The Children of Hurin

J.R.R. Tolkien’s greatest known work is the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.  While this work is know all around the world it is also probably one of my least favorite works by Tolkien.  Along with the Lord of the Rings the Hobbit and the Silmarillion Tolkien wrote many other shorter works and poems.  While most of these stories like the Children of Hurin were published after Tolkien’s death they also represent some of his greatest work.

Expanding on the story of Turin Turambar found in the Silmarillion; the Children of Hurin is the story of the adventures and misadventures of Turin. As the title suggests Turin is the son of Hurin, who was once a ruler of men in the first age of middle earth.  Hurin is captured in battle by Morgoth (for all practical purposes this is the devil of Tolkien’s fiction before Sauron) who curses Hurin and his family.

In a sense this story is very reminiscent of the tale of Oedipus Rex.  While the tale is a tragedy it is well written, and interesting.  Unlike the Lord of the Rings this tale is very fast moving and as the appendix states is probably the pinnacle of J.R.R. Tolkien’s work.  This work is not as light hearted as the Hobbit however for anyone interested in classic British literature or any fans of Tolkien’s mythology this is perhaps one of his best works.