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{{book|
{{book
title=The Lays of Beleriand|
|title=The Lays of Beleriand
image=[[Image:The Lays of Beleriand.jpg|225px]]|
|image=[[Image:Lays of Beleriand 1985.png|275px]]
author=[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]]|
| author=[[J.R.R. Tolkien]]
isbn=0395394295|
| editor=[[Christopher Tolkien]]
publisher=[[Houghton Mifflin]]|
| publisherUK=[[George Allen and Unwin]]
date=November 20, 1985|
| publisherUS=[[Houghton Mifflin]]
format=Hardcover|
| dateUK=[[22 August]] [[1985]]
pages= 400|
| dateUS=[[20 November]] 1985
amazon=http://www.amazon.com/Lays-Beleriand-History-Middle-Earth-Vol/dp/0395394295|
| format=Hardcover; paperback
amazonprice=$19.80
|pages=393
|isbn=0048232777
| precededby=[[The Book of Lost Tales: Part Two]] (1984)
| followedby=[[The Shaping of Middle-earth]] (1986)
}}
}}
'''''The Lays of Beleriand''''', published in [[1985]], is the third volume of [[Christopher Tolkien]]'s 12-volume book series, ''[[The History of Middle-earth]]'', in which he analyzes the unpublished manuscripts of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]].


'''The Lays of Beleriand''' was the third volume to [[The History of Middle-earth]] and gives us a privileged insight into the creation of the mythology of [[Middle-earth]], through the alliterative verse tales of two of the most crucial stories in Tolkien's world - those of [[Túrin Turambar]] and of [[Beren Erchamion|Beren]] and [[Lúthien]]. The first of the poems is the unpublished ''[[Lay of the Children of Húrin]]'', narrating on a grand scale the tragedy of Túrin Turambar. The second is the moving ''[[Lay of Leithian]]'', the chief source of the tale of Beren and Lúthien in ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', telling of the Quest of the Silmaril and the encounter with [[Morgoth]] in his subterranean fortress.
This book includes the five poems that Tolkien began to write shortly after ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'' phase. Only two of them were continued beyond the beginning, the ''[[Lay of the Children of Húrin]]'' and the ''[[Lay of Leithian]]'', the latter being the longest poem Tolkien ever composed, although he didn't finish it.
 
==Overview==
The book contains the long heroic lays or lyric poetry Tolkien wrote: these are ''[[The Lay of the Children of Húrin]]'' about the saga of [[Túrin Turambar]], and ''[[The Lay of Leithian]]'' (also called ''Release from Bondage'') about [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]]. Although Tolkien abandoned them before their respective ends, they are both long enough to occupy many stanzas, each of which can last for over ten pages. The first poem is in alliterative verse, and the second is in rhyming couplets. Both exist in two versions.
 
In addition to these two poems, the book also gives three short, soon-abandoned alliterative poems, which are ''The Flight of the Noldoli from Valinor'', ''The Lay of Eärendel'', and ''The Lay of the Fall of Gondolin''.
 
The first versions of the long lays fit chronologically in with Tolkien's earliest writings, as recounted in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'', but the later version of ''The Lay of Leithian'' is contemporary with the writing of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''.


==Contents==
==Contents==
* Preface
* Preface


===[[The Lay of the Children of Húrin]]===
* I. "''[[The Lay of the Children of Húrin]]''"
* Prologue (Húrin and Morgoth)
** First version
* I Túrin's Fostering
** Second version
* II Beleg
 
* III Failivrin
* II. [[Poems Early Abandoned]]:
** "[[The Flight of the Noldoli from Valinor|''The Flight of the Noldoli'']]"
** "Fragment of an alliterative [[The Lay of Eärendel|''Lay of Eärendel'']]"
** "''[[The Lay of the Fall of Gondolin]]''"


====Second Version of the Lay====
* III. "''[[The Lay of Leithian]]''"
* I (Hurin and Morgoth)
** ''The Gest of Beren and Lúthien — Release from Bondage''<br>Canto I — Canto XIV
* II Turin's Fostering
** Unwritten cantos
** Appendix: Commentary by [[C. S. Lewis]]


===Poems Early Abandoned===
* IV. "[[The Lay of Leithian Recommenced|''The Lay of Leithian'' Recommenced]]"
* [[The Flight of the Noldoli]]
* Fragment of an alliterative Lay of Eärendel
* [[The Lay of the Fall of Gondolin]]


===[[The Lay of Leithian]]===
==Inscriptions==
====Canto====
There is an inscription in the [[Tengwar]] characters in the first pages of every ''History of Middle-earth'' volume, written by Christopher Tolkien and describing the contents of the book. The inscription in Book III reads:
* [[Lay of Leithian Canto I|I (Of Thingol)]]
* [[Lay of Leithian Canto II|II (Gorlim's betrayal and Beren's revenge)]]
* [[Lay of Leithian Canto III|III (Beren's meeting with Luthien)]]
* [[Lay of Leithian Canto IV|IV (Beren before Thingol)]]
* [[Lay of Leithian Canto V|V (Luthien's captivity in Doriath)]]
* [[Lay of Leithian Canto VI|VI (Beren in Nargothrond)]]
* [[Lay of Leithian Canto VII|VII (Beren and Felagund before Thu)]]
* [[Lay of Leithian Canto VIII|VIII (Luthien in Nargothrond)]]
* [[Lay of Leithian Canto IX|IX (The defeat of Thu)]]
* [[Lay of Leithian Canto X|X (The attack by Celegorm and Curufin)]]
* [[Lay of Leithian Canto XI|XI (The disguising of Beren and Luthien and the journey to Angband)]]
* [[Lay of Leithian Canto XII|XII (Fingolfin and Morgoth; the meeting with Carcharoth)]]
* [[Lay of Leithian Canto XIII|XIII (Beren and Luthien in Angband)]]
* [[Lay of Leithian Canto XIV|XIV (Escape from Angband)]]
* Unwritten Cantos
* Appendix: Commentary by C.S. Lewis


===The Lay of Leithian Recommenced===
:"''In the first part of this Book is given the Lay of the Children of Húrin by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, in which is set forth in part the Tale of Túrin. In the second part is the Lay of Leithian, which is the Gest of Beren and Lúthien as far as the encounter of Beren with [[Carcharoth]] at the gate of [[Angband]].''"


* Note on the original submission on the Lay of Leithian and The Silmarillion in 1937
==From the publisher==
* Glossary of Obsolete, Archaic, and Rare Words and Meanings
{{blockquote|The third volume that contains the early myths and legends which led to the writing of Tolkien's epic tale of war, The Silmarillion.<br/><br/>
* Index
This, the third volume of The History of Middle-earth, gives us a privileged insight into the creation of the mythology of Middle-earth, through the alliterative verse tales of two of the most crucial stories in Tolkien's world – those of Túrin, Beren and Lúthien. The first of the poems is the unpublished Lay of The Children of Húrin, narrating on a grand scale the tragedy of Túrin Turambar. The second is the moving Lay of Leithian, the chief source of the tale of Beren and Lúthien in The Silmarillion, telling of the [[Quest of the Silmaril]] and the encounter with Morgoth in his subterranean fortress.<br/><br/>
Accompanying the poems are commentaries on the evolution of the history of the [[Elder Days]]. Also included is the notable criticism of The Lay of The Leithian by [[C.S. Lewis]], who read the poem in 1929.}}


==Publication history and gallery==
;UK Editions
{{Gallery
|width=125
|height=125
|lines=2
|File:Lays of Beleriand 1985.png ‎|1985 hardcover
|File:Lays of Beleriand 1987.png |1987 paperback
|File:Lays of Beleriand 1994.jpeg |1994 paperback
|File:The Lays of Beleriand (HC2002).png ‎|2002 paperback
|File:Lays of Beleriand 2010.png |2010 hardcover
}}
*[[George Allen & Unwin]] hardcover ([[1985]]), pp. 393. ISBN 0048232777
*[[Unwin Paperbacks]] paperback ([[1987]]), ISBN 0044400187 (cover art by [[Roger Garland]])
*[[HarperCollins]] paperback ([[1994]]), ISBN 0261102265 (cover art by [[John Howe]])
*[[HarperCollins]] paperback ([[2002]]), ISBN 0261102265
*[[HarperCollins]] hardcover ([[2010]]), ISBN 0007365276


==External links==
[http://www.tolkienbooks.net/php/home-contents.php#iii A detailed list of unique writings and works by Tolkien] in this volume, at [http://www.tolkienbooks.net/ Tolkienbooks.net]


{{home}}
{{home}}
 
{{Publishedmajorbooks}}
[[CATEGORY:Fictions books|Lays of Beleriand]]
{{title|italics}}
[[Category:Books by J.R.R. Tolkien|Lays of Beleriand]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lays of Beleriand}}
[[Category:Books by Christopher Tolkien|Lays of Beleriand]]
[[Category:Fiction books]]
[[CATEGORY:Publications by title|Lays of Beleriand]]
[[Category:Books by J.R.R. Tolkien]]
[[Category:Books by Christopher Tolkien]]
[[Category:Poetry books]]
[[Category:Posthumous publications]]
[[Category:Publications by title]]


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Revision as of 08:06, 13 December 2022

The Lays of Beleriand
Lays of Beleriand 1985.png
AuthorJ.R.R. Tolkien
EditorChristopher Tolkien
PublisherGeorge Allen and Unwin (UK)
Houghton Mifflin (US)
Released22 August 1985 (UK)
20 November 1985 (US)
FormatHardcover; paperback
Pages393
ISBN0048232777
Preceded byThe Book of Lost Tales: Part Two (1984)
Followed byThe Shaping of Middle-earth (1986)

The Lays of Beleriand, published in 1985, is the third volume of Christopher Tolkien's 12-volume book series, The History of Middle-earth, in which he analyzes the unpublished manuscripts of J.R.R. Tolkien.

This book includes the five poems that Tolkien began to write shortly after The Book of Lost Tales phase. Only two of them were continued beyond the beginning, the Lay of the Children of Húrin and the Lay of Leithian, the latter being the longest poem Tolkien ever composed, although he didn't finish it.

Overview

The book contains the long heroic lays or lyric poetry Tolkien wrote: these are The Lay of the Children of Húrin about the saga of Túrin Turambar, and The Lay of Leithian (also called Release from Bondage) about Beren and Lúthien. Although Tolkien abandoned them before their respective ends, they are both long enough to occupy many stanzas, each of which can last for over ten pages. The first poem is in alliterative verse, and the second is in rhyming couplets. Both exist in two versions.

In addition to these two poems, the book also gives three short, soon-abandoned alliterative poems, which are The Flight of the Noldoli from Valinor, The Lay of Eärendel, and The Lay of the Fall of Gondolin.

The first versions of the long lays fit chronologically in with Tolkien's earliest writings, as recounted in The Book of Lost Tales, but the later version of The Lay of Leithian is contemporary with the writing of The Lord of the Rings.

Contents

  • Preface
  • III. "The Lay of Leithian"
    • The Gest of Beren and Lúthien — Release from Bondage
      Canto I — Canto XIV
    • Unwritten cantos
    • Appendix: Commentary by C. S. Lewis

Inscriptions

There is an inscription in the Tengwar characters in the first pages of every History of Middle-earth volume, written by Christopher Tolkien and describing the contents of the book. The inscription in Book III reads:

"In the first part of this Book is given the Lay of the Children of Húrin by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, in which is set forth in part the Tale of Túrin. In the second part is the Lay of Leithian, which is the Gest of Beren and Lúthien as far as the encounter of Beren with Carcharoth at the gate of Angband."

From the publisher

The third volume that contains the early myths and legends which led to the writing of Tolkien's epic tale of war, The Silmarillion.

This, the third volume of The History of Middle-earth, gives us a privileged insight into the creation of the mythology of Middle-earth, through the alliterative verse tales of two of the most crucial stories in Tolkien's world – those of Túrin, Beren and Lúthien. The first of the poems is the unpublished Lay of The Children of Húrin, narrating on a grand scale the tragedy of Túrin Turambar. The second is the moving Lay of Leithian, the chief source of the tale of Beren and Lúthien in The Silmarillion, telling of the Quest of the Silmaril and the encounter with Morgoth in his subterranean fortress.

Accompanying the poems are commentaries on the evolution of the history of the Elder Days. Also included is the notable criticism of The Lay of The Leithian by C.S. Lewis, who read the poem in 1929.

Publication history and gallery

UK Editions
1985 hardcover  
1987 paperback  
1994 paperback  
2002 paperback  
2010 hardcover  

External links

A detailed list of unique writings and works by Tolkien in this volume, at Tolkienbooks.net

The History of Middle-earth series
i.The Book of Lost Tales: Part One · ii.The Book of Lost Tales: Part Two · iii.The Lays of Beleriand ·
iv.The Shaping of Middle-earth · v.The Lost Road and Other Writings · vi.The Return of the Shadow ·
vii.The Treason of Isengard · viii.The War of the Ring · ix.Sauron Defeated ·
x.Morgoth's Ring · xi.The War of the Jewels · xii.The Peoples of Middle-earth · (Index)
A J.R.R. Tolkien book guide
Books by or mainly by Tolkien
Of Arda Authored by
J.R.R. Tolkien
The Hobbit · The Lord of the Rings
(i.The Fellowship of the Ring · ii.The Two Towers · iii.The Return of the King) ·
The Road Goes Ever On · Bilbo's Last Song
Edited by Christopher Tolkien The Silmarillion · Unfinished Tales · The History of Middle-earth series
(i.The Book of Lost Tales: Part One · ii.The Book of Lost Tales: Part Two · iii.The Lays of Beleriand · iv.The Shaping of Middle-earth · v.The Lost Road and Other Writings · vi.The Return of the Shadow · vii.The Treason of Isengard · viii.The War of the Ring · ix.Sauron Defeated · x.Morgoth's Ring · xi.The War of the Jewels · xii.The Peoples of Middle-earth · Index) ·
The Children of Húrin · Beren and Lúthien · The Fall of Gondolin
Edited by others The Annotated Hobbit · The History of The Hobbit · The Nature of Middle-earth ·
The Fall of Númenor · The Maps of Middle-earth
Not of Arda Short stories
and poems
Leaf by Niggle · Farmer Giles of Ham · Smith of Wootton Major · The Adventures of Tom Bombadil ·
Letters from Father Christmas · Mr. Bliss · Roverandom ·
Tree and Leaf (compilation) · Tales from the Perilous Realm (compilation)
Fictional works The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún · The Fall of Arthur · The Story of Kullervo · The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun
Translations and academic works Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo · Finn and Hengest ·
The Monsters and the Critics, and Other Essays · Beowulf and the Critics · Tolkien On Fairy-stories ·
Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary · A Secret Vice · The Battle of Maldon
Collected letters and poems The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien · The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien
Edited old texts A Middle English Vocabulary · Sir Gawain and the Green Knight · Ancrene Wisse · The Old English Exodus
Books by other authors
Biographies J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography · The Inklings · Tolkien and the Great War
Reference works The Complete Guide to Middle-earth · The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide
Scholarly studies The Road to Middle-earth · The Keys of Middle-earth · The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion ·
The Ring of Words · A Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien · Tolkien's Lost Chaucer ·
Tolkien's Library · Tolkien on Chaucer, 1913-1959
Scholarly journals Tolkien Studies · (The Chronology)
Other works by Tolkien
Linguistic journals Vinyar Tengwar various issues · Parma Eldalamberon issue 11-22
Collections of artwork
and manuscripts
Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien · J.R.R. Tolkien: Life and Legend · J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator ·
The Art of The Hobbit · The Art of The Lord of the Rings · Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth ·
Tolkien: Treasures · J.R.R. Tolkien: The Art of the Manuscript
This list is only a selection of works, for a fuller bibliography of Tolkien see here or here. See also a timeline and an index.