The Children of Húrin
by J.R.R. Tolkien
Houghton Mifflin
April 17, 2007

It’s been a long and quiet thirty years since Tolkien put out “The Silmarillion,” the epic history of the Noldor in Beleriand. At long last, a new title has emerged by the greatest epic writer of the twentieth century, J.R.R. Tolkien. “The Children of Húrin,” edited by Christopher Tolkien from the incomplete manuscripts his father left behind, is a stunning expansion of a shorter tale chronicled in “The Silmarillion” and a spectacular novel in its own right.

From beginning to end, this is a tragic tale. Even at his darkest, Tolkien usually has a silver lining with hints of optimism and a moral of “never say die.” This work, however, makes a very good challenge to Shakespeare’s claim that “never was there a tale of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.” This is a story of fate and loss, of curses withering what should have been a shining branch of an illustrious family tree. Húrin, a noble descendant of the Dúnedain, attracted particularly virulent wrath from the dark Lord Morgoth, who curses him and all his descendants. This novel chronicles the life and death of Húrin’s three children, particularly following his eldest son Túrin Turambar. This is a work that chronicles the pain, suffering, needless death, and sorrow that results from a life lived in times of war and struggle.

Stylistically, this book partners well with “The Silmarillion,” but the language is less dense. It seems to have been written more in a human voice, whereas the otherworldly narrative voice of “The Silmarillion” is more evocative of the alien and lofty style of the Elves. It’s more accessible and personally compelling because of this, and would be far easier for younger readers to get through. Portions of “The Silmarillion,” including the section that chronicles the lives of Húrin and Túrin, are about as readable as Leviticus, but because this is an in-depth telling of a small group of people, there is no sweeping scope to distract from character development and the finer details of the plot.

In short, if you consider yourself even the most casual appreciator of Tolkien’s work and you don’t pick this one up, you’re nuts. Be sure to get the lovely hardcover edition featuring the illustrations of Alan Lee, one of the most celebrated Tolkien artists of our day. My only regret is that Lee’s spectacular paintings have to be made small enough to fit in a book. The composition and styling of the paintings deserve a canvas as epic in size as the events they depict.