The Silmarillion

The Silmarillion is a foundational work of JRR Tolkien’s legendarium, serving as a mythological history of his world, Arda, from its very creation. Published posthumously in 1977 by his son, Christopher Tolkien, it is a compilation of stories and essays that provides a deep, epic backstory to the more famous narratives of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

The book is structured into five parts, each covering a different epoch. The first, Ainulindalë, is a creation myth, describing how the supreme deity, Eru Ilúvatar, brought the world into being through a great cosmic music sung by divine beings known as the Ainur. The second, Valaquenta, introduces the most powerful of these spirits, the Valar, and their lesser counterparts, the Maiar, who descend into the world to shape it.

The central and longest section is the Quenta Silmarillion, which chronicles the tragic history of the First Age. This part details the rebellion of the Elves against the dark Vala, Morgoth (the original Dark Lord), and their long war to reclaim three sacred jewels, the Silmarils. These jewels, forged by the elf Fëanor, contain the light of the Two Trees of Valinor and become the catalyst for centuries of conflict, betrayal, and heroism. The final sections, Akallabêth and Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age, recount the fall of the island kingdom of Númenor and the events leading up to The Lord of the Rings.

The Silmarillion is not a novel but a complex, dense history written in an elevated style. It is a work of high mythology that offers a profound understanding of the moral and historical framework underpinning Tolkien’s more accessible tales.

Following the publication by Allen & Unwin in 1977, the first spoken word recording came in 1978 by Bob Askey for the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled service of the Library of Congress. The first commercial release wasn’t until 1995 by Martin Shaw.

Dates of January 1st indicate that the exact day of the year is not known.