The War of the Jewels: Unraveling Tolkien's Lost Tales

Published in 1994, 'The War of the Jewels' stands as a monumental addition to 'The History of Middle-earth' series, representing the eleventh volume in this comprehensive examination of J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium. This crucial text provides readers with invaluable insights into the development of the First Age narratives, offering previously unpublished manuscripts and extensive commentary that illuminate the evolution of Tolkien's mythological world.

Christopher Tolkien's meticulous analysis of his father's later writings on the First Age forms the backbone of this volume, presenting scholars and enthusiasts with a detailed examination of texts written primarily in the 1950s and 1960s. These later writings reveal J.R.R. Tolkien's continued refinement and expansion of his mythological framework, showing how his conception of the Elder Days evolved long after The Lord of the Rings was published.

As the second part of the critical examination begun in 'Morgoth's Ring,' this volume continues the exploration of the later Silmarillion materials, focusing specifically on the histories of Beleriand and the Noldorin Elves. The text provides crucial insights into how Tolkien's vision of the First Age developed and matured, offering readers a deeper understanding of the complex historical and mythological foundations that underpin his legendary world.

The volume presents an intricate chronological narrative that traces the history of the First Age from the momentous awakening of the Elves at Cuiviénen through to the War of Wrath and the reshaping of Middle-earth. This comprehensive timeline encompasses major events such as the Great Journey of the Elves, the forging of the Silmarils, and the numerous battles against Morgoth, providing readers with a detailed framework that helps clarify the complex sequence of events in this earliest age of Arda.

Within its pages, readers discover expanded accounts of pivotal battles and events that shaped the First Age, including detailed descriptions of the Dagor Bragollach (Battle of Sudden Flame), the Nirnaeth Arnoediad (Battle of Unnumbered Tears), and the final War of Wrath. These enhanced narratives offer new perspectives on familiar events, revealing previously unknown details about the strategies, participants, and consequences of these world-altering conflicts.

The chronological information presented in 'The War of the Jewels' often differs significantly from what appears in the published Silmarillion, reflecting Tolkien's later thoughts and revisions. These variations include altered dates for major events, revised durations of important periods, and reconsidered relationships between concurrent happenings, demonstrating how Tolkien continued to refine and adjust his timeline to create a more coherent and historically sound narrative.

The volume contains J.R.R. Tolkien's final revisions to several fundamental chapters of The Silmarillion, showcasing his ultimate vision for these crucial narratives. These revised texts include significant alterations to the tales of Fëanor, the Darkening of Valinor, and the Flight of the Noldor, revealing how Tolkien continued to refine and deepen these foundational stories until late in his life.

Readers find extensive material concerning the Noldorin Exile and the Return of the Noldor, including detailed accounts of the Oath of Fëanor, the Kinslaying at Alqualondë, and the dramatic arrival of the Noldor in Middle-earth. The text explores the complex motivations behind these events, the relationships between different Noldorin factions, and the far-reaching consequences of their actions on the history of Beleriand.

The material covering the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Nargothrond receives particularly thorough treatment, with expanded narratives that detail the gradual destruction of the Elvish realms and the tragic downfall of Túrin Turambar. These accounts provide additional context about the defensive strategies of the Elven kingdoms, the nature of Morgoth's assaults, and the personal dynamics between key figures in these momentous events.

The volume contains a significant unfinished narrative detailing Húrin's tragic journey after his release from Angband, following his years of torment under Morgoth's cruel imprisonment. This tale explores Húrin's desperate wanderings through a changed Beleriand, his unsuccessful attempt to reach Gondolin, and his fateful arrival at the ruined forest kingdom of Brethil, where the last remnants of his people dwelt.

The tragic aftermath of the Children of Húrin story receives profound exploration, revealing the devastating impact of Morgoth's curse on the surviving characters and communities. The text details how Húrin's actions after his release, though driven by grief and anger, inadvertently served Morgoth's purposes by bringing further ruin to both Brethil and Doriath.

The additional context provided for the fall of Doriath illuminates the complex chain of events that led to the destruction of this mighty realm. The narrative explores how Húrin's delivery of the Nauglamír to Thingol set in motion a series of tragic events, leading to the death of the Elven-king and the eventual ruin of his kingdom, demonstrating the far-reaching consequences of Morgoth's malice.

An extensive linguistic essay within the volume delves deep into the origins and meanings of Elvish tribal names, providing readers with a scholarly examination of Tolkien's constructed languages. This detailed analysis explores the development of terms like Quendi, Eldar, and Avari, revealing how these names reflected the historical and cultural divisions among the Elvish peoples.

The text provides comprehensive information about the early divisions of the Elves and their various migrations, explaining how the initial sundering at Cuiviénen led to the emergence of distinct cultural groups. Readers learn about the complex relationships between the Vanyar, Noldor, and Teleri, as well as the circumstances that led some groups to remain in Middle-earth while others journeyed to Aman.

The volume presents intricate etymological discussions of Elvish terms, demonstrating how Tolkien's linguistic creativity shaped his mythology. These discussions explore the evolution of various words and names through different stages of Elvish language development, showing how changes in language reflected historical events and cultural developments within his secondary world.

Christopher Tolkien provides readers with an illuminating explanation of his editorial process, detailing the challenges and decisions involved in working with his father's numerous manuscripts and drafts. His commentary reveals the complexity of organizing and presenting texts that often existed in multiple versions, each representing different stages in the evolution of the legendarium.

The volume addresses numerous contradictions and revisions found within the source materials, highlighting how J.R.R. Tolkien's vision of his mythology continued to evolve throughout his life. Christopher Tolkien's analysis helps readers understand these variations and changes, explaining how different versions of the same events reflect his father's ongoing refinement of the legendary history.

Throughout the text, Christopher Tolkien carefully explains how these later writings relate to the published Silmarillion, offering insights into the editorial decisions that shaped the 1977 publication. His commentary reveals which elements of the published work were drawn from earlier or later versions of his father's writings, helping readers understand the complex relationship between the various texts.

'The War of the Jewels' fundamentally transformed our understanding of the First Age by providing access to Tolkien's later writings and revisions, revealing how his conception of this legendary period continued to evolve and deepen over time. The volume demonstrates that many aspects of the First Age narrative remained in active development throughout Tolkien's life, with significant changes being made to both historical events and their underlying mythological foundations.

This volume maintains crucial connections with other books in The History of Middle-earth series, particularly its companion volume 'Morgoth's Ring' and the earlier 'The Lost Road and Other Writings.' These relationships help readers trace the development of Tolkien's mythology across different periods of his creative life, showing how various concepts and stories evolved through multiple iterations and revisions.

The significance of this volume for studying Tolkien's creative process cannot be overstated, as it provides scholars and enthusiasts with invaluable insights into how he approached the task of subcreation. The detailed manuscripts and commentary reveal Tolkien's meticulous attention to detail, his concern for internal consistency, and his continuous effort to refine and deepen his legendary history, making this text essential for understanding the development of his secondary world.