Silmarillion: a question of reliability - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Child of the 7th Age · 07-14-2002, 09:16 AM

Orome -- I'm not sure that I totally agree. It was always my understanding that Christopher was the one who actually put the published Silm together. He chose what manuscripts to include, since there were often several drafts left by Tolkien. He even later admitted that he had made some mistakes, chosing an earlier draft over a later more complete one, e.g. Ailundale.I thought I even heard that he added some material where Tolkien had left "holes" in the stories.

HoMe was something different. They were the "pure" drafts left by the author, some early and some late. Some ideas, like those in the Book of Lost Tales, had been completely superceded by Tolkien's later concepts. I actually think the last manuscripts, like some of the Unifinished Tales and Morgoth's Ring, represent the very last and, in some ways, the truest ideas that the author came to at the end of his life.

I am notan expert. I am just learning about the Silm. What do others think?

sharon, the 7th age hobbit

07-14-2002, 09:16 AM	#3
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	Orome -- I'm not sure that I totally agree. It was always my understanding that Christopher was the one who actually put the published Silm together. He chose what manuscripts to include, since there were often several drafts left by Tolkien. He even later admitted that he had made some mistakes, chosing an earlier draft over a later more complete one, e.g. Ailundale.I thought I even heard that he added some material where Tolkien had left "holes" in the stories. HoMe was something different. They were the "pure" drafts left by the author, some early and some late. Some ideas, like those in the Book of Lost Tales, had been completely superceded by Tolkien's later concepts. I actually think the last manuscripts, like some of the Unifinished Tales and Morgoth's Ring, represent the very last and, in some ways, the truest ideas that the author came to at the end of his life. I am notan expert. I am just learning about the Silm. What do others think? sharon, the 7th age hobbit __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.