The Fall of Númenor by J. R. R. Tolkien - Edited by Brian Sibley and Read by Samuel West
For many years, Tolkien fans only had a tantalising glimpses of the Second Age of Middle-earth via the appendices found within The Lord of the Rings. It was only after The Silmarillion was posthumously published after Tolkien’s death, that a more comprehensive narrative could be presented. While much of that book focused on the First Age of Middle-earth, it also included events surrounding the rise and fall of the island of Númenor in the Second Age. This kingdom, raised from the Great Sea and bestowed upon the Men of Middle-earth as a reward for their assistance in defeating the Dark Lord Morgoth, became a centre of power and wealth. However, as the Númenóreans' influence grew, the seeds of their destruction were inevitably sown. Over the years further publications edited by Christopher Tolkien, such as Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth and the twelve-volume series, The History of Middle-earth have provided further historical lore.
For many years, Tolkien fans only had a tantalising glimpses of the Second Age of Middle-earth via the appendices found within The Lord of the Rings. It was only after The Silmarillion was posthumously published after Tolkien’s death, that a more comprehensive narrative could be presented. While much of that book focused on the First Age of Middle-earth, it also included events surrounding the rise and fall of the island of Númenor in the Second Age. This kingdom, raised from the Great Sea and bestowed upon the Men of Middle-earth as a reward for their assistance in defeating the Dark Lord Morgoth, became a centre of power and wealth. However, as the Númenóreans' influence grew, the seeds of their destruction were inevitably sown. Over the years further publications edited by Christopher Tolkien, such as Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth and the twelve-volume series, The History of Middle-earth have provided further historical lore.
In The Fall of Númenor, editor Brian Sibley has compiled a new and comprehensive chronicle of the Second Age of Middle-earth primarily by drawing from all the aforementioned published texts and collating all relevant passages in chronological order. The reader is presented with the story of the Akallabêth, previously published in The Silmarillion, as well as supplementary versions from different periods of Tolkien's creative process. The Fall of Númenor also covers related events from the Second Age, from the foundation of the Grey Havens to the first victory over Sauron. Brian Sibley has painstakingly collected scattered information, consolidating and expanding it. He turns the otherwise highly fragmented material into a practical and cohesive text. By providing a chronological context for the events and their protagonists, he imbues the narrative with a greater sense of a historical chronicle. For completeness, even the Númenórean chapters of The Lost Road, Tolkien’s abandoned sequel to The Lord of the Rings, are also included.
Armenelos by Rafael Damiani
The Fall of Númenor is an exceedingly useful and enthralling addition to any fans collection of Tolkien’s writing. Essential material about the Second Age is presented in a single volume, negating the need to cross reference through multiple volumes yourself. Furthermore, the rise and fall of the Númenórean people provides invaluable context for the realms in exile, Gondor and Arnor. The audio version by HarperCollins is as ever impeccably produced, narrated by Brian Sibley himself with additional passages of text read once again by Samuel West. The pace is measured and the complex notes and editorial comments clearly explain Tolkien’s historical revisions. Again I must praise the standard of pronunciation of the Quenya, Sindarin and Adûnaic languages, as I have with previous HarperCollins audiobooks. There is an inherent beauty to Professor Tolkien’s languages and that becomes very apparent when they are spoken correctly.
