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A review by lizziestudieshistory
The Fall of Gondolin by J.R.R. Tolkien
3.0
I'm torn about this book, and as such it is a difficult one to rate and review. As a work laying out the development of The Fall of Gondolin as Tolkien saw the story (following the same pattern as Beren and Luthien), it is a triumph. CT's editing of the extant versions of the tale is meticulously done and well presented. We have the opportunity to read the 6 various versions (plus 2 renditions of Eärendel's story) laid out, as well as interesting discussions of how JRRT's idea of the story changed and developed throughout different periods in his life.
However, as a reader this was far from the most exciting or even enjoyable of reads. As a Tolkien fan, I loved seeing this story fleshed out further from the Silmarillion version, particularly around the Battle in Gondolin and the deeds of Tuor, Ecthelion, and Glorfindel. Yet, by the time we read the 5/6 rendition the story becomes repetitive and my excitement in the tale was over (even when I spaced out reading them over a couple of weeks!) This was only exacerbated by JRRT's failure to finish the whole narrative in 4 out of the 6 stories! By the end I felt fatigued and just wanted the book to be over - which is why I've taken my rating down from 4 stars to 3...
The story of the Fall of Gondolin would have favoured CT editing the extant versions of the story into on narrative - as happened in The Children of Hurin. It would have twisted our view of the different versions, however, it would make this fascinating story much more alive for the reader. CT could have included a detailed discussion of the different narratives at the end of the book or as an introduction, to allow for the discussion of the development of the tale without exhausting his readers.
Personally, I don't think I'll ever reread the entire book again, however, I will be more than willing to revisit 'The Original Tale' and 'Quenta Noldorinwa' versions as the two complete renditions of the Fall. I absolutely loved 'The Original Tale' and would highly recommend it as a short story to accompany reading The Silmarillion.
I'm slightly disappointed I didn't love this book, but I am incredibly glad I have finally read it! The Fall of Gondolin is my favourite of the Silmarillion tales and I really appreciated seeing a more complete vision of what a finished version might have been like, had Tolkien ever written a definitive story. I would have loved to see a book more in line with The Children of Hurin than Beren and Luthien, but the existence of this book alone is a small miracle so long after JRRT's death...
I also should mention Alan Lee's beautiful illustrations for this book, I think he's outdone himself with the astounding beauty and majesty he's given to Gondolin, as well as capturing some of them most devastating scenes in the book (Glofindel vs the Balrog springs to mind, p.104)
However, as a reader this was far from the most exciting or even enjoyable of reads. As a Tolkien fan, I loved seeing this story fleshed out further from the Silmarillion version, particularly around the Battle in Gondolin and the deeds of Tuor, Ecthelion, and Glorfindel. Yet, by the time we read the 5/6 rendition the story becomes repetitive and my excitement in the tale was over (even when I spaced out reading them over a couple of weeks!) This was only exacerbated by JRRT's failure to finish the whole narrative in 4 out of the 6 stories! By the end I felt fatigued and just wanted the book to be over - which is why I've taken my rating down from 4 stars to 3...
The story of the Fall of Gondolin would have favoured CT editing the extant versions of the story into on narrative - as happened in The Children of Hurin. It would have twisted our view of the different versions, however, it would make this fascinating story much more alive for the reader. CT could have included a detailed discussion of the different narratives at the end of the book or as an introduction, to allow for the discussion of the development of the tale without exhausting his readers.
Personally, I don't think I'll ever reread the entire book again, however, I will be more than willing to revisit 'The Original Tale' and 'Quenta Noldorinwa' versions as the two complete renditions of the Fall. I absolutely loved 'The Original Tale' and would highly recommend it as a short story to accompany reading The Silmarillion.
I'm slightly disappointed I didn't love this book, but I am incredibly glad I have finally read it! The Fall of Gondolin is my favourite of the Silmarillion tales and I really appreciated seeing a more complete vision of what a finished version might have been like, had Tolkien ever written a definitive story. I would have loved to see a book more in line with The Children of Hurin than Beren and Luthien, but the existence of this book alone is a small miracle so long after JRRT's death...
I also should mention Alan Lee's beautiful illustrations for this book, I think he's outdone himself with the astounding beauty and majesty he's given to Gondolin, as well as capturing some of them most devastating scenes in the book (Glofindel vs the Balrog springs to mind, p.104)