Bir devrin sonu.

I‘ve finally made it! Some chapters were really tough to get through. Pages and pages of descriptions of battles, territories and genealogies had me struggling at times, which is also why it took me forever to read this; I just wasn’t always in the right frame of mind.

But it was also amazing! I am really grateful for every minute I can spend in Middle-earth (or in Númenor). Even if by definition the material here remains “unfinished“ and has the potential to be a bit unsatisfactory, it really wasn’t.

I will say, though, that my favorite parts were the chapters set in the First Age, the tales of Tuor and Húrin, and those I have already read extensively about in their very own books The Fall for Gondolin and The Children of Húrin, respectively. (I would especially recommend the latter as it’s the most finished version of all.)

I also enjoyed learning more about Galadriel and Teleporno Celeborn, even if the chapter was tough to read - just a lot of information, often conflicting at that. And reading more about some of the characters we have come to love in LoTR and The Hobbit felt like coming home.

So should you read this? Well, if you still have not had enough after LotR, The Hobbit, and The Silmarillion and maybe even The Children of Húrin, Beren and Lúthien and The Fall of Gondolin, all of which I suggest reading before, you should absolutely do it. I will say, though, that I enjoyed each if those books more than Unfinished Tales. Why? Because reading this was more taxing than reading The Silmarillion and that is saying something! Still, it’s very much worth it and I don’t regret it for a minute.

Ένα βιβλίο που απευθύνεται αποκλειστικά σε όσους θέλουν να εμβαθύνουν στο σύμπαν που έπλασε ο Τόλκιν. Περιέχει διάσπαρτες (και ατέλειωτες) ιστορίες των τριών εποχών, άλλοτε μεγάλες και άλλοτε μικρές, άλλες ενδιαφέρουσες και άλλες "άγευστες". Το διάβασα ευχάριστα μιας και η αγάπη μου για τον κόσμο της Μέσης Γης είναι... άσβεστη!

Dopo le letture dei tre cardini tolkieniani: Lo Hobbit, Il Signore degli Anelli ed Il Silmarillion, non poteva mancarmi un altro tassello, appunto Racconti incompiuti, seppur incompleto, anzi incompiuto, ma fondamentale per ogni lettore che veda, nell'universo di Tolkien, qualcosa che superi la semplice nomea di magico, io lo definirei: sublime!
Passando all'edizione che ho letto: insomma!! Non è il massimo, primo vi sono parecchio refusi, alcuni davvero penosi, sintomo di zero accortezza nel controllo prestampa, poi c'è soltanto la mappa della Terza Era, ma perchè visto che si raccontano anche storie della Prima e della Seconda? Per me sarebbe stato meglio non averne nemmeno una. Poi le note poste a fine di ogni racconto e non a piè di pagina, sono estenuanti. Infine, ma questo è uno mio cruccio, avere un'edizione senza illustrazioni e ce ne sarebbero a iosa, molti illustratori si sono cimentati, è davvero un peccato... ma è un'edizione economica, quindi...

Captivată ! Recomand , daca într-adevăr iubiți universul lui Tolkien!
Am aflat unele lucruri extraordinare despre personaje principale ! Despre inele și despre sfârșitul al patrulea EV

Un libro para fans definitivamente, indispensable tener leído El silmarillion.

También creo que es esencial leerlo antes de la serie

opinión completa acá: https://youtu.be/n2Z1NS4H2G8

Tonight on Keeping Up With the Númenóreans: a man prioritizes his sailing adventures over quality time with his wife.

Aldarion has joined my list of fictional Tolkien crushes alongside Glorfindel, Finrod Felagund, Legolas, Aragorn, Faramir, and Éomer. Is he a selfish asshole? Yes. Does he deserve to be slapped? Yes. Would I give up feminism, embrace being a traditional (mariner's?) wife, and have his babies? Yes.

I'VE FOUND A NEW TOLKIEN COUPLE TO OBSESS OVER.

Tar-Aldarion, the sixth King of Númenor, and Erendis, The Mariner's Wife.

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Chris Hemsworth as Aldarion? I approve. I couldn't find the name of the person who made this. Shoutout to the creator.

I am captivated by couples who embody toxicity, chaos, and intrigue, and Aldarion and Erendis exemplify all of that and beyond. Plus, they’re the parents of Tar-Ancalimë, the first ruling queen of Númenor.

SPOILERS

Before I begin, I must express my love for the incredible world created by the late professor. And I must RANT. I've been deeply immersed in Tolkien's works over the past few months—more than I ever was before. My journey into this world started with The Lord of the Rings movies, which remain my favorite films of all time. I had no idea, until I began reading Tolkien's books, how rich and intricate the universe he crafted truly is.

Tolkien is highly regarded, yet he also faces criticism. Among those criticisms, the one that bothers me the most is when people say that The Lord of the Rings is simply a basic battle of good versus evil. Those who claim that LOTR is a straightforward story with a happy ending have likely only seen the movies and never read the books, especially the appendices. Frodo suffers from PTSD and is forever changed by the darkness he endured, which ultimately forces him to leave the Shire—the place where he grew up and was happiest. Arwen gives up her immortality for Aragorn and is so devastated when he inevitably dies that she leaves Gondor, travels to Lothlórien—which is completely deserted after her grandparents Galadriel and Celeborn depart Middle-earth with the rest of the Elves—and spends her remaining days alone among the barren trees, ultimately dying of a broken heart. How is any of that a typical happy ending?

Give Tolkien his flowers. That man fought in World War I, lost two of his closest friends in the war, was a professor at the University of Oxford, created two Elvish languages along with 15 different Elvish dialects, became the father of modern fantasy, married the love of his life, and raised four children.

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I will focus on my favorite story from the book - ALDARION AND ERENDIS, also known as THE MARINER'S WIFE, and share my thoughts on it.

Númenor has a vast and complex history filled with dramatic events, making it difficult to cover everything in this review. I will provide only a brief overview. It was arguably the most magnificent kingdom in Tolkien's universe, located on an island in the Great Sea, situated between Middle-earth and the Undying Lands.

The first king of Númenor was Elros, who was Half-Elven. Elros was the grandson of Idril, an elf, and Tuor, a mortal man. I recounted their story in my review of 'The Fall of Gondolin.' Elros's great-grandparents were Lúthien, an elf, and Beren, a mortal man. Their tale is explored in 'The Silmarillion' and the book 'Beren and Lúthien.' Elros was the twin brother of Elrond, the Lord of Rivendell and one of the most significant characters from 'The Lord of the Rings.' Like all Half-Elves, Elros and Elrond faced a choice between immortality and mortality. Elrond chose immortality, while Elros opted for a mortal life. This same choice would be made by Arwen, Elrond's daughter and Elros's niece, thousands of years later. This is why I always defend Elrond when people criticize him for putting Aragorn through hell for loving his daughter. Elrond lost both his brother and his only daughter when they chose to live mortal lives.

Although the Númenóreans were not immortal, they enjoyed significantly longer lifespans than typical humans. Unfortunately, due to the schemes and deceptions of the Dark Lord Sauron, this great kingdom sank beneath a massive wave, reminiscent of the fall of Atlantis, resulting in the deaths of most of its people. All that remains of this once-great realm is the vast ocean.

The brothers Isildur and Anárion survived the doom of Númenor, sailed to Middle-earth, and founded Gondor. You may remember Isildur from 'The Lord of the Rings'; it was through his lineage that many generations later, Aragorn, one of the heroes of 'The Lord of the Rings,' would be born and eventually crowned king. The spirit of Númenor lives on in Gondor and within Aragorn, who directly traces his lineage back to Elros, making him and Arwen very distant cousins - 62 times removed.

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The Mariner's Wife.

Let's rewind the clock to centuries past, to a time when Númenor was flourishing at its height. Aldarion was the son of Meneldur, the fifth King of Númenor, and Almarian, the daughter of the Captain of the King’s Ships. Tolkien describes how captivated Meneldur was by the stars and the heavens, often surveying the sky from a tower he built in the northernmost region of the island. While Meneldur paid little attention to the surrounding Sea, his son was different. Aldarion took after his maternal grandfather and was enchanted by the sea from the moment he was born.

He spent most of his time by the shores of the sea at the main haven of Númenor, learning the craft of shipbuilding from the most skilled shipwrights. His maternal grandfather taught him how to row and later how to sail, and he captained many ships before reaching adulthood. He sailed to many places, including Middle-earth, where he befriended elves and other races. Each time he returned home, the call of the sea grew stronger, and although reluctantly, his father allowed him to sail. His fellow mariners referred to him as the Great Captain. His frequent voyages created a rift between him and his father, causing them to grow apart both figuratively and literally.

One day, there was a feast at court in honor of Aldarion being proclaimed Heir, and a girl named Erendis attended with her father, Beregar of the House of Bëor. Although their house was not as noble as the royal family of Númenor, Erendis was a great beauty, captivating even the Queen's attention. She immediately became enamored with Aldarion, who was very handsome, with golden hair and a muscular stature. Erendis joined the Queen's court but rarely saw Aldarion, as he was uninterested in his father's wishes to find a bride, spending his days either at sea or in the forest, cutting trees to build ships.

ALDARION THINK OF THE ENVIRONMENT. SOMEONE CALL GREENPEACE ON THIS MAN.

When Aldarion went to bid farewell to his mother before yet another of his voyages, he finally noticed Erendis. He liked her, yet remained silent. Erendis, despite her love for him, believed she was of too low a social standing for Aldarion to ever marry her. Seven years passed. The King and Queen longed for their restless son to finally calm his spirit and choose a suitable woman to marry. Despite their wishes, Aldarion set out on another voyage. Before he sailed away, Erendis brought him the Green Bough of Return, cut from the tree oiolairë, as was custom. As Erendis approached the harbor, Aldarion fell in love with her. Although Tolkien’s writing isn’t usually romantic, he described how Aldarion stood for a long time at the stern, looking back as his ship sailed further out to sea.

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Erendis by greset david

This time, Aldarion did not stay away long and returned sooner than usual. However, he still would not settle down and leave the sea, infuriating his entire family. He continued to sail, which made the King furious. The King reacted by revoking several of Aldarion's titles and imposing a ban on felling trees in the forest. Undeterred, Aldarion built ships elsewhere. Five more years passed. My girl Erendis broke Kate Middleton's record of ten years waiting for Prince William to marry her.

Several years passed, during which everyone feared that Aldarion had perished at sea, as no one had seen him for a long time. Tired of waiting and eager to escape her many suitors, Erendis returned home. When Aldarion finally returned, he was saddened to discover that she was gone but felt too proud to seek her out.

One day, as Aldarion rode through the forests of the Westlands, the homeland of Erendis, he caught sight of a beautiful woman. At first, he thought she was an elf, but then he recognized her as Erendis, and a wave of love flooded his heart once more. She spotted him and quickly turned to leave, but he caught up to her and hit her with ‘Too well have I deserved that you should flee from me, who have fled so often and so far! But forgive me, and stay now.’   

Aldarion asked for Erendis's hand in marriage. This time, Erendis was reluctant—not because she no longer loved him, but because she feared she would always come second to the sea in his heart. Aldarion, determined to win her over, grovelled and wooed her. He avoided the havens and shipyards, stopped cutting down trees, and began planting them. He was content and asked Erendis to sail with him around the island. Although she disliked the sea, she consented. Still, Erendis would not agree to marry him. She wanted him to experience the land she loved so dearly, the land he would one day rule. Just as Aldarion cherished the sea, Erendis adored the forests.

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Aldarion and Erendis by Peter Xavier Price

Erendis' mother attempted to persuade her daughter to accept Aldarion's proposal, knowing that Erendis loved him despite her stubbornness. However, Erendis remained firm in her decision. Erendis's mother teamed up with the Queen to mend the rift between their headstrong children. The Queen sent word to Erendis, asking her to return to the court. There, Erendis and Aldarion finally made amends. After spending a romantic outing atop a hillside, Erendis accepted his proposal. Aldarion remained in Númenor for many years, but the longing for the sea never left him.

Eventually, Aldarion expressed his desire to set sail again, despite being engaged to Erendis. When I read that part, I felt like stepping into the book to slap him. If my fiancé decided to ditch me for a life at sea, you can bet I'd be making headlines. He asked Erendis to join him, but she refused, expressing her deep affection for the forests and her disdain for the sea. He set sail and disappeared for several years. When he finally returned, he faced the ire of those around him, who believed he had betrayed Erendis. Erendis and Aldarion found a way to mend their relationship, and in the end, they tied the knot.

ME READING ALDARION AND ERENDIS FINALLY MARRIED:

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Elves attended the wedding to bless the union, and it was said that Erendis was so beautiful she rivaled even the beauty of the elves. Two years later, their child was born- a beautiful daughter whom they named Ancalimë. She would grow up to be the most beautiful woman ever born in the line of Elros, and although no one knew it yet, she would become the future Queen of Númenor.

Erendis secretly feared that Aldarion would once again feel the call of the Sea, and her fears were not unfounded. Aldarion turned to shipbuilding, constantly dreaming of sailing away to acquire more gold and wealth and strengthen ties with other kingdoms. When Ancalimë reached the age of four, he expressed to Erendis his desire to set sail from Númenor. This was the final straw for Erendis, and their relationship was never the same after that.

Bitter and cold, Erendis moved with her daughter to her home in the countryside. Ancalimë grew up living a rural life, tending to sheep and running along the hills. Isolated from men and boys, when she eventually encountered a boy for the first time, she exclaimed, "What noisy thing was that?"   SLAY QUEEN. When Ancalimë is nine years old, Aldarion finally returns to Númenor. He discovers that his wife and daughter are gone. His father chastises him and urges him to find his family. Aldarion goes to the countryside, where he receives a cold greeting from Erendis, who essentially shuts the door in his face. He is met with an equally frosty reception from his daughter, who doesn't even recognize him.

Aldarion brings news of the Elven King Gil-galad, whom he has visited numerous times during his voyages, as well as news of a new shadow rising in the East. Although the shadow is not mentioned by name, it is clear that it refers to Sauron. He has a long conversation with his father, during which he bitterly laments that Erendis never understood him, only sought to tame him, and that she does not truly love him. Aldarion demands that his daughter be brought to court and raised as the future heir to the crown. When Erendis hears that she is summoned to return with Ancalimë, she is furious and refuses to go, but ultimately writes to the old King stating that her daughter will return.

Sadly, as the title indicates, these tales remain unfinished, as Tolkien passed away while writing this and several other stories. However, we can infer how the narrative concludes based on notes he left behind. Aldarion became King and sailed to Middle-earth once more. Ancalimë spent her days alternating between the court and the countryside, happiest when among the sheep. She grew increasingly willful, and it seemed she was not particularly fond of either of her parents. Her father was often away, which she had grown accustomed to. She formed a close bond with her grandmother, Queen Almarian, who spoiled her just as she had spoiled Aldarion in his youth. While we can't be certain about what happens to Erendis, Tolkien's son Christopher muses that it is assumed she cast herself into the sea.

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Aldarion and Erendis' daughter, Queen Ancalimë, by Sara M. Morello

Aldarion did one thing right in his life: he changed the law of succession so that a woman could inherit the throne of Númenor. Without this change, the throne would have passed to his nephew. To escape the court and her numerous suitors, Ancalimë fled to the countryside and lived as a shepherdess. Eventually, she returned to fulfill her duties and inherited the throne after her father's death. Although she did not want to marry or have children, she reluctantly entered into marriage to secure her lineage.

Her parents' relationship drama likely had a significant impact on her. As a result, she never learned how to love properly, hated her husband, and showed little care for her son and grandchildren. Ancalimë ruled for 205 years (the Númenóreans had significantly longer lifespans than ordinary humans, and the descendants of Elros enjoyed even greater longevity) and became Númenor's longest-reigning monarch, second only to Elros the Half-Elven, the first King of Númenor.


Erendis to her daughter Ancalimë :

Men in Númenor are half-Elves, especially the high men; they are neither the one nor the other. The long life that they were granted deceives them, and they dally in the world, children in mind, until age finds them – and then many only forsake play out of doors for play in their houses. They turn their play into great matters and great matters into play. They would be craftsmen and loremasters and heroes all at once; and women to them are but fires on the hearth– for others to tend, until they are tired of play in the evening.

Thus it is, Ancalimë, and we cannot alter it. For men fashioned Númenor: men, those heroes of old that they sing of – of their women we hear less, save that they wept when their men were slain. Númenor was to be a rest after war. But if they weary of rest and the plays of peace, soon they will go back to their great play, manslaying and war. Thus it is; and we are set here among them. But we need not assent. If we love Númenor also, let us enjoy it before they ruin it. We also are daughters of the great, and we have wills and courage of our own. Therefore do not bend, Ancalimë. Once bend a little, and they will bend you further until you are bowed down. Sink your roots into the rock, and face the wind, though it blow away all your leaves.

به نسبت قصه سقوط گاندولین و حتی برن و لوثین که اون هم داستان ناتمامی هست، وجه داستانی بسیار کمتری داره. بجز بخش اول که در مورد آردالیون، شاه ماجراجوی نومه‌نور هست، مابقی بخش‌ها بسیار جستار گونه روایت شده و اطلاعات پراکنده‌ای از شخصیت‌های مهم دوران دوم در اختیار قرار میده. سوای ماجرای نومه‌نور که برای همه عاشقان دنیای تالکین ماهیتی جذاب و رازآلود داره، اطلاعات تکمیلی حول زندگی و تفکرات گالادریل بی‌نهایت برای شخص بنده تازگی داشت و به شناختم از این کاراکتر کاریزماتیک و مرموز کمک کرد

Out of all the posthumously published works of Tolkien, and this being the primary right after the Silmarillion, I have to admit it is the most interesting. We do get more expanded treatments of some of these tales in subsequent books, but all in all, the narrative structure of this tome is quite pleasing.

Why? It's written as actual stories. Not just excerpts, or not only just as excerpts, but as full-fledged stories in themselves, complete with all the storytelling conventions we are used to.

That is to say, it doesn't read super quick like Silmarillion, but full of detail and meat like LotR. I appreciated that little detail. :)

Of personal interest and joy, I absolutely loved the way this filled in so many of the blanks within the LotR stories, giving a much more detailed history of the Ring Wraiths, their creation, the Palantirs, the Maiar, (including such personages as Gandalf, Saruman, AND Sauron), the full histories of the Rohirrim, Gondor, Numenor, and EVEN the Wild Men!

There's a lot that was left out of the Silmarillion, and THIS HAS IT.

I'm not saying some parts could be classified in the OTHER category, such as the extended appendix at the end of LotR, only more so. Or the full damn concordance including an index of all terms, proper names and places with references to their original first-mentions. I.E., Silmarillion or LotR.

This work is an awfully necessary addition for any would-be scholar of Arda. I can't say if it beats the FULL The Return of the Shadow: The History of The Lord of the Rings, Part One, The Treason of Isengard: The History of The Lord of the Rings, Part Two, The War of the Ring, or Sauron Defeated: The History of The Lord of the Rings, Part Four scholarly works, but for my poor, lazy-reading self, Unfinished Tales does a FINE job. :)

This book is for the nerdiest of Tolkien nerds. I enjoyed it. There were some chapters that I skipped over because I had no interest in them.. I don't really care about Eorl and I don't really care about the fields of Celebrant, but almost everything else was fantastic. The most dissappointing chapter that I read was "Galadriel and Celeborn," and that's only because it was one of the least finished by Tolkien.

Some poeple say this book was put out there for money, but I disagree. There are a LOT of tiny little details in these unfinished tails that are really good to know if you're the type of person to re-read LOTR and The Silmarillian every year. It's also nice to read some of the notes that JRR wrote about his essays in this book, because he often says things like, "I don't know what happened," to a certain character. He speaks of his own made up world as if it truly was real and physical. It's pretty cool.

The only reason I give it a 3 is because in comparison to The Silmarillian, and LOTR it gives you much less to think about as a whole. It's really a suppliment to Tolkien's other narratives, not a piece of writing unto itself.

I have always found it difficult to write about Tolkien’s work because it is the pillar in which modern fantasy is built upon.

Indeed, without Tolkien fantasy would not be the shape it is today. It would be something different. And a lot of readers and writers recognise this, but I do not think we always appreciate the full extent of it. He created so many character archetypes, popularised race differences and envisioned such a great world full of depth. Every fantasy book that came after has a little bit of Tolkien in it.

What is strikingly important to understand about Tolkien is that The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are but the tip of the tip of his world. There is so much story, so much historical detail, so many different languages and people that the novels were unable to fully capture it. This is not a criticism, but a mere reflection that books like this and The Silmarillion do wonders and capturing the vast scope of Middle-Earth because there is so much happening (and that has already happened) when the events of his novels take place.

There is also so much magic surrounding it all that remains a mystery, and here that is expanded upon a little. The Istari are given a bit more depth in an essay that details their coming to middle-earth along with their purpose and origin. The Palantirs, and their effects and usage, are padded out too. There’s a snippet on Isildur, the conflict between Rohan and Isegard (which lead to Theodred’s death) is detailed and an encounter between the Witch-King and Grima Wormtongue is brought to life which adds more to the events of The Lord of the Rings and the hunt for the ring. Also included is The Children of Hurin which takes up a third of the text.

These are unfinished drafts. And it would be interesting to know what Tolkien felt about them. Part of me thinks he wrote them for himself, at least some of them, as a reference point as he wrote around these events and tales. We know that he one day wanted to publish The Silmarillion when he felt it was finished, but beyond that I do not know. I just cannot imagine him sending some of these bits to publishers. Nonetheless, I am grateful to be able to read them.

If you have made it this far into my review, it will be clear that this book will only appeal to the most devout of Tolkien fans. It is certainly not a book you want to pick up if you are unfamiliar with his work and world, but for those that love his writing as much as I do, there is certainly a lot to be gained from reading this.

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Unsurprisingly, I enjoyed the Third Age stuff the most.