CoH review and fave excerpts...
Few dark tales can capture you like The Chlidren of Hurin does especially since I’ve seen this story in some form before in The Silmarillion (Sil) and Unfinished Tales (UT). But perhaps there’s some magical quality to the Narn I Chin Hurin-- something even beyond the beautiful illustrations of Alan Lee and the excitement of having another Tolkien book to read after thirty years since the publication of The Silmarillion, CoH seamlessly weaves together the tidbits of a grand tale from Narn from UT and Sil and therefore makes it a very worthwhile tale to “reread”. Because of such a good job that Christopher Tolkien did in “putting together” different drafts and passages that his father had been writing since 1918, this stand alone tale is really worth being a book of its own.
This tale is unlike LotR and Hobbit. It is incredibly dark and tragic. However, it really shows Tolkien’s breadth of ability to write different tales and shows the variety of mythological influence that he has. (Kullervo cycle from the Finnish Kalevala in this story is predominant in its source of influence.) I like authors who show that they can both write tales with a happy ending as well as those that are angsty and might not have a happy ending. However, I felt that I was anticipating eagerly to see differences that lie between the previously published versions and this one; CoH is also not as laden with different names as Sil is which makes it less difficult to digest… (Well for me, first time anyway for the Sil, it was hard BUT I really, really, really loved it to the thousandth power the second time I read it. ;)
I must admit that after rereading UT briefly while concurrently reading CoH, I was disappointed to see A LOT of overlap between the Narn in UT. I thought that would be additional material, more gap-fillers than there were in CoH. (Like what did Hurin see as he sat imprisoned, what were his thoughts? More thoughts of what Turin thought in different situations would have been really cool too.) However, it’s an easier read than UT (because of the many footnotes and indented text in that version). CoH was definitely a well written solid narrative which was very fluid in its composition.
The contents of the story span from Turin’s childhood to the death of Turin-the last three chapters are almost verbatim from UT so there were no surprises there. What captures me so much and make me feel like it’s so very worth it is because it puts together strands of dialogue and narrative found in different sources and blends it very well. I thought that this tale, which is the oldest story that Tolkien has written (therefore one close to his heart as well ;), deserves to be published as a separate volume by itself.
To what degree on how much it has been edited from UT and Sil, it is explained in one of the appendix that Christopher Tolkien has written in the end. I feel like it was an awesome read and that it would be fun and interesting to compare this with Sil and UT versions.
Some of my favorite parts:
--Turin in Nargothrond and the whole Finduilas having unrequited love from him… (though she’s loved by some other elf called Gwindor.)
--The ending (tragic though it may be… they end it differently from UT and doesn’t quite go into Hurin’s fate as much in here because Hurin’s fate is written about after the tale of Turin Turumbar in Sil)
--All Beleg and Turin parts minus the part in which he gets killed. (I am sooooo sad over that:( :*( I think Beleg is my fave character from CoH... ahhh Elves... 0_0 I knew First Age elves are cool and sooo worty of respect... well at least some of them :P >=) ) There was an extra chapter not featured elsewhere of them fighting together and that was very cool to read.
Points to discuss…(somewhere where discussion is alive… possibly TORN boards or Minas Tirith…or maybe the Sil LJ community)
--The reasons for Turin’s downfall (and obviously pride lists first and foremost :p)
--What if situations that could be thought of (like…what if Orodreth didn’t listen to Turin’s commands… Nargothrond wouldn’t fall as early as it did obviously but a lot of other things wouldn’t have happened I think…)
--Morwen’s wherabouts when she departed Doriath looking for her son
--Reasons for Beleg’s dedication to Turin
--Why Turin is such an ungrateful fool. :P
But yes, I’ve already “brainwashed” a couple of you to go and get it (at least I think it was me ;) …I was talking with the optometrist at the store today and I even motivated him to buy it …because I gave him a shiny poster… and because I was so excited about this book… hehe >=) (Also was telling him not to read UT before CoH-too many spoilers if have already read UT. :p)
I just….am…
full of Tolkien love. >=)
(and am full-time CoH defender against negative reviews :P)
Tolkien = ♥ ♥ ♥
“He was dark-haired as his mother, and promised to be like her in mood also; for he was not merry, and spoke little, though he learned to speak early and ever seemed older than his years. Turin was slow to forget injustice or mockery; but the fire of his father was also in him, and he could be sudden and fierce. Yet he was quick to pity, and the hurts or sadness or living things might move him to tears; and he was like his father in this also, for Morwen was stern with others as with herself. He loved his mother, for her speech to him was forthright and plain; but his father he saw little, for Hurin was often long away from home with the host of Fingon that guarded HIthlum’s eastern borders, and when he returned his quick speech, full of strange words and jets and half-meanings, bewildered Turin and made him uneasy.” Pg. 39, The Childhood of Turin
“You are not the Lord of Men, and shall not be, though all Arda and Menel fall in your dominion. Beyond the Circles of the World you shall not pursue those who refuse you.” ~Hurin to Morgoth, The Words of Hurin and Morgoth
“Thus Turin came to the great bridge over the Esgalduin, and passed the gates of Thingol’s halls; and as a child he gazed upon the marvels of Menegroth, which no mortal Man before had seen, save Beren only. Then Gethron spoke the message of MOrwen before Thingol and Melian; and Thingol received them kindly, and set Turin upon his knee in honour of Hurin, mightiest of Men, and of Beren his kinsman. And those that saw this marveled, for it was a sign that Thingol took Turin as his foster-son; and that was not at that time done by kings, nor ever again by Elf-lord to a Man. Then Thingol said to him: ‘Here, son of Hurin, shall your home be; and in all your life you shall be held as my son, Man though you be. Wisdom shall be given you beyond the measure of mortal Men, and the weapons of the Elves shall be set in your hands. Perhaps the time may come when you shall regain the lands of your father in Hithlum; but dwell now here in love.” ~The Departure of Turin
“Then he was stricken as with a shaft, and as if at the sudden melting of a frost tears long unshed filled his eyes. He sprang out and ran to the tree. “Beleg! Beleg!” he cried “How have you come hither? And why do you stand so?” At once he cut the bonds from his friend and Beleg fell forward into his arms.”
~pg. 113, Turin among the Outlaws
“Thus ended Beleg Strongbow, truest of friends, greatest in skill of all that harboured in the woods of Beleriand in the Elder Days, at the hand of him whom he most loved; and that grief was graven on the face of Turin and never faded.”
~The Death of Beleg, pg. 156
“I spoke not of the difference between the black and the gold. But others of the House of Hador bear themselves otherwise and Tuor among them. For they use courtesy, and they listen to good counsel, holding the Lords of the West in awe. But you, it seems, will take counsel with your own wisdom, or with your sword only; and you speak haughtily. And I say to you, Agawaen Mormegil, that if you do so, other shall be yoru doom than one of the Houses of Hador and Beor might look for.” ~Arminas, The Fall of Nargothrond
“The die is cast. Now comes the test, in which my boast shall be made good or fail utterly. I will flee no more. Turambar indeed I will be, and by my own will and prowess I will surmount my doom-or fall. But failing or riding, Glaurung at least I will slay.” ~Turin, The Coming of Glaurung.