The Children of Húrin (Pre-Lord of the Rings)
The first complete book by J.R.R. Tolkien in three decades--since the publication ofThe Silmarillionin 1977--The Children of Húrinreunites fans ofThe HobbitandThe Lord of the Ringswith Elves and Men, dragons and Dwarves, Eagles and Orcs. Presented for the first time as a complete, standalone story, this stirring narrative will appeal to casual fans and expert readers alike, returning them to the rich landscape and characters unique to Tolkien.Adam Tolkien onThe Children of HúrinHow did a lifetime of stories becomeThe Children of Húrin? In anessay on the making of the book, Adam Tolkien, grandson of J.R.R. Tolkien (and French translator of hisHistory of Middle-earth), explains that the Húrin legends made up the third "Great Tale" of his grandfather's Middle-earth writing, and he describes how his father, Christopher Tolkien, painstakingly collected the pieces of the legend into a complete story told only in the words of J.R.R. Tolkien. "For anyone who has readThe HobbitandThe Lord of the Rings," he writes,The Children of Húrin"allows them to take a step back into a larger world, an ancient land of heroes and vagabonds, honour and jeopardy, hope and tragedy."A Look Inside the BookThis first edition ofThe Children of Húrinis illustrated by Alan Lee, who was already well-known for his Tolkien illustrations in previous editions (see ourTolkien Storefor more) as well as his classic collaboration with Brian Froud,Faeries, and his Kate Greenaway Medal-winningBlack Ships Before Troy, before his Oscar-winning work as conceptual designer for Peter Jackson'sLord of the Ringsfilm trilogy brought him even greater acclaim. Here's a quick glimpse of two of Lee's interior illustrations forThe Children of Húrin. (Click on each to see larger images.)Questions for Alan LeeWe had the chance to ask Alan Lee a few questions about his illustrative collaboration with the world imagined by J.R.R. Tolkien:Amazon.com:How much of a treat was it to get first crack at depicting entirely new characters rather than ones who had been interpreted many times before? Was there one who particularly captured your imagination?Lee:Although it was a great honor to illustrateThe Children of Húrin, the characters and the main elements of the story line are familiar to those who have readThe SilmarillionandUnfinished Tales, and these narratives have inspired quite a few illustrators. Ted Nasmith has illustratedThe Silmarillionand touched on some of the same characters and landscapes. This was the first time that I ventured into the First Age; while working onThe Lord of the Ringsbooks and films--andThe Hobbit--I've had to refer back to events in Middle-earth history but not really depict them.I'm drawn to characters who bear similarities to the protagonists in myths and legends; these correspondences add layers and shades of meaning, and most of the characters in this story have those archetypal qualities. However, I prefer not to get too close to the characters because the author is delineating them much more carefully than I can, and I'm wary of interfering with the pictures that the text is creating in the reader's mind.Amazon.com:The Húrin story has been described as darker than some of Tolkien's other work. What mood did you try to set with your illustrations?Lee:It is a tragic story, but the darkness is offset by the light and beauty of Tolkien's elegiac writing. In the illustrations I tried to show some of the fragile beauty of the landscapes and create an atmosphere that would enhance the sense of foreboding and impending loss. I try to get the setting to tell its part in the story, as evidence of what happened there in the past and as a hint at what is going to occur. My usual scarred and broken trees came in handy.Amazon.com:You were a conceptual designer (and won an Oscar) for Peter Jackson's film trilogy ofThe Lord of the Rings, which I think we can safely say had a bit of success. How does designing for the screen compare to designing for the page?Lee:They both have their share of joys and frustrations. It was great to be part of a huge film collaboration and play a small part in something quite magical and monumental; I will always treasure that experience. Film is attractive because I enjoy sketching and coming up with ideas more than producing highly finished artwork, and it's great having several hundred other people lending a hand! But books--as long as they don't get moldy from being left in an empty studio for six years--have their own special quality. I hope that I can continue doing both.Amazon.com:Of all fiction genres, fantasy seems to have the strongest tradition of illustration. Why do you think that is? Who are some of your favorite illustrators?Lee:A lot of excellent illustrators are working at the moment--especially in fantasy and children's books. It is exciting also to see graphic artists such as Dave McKean, in his filmMirrormask, moving between different media. I also greatly admire the more traditional work of Gennady Spirin and Roberto Innocenti. Kinuko Craft, John Jude Palencar, John Howe, Charles Vess, Brian Froud ... I'll stop there, as the list would get too long. But--in a fit of pride and justified nepotism--I'll add my daughter, Virginia Lee, to the list. Her first illustrated children's book,The Frog Bride[coming out in the U.K. in September], will be lovely.More Tolkien FavoritesVisit ourJ.R.R. Tolkien Storefor a complete selection of Tolkien classics, including deluxe editions, young readers' editions, and more.The Lord of the Rings50th Anniversary EditionThe HobbitCollector's EditionThe Atlas of Middle Earth--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.