Alan Lee (illustrator). Light rubbing & edgewear to book & DJ; slight nick/tear on lower DJ. overall clean & tight. Nice illustrations. 313 pages + map. From Publishers Weekly Tolkien fans are sure to treasure this tale of Middle-earth's First Age, which appeared in incomplete forms in the posthumously published The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales. Those earlier books, also edited by Tolkien's son, Christopher, only hinted at the depth and power of the tragic story of T๚rin and Ni๋nor, the children of H๚rin, the lord of Dor-l๓min, who achieved renown for having confronted Morgoth, who was the master of Sauron, the manifestation of evil in the Lord of the Rings. The lengthy and fatiguing battle against Morgoth forms the backdrop for the moving account of the life of H๚rin's eldest son, T๚rin, a valiant but proud warrior whose all too human frailties augur an unhappy end. \n\nPerhaps Tolkien's most three-dimensional figure, T๚rin flees from the elven kingdom where he has grown into manhood, sheltered from the forces of evil, after he's unjustly judged responsible for another's death. He hides his true identity as he begins a new life as leader of a band of outlaws, a choice that has dire consequences when he crosses paths with a family member after many years of separation. Deftly balancing thrilling battles with moments of introspection, Tolkien's vivid and gripping narrative reaffirms his primacy in fantasy literature.
+
