Unfinished Tales - Part One - II - Narn I Hín Húrin

[Guinevere]

Originally Posted by Formendacil

It's just as much a companion piece to the (EDITED) Silmarillion

That's what it is for me - a most welcome complement to the Silmarillion! In the Silmarillion, everything is just briefly told, the protagonists are remote, mythical heroes with whom I cannot really sympathize. It was only when reading the Narn i Hin Hurin in Unfinished Tales, that those characters became real and "alive" for me and I could appreciate the story. It is good that finally "The Children of Hurin" was published where both parts (which were merged only in my head before) came together.

The characters are described very accuratly and realistically. Túrin as a boy has all my sympathy. Even before the Curse, he didn't have an easy childhood, with such a coldhearted mother! It speaks for him that he wasn't jealous of his little sister but was really fond of her.
The only person I do not like, and cannot understand is Morwen. Húrin, on the other hand, is shown as a warmhearted and affectionate father, but too often absent. Túrin's friendship with Sador is very touching. And Sador is quite a wise but humble man, I found no less than six "proverbs" in his speech!