The Fall of Gondolin: Out!

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

I've received my copy, thanks to Barliman.

I haven't had time for a complete read-through, but a couple of first impressions:

Same size and basic format as the previous two. Like Beren and Luthien, a compilation of texts, rather than a continuous narrative like The Children of Hurin.

The Alan Lee plates are "framed", instead of going to the edge of the page, again unlike CoH; I know this is the way Tolkien himself preferred things, but given the small size of the book, it reduces the impact of the illustrations a bit. Of course, the published Silmarillion has had at least two lavishly produced illustrated editions in the last couple of decades, so it wouldn't surprise me if we saw similar treatment of CoH at some point.

I've noticed at least one typo.

Anyone else have it yet? What do you think?

 

[Miguel]

This was in the book of lost tales right?, or was it in another one?. I'd like to own it regardless.

Edit: Not sure if this new book tells the tale as it is told in the Silmarillion or is it the version were there's lots of Balrogs?.

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

There's a review of the contents here:

https://scifi.stackexchange.com/que...gondolin-book-compared-to-other-published-wor

 

[Starbrow]

Thanks for the link.

 

[Miguel]

So there's six versions of this story?, i thought there were only two?, oh mang.

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

Some of them are very short.

 

[Valandil]

I requested this for Christmas - and got it. Really look forward to reading this one, and will comment as I do. Did the same with "Beren and Luthien" - but I look forward to this one more.

 

[CirdanLinweilin]

I requested this for Christmas - and got it. Really look forward to reading this one, and will comment as I do. Did the same with "Beren and Luthien" - but I look forward to this one more.

Do let me know how it is. After I finish Hobbit I do want to read this one, but should I finish the Sil before I do? Thanks.

CL

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

should I finish the Sil before I do?

I vote yes.

 

[CirdanLinweilin]

I vote yes.

Thanks, Squint. I left off on the Sil when Túrin's story starts. Will have to start up again.



CL

 

[Valandil]

I agree with the Southerner... read the Silmarillion first! And maybe pick up Unfinished Tales and read the first story there... about Tuor's coming to Gondolin.

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

^ Oh yes, this too!

Going from the early, heavily archaized BoLT version, or even Christopher's valiant attempt, in the published Silmarillion, to bring the story in line with later evolutions in his father's thoughts, to the gloriously fleshed-out version in UT, is a revelation. I'd compare the frisson it gave me to this:

I feel a pang of deep regret every time I come to the last page, imagining the riches to follow.

Unfortunately for us, "imagining" them is now all we can do.

 

[Karak Norn Clansman]

Fantastic! Some of Tolkien's best writings. No wonder he never revised it.

 

[naretari]

Fantastic! Some of Tolkien's best writings. No wonder he never revised it.

I think Tolkien WAS revising the Fall of Gondolin, and I wish he had gone past the seven gates and actually rewritten the whole of Tarnin Austa and the battles. I truly believe that he had changed his concept of balrogs considerably, and in a revised version Rog and Ecthelion wouldn't have killed so many balrogs apiece. Alas, now we'll never know.

 

[BountyHunter]

So there's 6 versions of the same story? Is there one that is the actual account of what happened?

And must be in paperback by now, correct? Hmm...

 

[Elthir]

So there's 6 versions of the same story?

Not six versions as in "complete" versions -- for example the version titled Turlin and the Exiles of Gondolin ends early in the tale, as does the much later (and much fuller) long prose version written in 1951 (published in Unfinished Tales). And as noted by S-eS, for example, the story as told in the Sketch of the Mythology is notably compressed.

The Silmarillion chapter is the short prose version, and supposed to be that way, as part of the Quenta Silmarillion.

The Fall of Gondolin however, as one of the Great Tales, is the accompanying long prose version. There is only one "finished" long prose version, written in Tolkien's youth, and it's " . . . written in the extreme archaistic style that my father employed at that time, and it inevitably embodies conceptions out of keeping with the world of The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion in its published form."
Christopher Tolkien, Unfinished Tales.

Is there one that is the actual account of what happened?

As I see things, my answer is: sadly no, not in an updated sense anyway. . . although I consider what can be gleaned from Tolkien-published works as canon.

But here we go with canon. Some readers seem to meld materials together, characterizing given details/ideas/events from the only finished long version as still true in an internal sense. I'm skeptical of this approach with respect to "everything" following Tuor seeing the city (basically where the 1951 update ends), although I understand it, and even apply it in some measure as I imaginatively edit my personal FOG.

Incidentally, there's a limited edition book in which Alex Lewis draws from the Silmarillion chapter, the early long prose FOG and the 1951 long prose FOG, to create something similar in concept to CJRT's constructed Children of Hurin -- I've never read Lewis' version, but I assume he does away with the archaistic style as he makes his editorial decisions along the way.

"Gondolin: Hidden city and kingdom of Elves in Beleriand in the First Age, ruled by Turgon. Earendil was born here, and Glamdring and Orcrist were forged here. Gondolin was attacked by Morgoth near the end of the First Age and was destroyed."

That's the full entry written by Robert Foster in his Guide to Middle-Earth, using only the texts Tolkien himself had published.

💥

 

[Alcuin]

I’ve just finished Fall of Gondolin, a gift from my daughter. It took only three days of intermittent reading. I found it delightful! I enjoyed Alan Lee’s illustrations, and was not bothered by their borders.

CJRT here drafts a full overview of his father’s work on the tale, comparing the changes and shifts from one telling of the story to the next, noting how it grew and evolved.

JRRT did indeed intend to complete it, but as Christopher Tolkien observes from his father’s Letter 133, Silmarillion in 1952 was “still unfinished (or unrevised)… I have been both off and on too unwell, and too burdened to do much about them, and too downhearted.” CJRT puts the utmost focus on “too downhearted.” (P. 208 in my softback copy) The final revision, which CJRT calls the Last Version or “LV”, ends as Tuor gets his first view of the city of Gondolin in the snow.

Christopher Tolkien also cites his father’s references to a “Tale of Eärendil”, but found no such tale composited, only bits and pieces, many of which he gathers together into some fragments near the end of the book.

Altogether a fine work. Not as difficult to read as the twelve volumes of HoME, but nowhere nearly as finished or easily read as Silmarillion. A great ending to a great career by Christopher Tolkien.

 

[Elthir]

I've noticed at least one typo. Anyone else have it yet?

According to the Red Cross, O positive is the most common type.

But more seriously, did anyone else notice this awesome passage? " . . . for to Salgant he had confided the task of delaying him in the King's halls and egging him straight thence into the deadliest of the fight -- but lo! Salgant fell into a terror unto death, and he rode home and lay there now aquake on his bed; . . ."

And I agree with you all: I wish I would stop but I can't!

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

"SPOON!!"

 

[Elthir]

Tell us the typo!

Spooner or later you'll crack!