However, they will likel
by inopinatus 4y ago
The narrative returns have been rapidly diminishing since The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales. THoME is a real slog after books 1-3.
However, they will likely never be improved upon: anyone possessing the wit and knowledge to retell these stories for a discerning modern audience likely has their own legendarium to develop.
- duskwuff 4y ago> THoME is a real slog after books 1-3. The History of Middle-Earth was never really meant to be read cover to cover. It's a collection of the elder Tolkien's unpublished works and rough drafts, some of which was later adapted into The Silmarillion, The Children of Hurin, and other more recent books.
- inopinatus 4y agoI agree, and I think the format consequently sits in an uncomfortable liminal space between academic and popular, one that compromises too much and satisfies neither. Perhaps it is telling that my favourite piece of the whole collection is not even by Tolkien: The Lays of Beleriand includes a wry commentary by C.S.Lewis, a surprise for myself since I do not generally enjoy his work.