Customer Reviews

Children of Hurin, The: Complete & Unabridged

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This is a very, very dark epic, not like The Lord of the Rings at all. Nonetheless, if you like Tolkien's other works, The Children of Hurin is worth a try. It explores the earlier ages of Middle Earth, particularly the story of Turin as described in The Silmarillion.

The story emphasizes key Tolkien themes like honor, oaths, tragedy - and, of course, dragons. Hurin, a noble king, is kidnapped by the evil lord Morgoth. When he refuses to reveal the location of an elven stronghold, Morgoth curses his children. The story follows Hurin's son, Turin, and his trials. The story of Turin is overwhelmingly depressing, with tragedy heaped upon tragedy. He accidentally kills his best friend, makes love to his sister, and eventually begs for death. Think Oedipus meets Aragorn. It is a pretty original and exciting story, but you'll definitely need some prozac after finishing.

Tolkien believed the book wasn't fit for publication because the prose was dry and stilted at times, and I have to agree. However, it also gives the book an archaic flavor. You really feel like you're reading an ancient story, not just a fantasy novel. I'll admit that The Children of Hurin is a tough read, but it is worth your effort.

I disagree with some of the reviewers here in that I think it is extremely helpful, if not necessary, to have read the The Silmarillion first. While The Children of Hurin stands alone as a story, it does reference characters in The Silmarillion, particularly Morgoth and several of the Vallar. What I would recommend is reading The Silmarillion up until the chapter about Hurin and Turin, and then switch to reading this book.