The Fall of Númenor is the latest publication from the Tolkien Estate, and is a chronicle of events of the Second Age of Middle-earth by fantasy author J.R.R. Tolkien. Published in 2022 to coincide with the release of the Amazon TV series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, it allows both casual readers and hardcore fans alike to gain a better understanding of the major events and stories of the period, and aims to provide a collection of Tolkien’s second age writings in a single book.
Something important to note here is that there are no ‘new’ writings from Tolkien in this book – rather it is a complication of texts, essays and writings written by Tolkien, and previously published in books such as The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, and The History of Middle-earth. The purpose of the book is thus, as editor Brian Sibley writes, is to ‘provide extracts from the above – with as little editorial interventions as possible – that illustrate in the author’s own words the rich and tumultuous events of the Second Age as sumarised by Tolkien in his ‘The Tale of Years (Chronology of the Westlands)’ that appears in Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings‘.
The book is thus compiled in chronological order, from Year 1 to Year 3441 of the Second Age, and depicts events such as the rise of the island kingdom of Numenor, the forging of the Rings of Power, the rise of Sauron and his war with the Elves and Men, and culminates in the Last Alliance of Men and Elves (which is briefly depicted in the prologue of the Lord of the Rings films). Due to its huge span of time covered, there are no major characters but rather hundred of minor characters that are littered throughout the novel, making it similar to the reading the Bible. Nonetheless it is a far more accessible read for casual fans of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings compared to The Silmarillion or Tolkien’s other essays, with most events taking less than five or six pages maximum. This is complemented by larger writings on Numenor and its people and culture, and the tale of Aldarion and Erendris, a love story about a mariner set in the peak of Numenor (and previously published in Unfinished Tales). There are also some brief appendices covering the Third Age of Middle-earth and an early draft of Numenor dating from around 1937, prior to the publication of The Hobbit.
The highlight of the book by far is its beautiful presentation, which is brilliantly illustrated by artist Alan Lee with 10 full colour illustrations depicting the key events of the Second Age, whilst being complemented by over 50 pencil sketches for chapter headings, and a remarkable dustjacket and cover depicting the Fall of Númenor. The printing and text is also of high quality with blue ink for chapter titles and headings. Editorial commentary is also kept to a minimum with notes at the end providing more in depth explanations and references to other works, with the book being written in chronological narrative order.
Whilst not an essential purchase for Tolkien and Lord of the Rings fans, The Fall of Númenor is beautifully edited and presented, making it a valuable and excellent book for any fantasy bookshelf.
Rating: 8/10
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Andrew Reviews 