The Fall of Gondolin by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Fall of Gondolin by J.R.R. Tolkien

Review of the novel The Fall of Gondolin by J.R.R. Tolkien

Published by HarperCollins.

Cost: £20 (UK Hardback 30 August 2018)

ISBN: 78-0-00-830275-7 (Hardback Edition - 293 pages)

Dedication: To my family

As Christopher Tolkien refers to, he is 94, and this will undoubtedly be his last published book of J.R.R. Tolkien’s work. The Fall of Gondolin, brings together a number of tales, that in its publication, completes the mystical world created by his father. When I first read Lord of the Rings, I was totally captured by the world created by Tolkien and always craved for more, and in deciding to review this story, I found myself researching a number of other books in my collection written by Tolkien, however, I have decided to review this book on its own and treat it as a stand-alone tale, which I am sure will be easier of anyone reading this review.

The book has some wonderful plates in colour created by Alan Lee, which adds to the pleasure of reading the tale. The book opens with a Preface:

In this book one sees, from the complex narrative of many strands in various texts, how Middle-earth moved towards the end of the First Age, and how my father’s perception of this history that he had conceived unfolded through long years until at last, in what was to be its finest form, it foundered.

In quoting these selected words from the book I have not given away any secrets of the tale, as the reader is aware of what happens to the city of Gondolin from the title of the book.

The next chapter of the book is a Prologue, which lays out the writing of The Fall of Gondolin, first conceived in 1916, but when the tale was read to the Essay Club of Exeter College at Oxford in 1920 it had already gone through a number of revisions. Further revisions took place in the 1930s and possibly right up to about 1951. It should be noted that although this story is about the end of the First Age, at the time of writing, there was no First, Second or Third Age, and no Hobbits or Lord of the Rings.

Christopher Tolkien relates the tale and some of its revisions, such that the reader will have an understanding of the background to the story, The Fall of Gondolin, and a brief translation of the story itself. This has a bearing on the contents of this book, for the story of The Fall of Gondolin actually is only covered on pages 37 through to 111. What follows is a retelling of the story, with more detail, variations and the revisions of the tale, allowing the reader to obtain a much fuller and clearer picture of the lead up to, and the destruction of the city of Gondolin.

The tale of The Fall of Gondolin recounts the story of Tuor, a man who lives in The Land of the Shadows. Wandering alone, he follows a hidden river into a cavern where he is unable to return to the light. Here he is saved by Ulmo, Lord of Waters. After wandering aimlessly, Ulmo speaks to Tuor and requests him to take a message to Turgon, King of Gondolin (the hidden Elvish City). Tuor encounters many problems on his travels but for much of it he is guided by Voronwë and they follow the river Sirion. When he arrives at Gondolin, the news he carries is not welcome, however, Tuor is invited to stay in the city. The city is protected with magical spells, and to all outsiders it is invisible. As you can imagine, there is an evil individual, Morgoth, that wants to attack the kingdom of Gondolin. Having been vanquished from Gondolin, Morgoth, (also known as Melkor), betrays the secrets of the Hidden City, which leads to its final destruction. In the battle that takes place, Tuor is able to lead a number of the elves to safety and they create a new home on the estuary of the river Sirion.

Christopher Tolkien has included the revisions to the story and added some detailed descriptions to the travels taken by Tuor and Voronwë. One of the most vivid and magical one for me is the passage through the seven gates into the city of Gondolin, in the chapter called 'The Last Story'; once entered there is no turning back, and the traveller needs to know the magic to open each gate and pass through the watchers guarding the gates.

The story is a remarkable story, and I’m happy to read it with its revisions, clarifying the details that came to revisiting the tale.

Following on from the tale of The Fall of Gondolin, there are some important chapters that bring other parts of the mystical world created by Tolkien together. We learn of the early days of Elrond, the beginnings of Sauron’s actions into evil, but much of it is about the tale of the Silmarils, and the desire to possess them and leads to their death. The tale is an excellent addition to the Tolkien stories and a must-read for Tolkien fans. Rating: 5 stars

Dr Sheppard

8 October 2018