The Book of Lost Tales

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Cover of one of the notebooks contaning The Book of Lost Tales

The Book of Lost Tales is the first narrative work of J.R.R. Tolkien's mythology, written and left unfinished between 1916 and 1920. It was published posthumoustly by Christopher Tolkien as The Book of Lost Tales Part One (1983) and The Book of Lost Tales Part Two (1984).

Although Tolkien wrote the tales in different order and left some in a stub stage, his son Christopher published The Book of Lost Tales in narrative order, so it has a similar structure to The Silmarillion, which is the main basis used to compare the differences between versions.

Synopsis

Eriol, a mariner, was led to Tol Eressëa, which he walked through for many days till he reached the Cottage of Lost Play, where he was welcomed by its owners Vairë and Lindo. During dinner, they explained how the isle was the home of Elves, but in ancient times it was visited in dreams by the children of Men until the path from the Great Lands was blocked. Then, Meril-i-Turinqi the queen of Tol Eressëa, allowed Vairë and Lindo to build the Cottage of Lost Play, where the old stories were gathered and sung for the children of the Fairies.

The following day, Eriol talked with the guard of the door, Rúmil, which told him about the Elvish languages. After Eriol asked him about the Gods or Valar, Rúmil told the tale of "The Music of the Ainur": how Ilúvatar, the Lord beyond the world, created the Ainur, and they sung a Great Music before him, and from it the world was created. Ilúvatar allowed some of the Ainur to enter the world, so the greatest from them became the Gods therein, and the greatest among them were Manwë, Aulë and Ulmo. Eriol asked Rúmil for more details about them, so the guardian told him the next tale: the names and relations of the many Valar and their dwellings. How Melko tricked them destroying the Two Lamps, so the Valar had to build Valinor separated from the Great Lands, and how they created the Two Trees to give light to their land.

The following morning, Vairë told Eriol about limpë, a magic drink, which only their queen Meril could grant him. Therefore Eriol left the Cottage of Lost Play and went to Meril's korin, but she explained that he could not be allowed to drink limpë until he had heard all the Elven tales. Thus, she told him "The Chaining of Melko", about how the Valar tricked Melko and put him in chains, followed by "The Coming of the Elves", about how the Valar summoned to Valinor, and those who accepted were called Eldar. They were Teleri, Noldoli and Solosimpi, and were brought to Valinor, where they built Eldamar and many beautiful things.

Back in the Cottage of Lost Play, Eriol heard from Lindo the tales of "The Theft of Melko and the Darkening of Valinor", "The Flight of the Noldoli" and "The Sun and Moon": how Melko stole the jewels of the Noldoli and destroyed the Two Trees; and how Fëanor rose in rebellion against the Valar and lead the Noldoli into exile, killing some Solosimpi in the way.

References