Beren and Luthien

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Painstakingly restored from J.R.R. Tolkien’s manuscripts, this epic tale of Beren and Lúthien is presented for the first time as a continuous and standalone story, reuniting fans with the rich landscape of Middle-earth. This narrative became essential to the evolution of The Silmarillion, reflecting the myths and legends of the First Age conceived by Tolkien. Written after his return from the battle of the Somme in 1916, the story centers on the love between Beren, a mortal man, and Lúthien, an immortal Elf. Her father, a powerful Elvish lord, opposes their union and imposes an impossible task on Beren before he can wed Lúthien. This challenge sets the stage for their heroic quest to steal a Silmaril from Melkor, the greatest evil being known as Morgoth. Christopher Tolkien has extracted this tale from the larger work in which it was embedded, showcasing its evolution over time. By presenting the original form alongside later prose and verse, he illustrates how the narrative changed and developed new associations, revealing aspects of the story that were lost in its later iterations.