How close is the published The Silmarillion to JRRT's Silmarillion?

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by TheLostPilgrim

But the question is, would JRRT have approved of the published version as put out by his son?

I don't believe that's ultimately an answerable question. I like to Tolkien would have been satisfied, or as much as an author with such an ever questing, questioning mind could be. No doubt he could have thought of improvements, but when is that not the case?

Originally Posted by TheLostPilgrim

If so, could that perhaps settle the "is it canon?" debate?

Originally Posted by TheLostPilgrim

I mean, Tolkien himself never seems to have decided what were "canon" elements of the Silmarillion, and it seems Christopher went off his father's notes and efforts to the best of his ability--Sort of the way Bilbo would've transcribed likely conflicting Elven histories of ancient, perhaps slightly misremembered days, to the best of his ability.

Your words about the long efforts of CT lead at least me to think of the published Silmarillion as canon. I know that since its release Christopher himself has found new notes and writings from time to time that suggest the book should have had some changes, but it doesn't seem to have concerned him enough to "update" The Silmarillion in order to incorporate any of the new (or old) ideas.