The Silmarillion - J. R. R Tolkien

"Majestic! . . . Readers of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings will find in The Silmarillion
a cosmology to call their own, medieval romances, fierce fairy tales,
and fiercer wars that ring with heraldic fury . . . It overwhelms the
reader." - Time

The story of the creation of the world and of the First Age, this is the ancient drama to which the characters in The Lord of the Rings
look back and in whose events some of them, such as Elrond and
Galadriel, took part. The three Silmarils were jewels created by Fanor,
most gifted of the Elves. Within them was imprisoned the Light of the
Two Trees of Valinor before the Trees themselves were destroyed by
Morgoth, the first Dark Lord. Thereafter, the unsullied Light of Valinor
lived on only in the Silmarils, but they were seized by Morgoth and set
in his crown, which was guarded in the impenetrable fortress of Angband
in the north of Middle-earth. The Silmarillion is the history
of the rebellion of Fanor and his kindred against the gods, their exile
from Valinor and return to Middle-earth, and their war, hopeless
despite all their heroism, against the great Enemy.

"A creation of singular beauty . . . magnificent in its best moments." - Washington Post

"Heart-lifting . . . a work of power, eloquence and noble vision . . . Superb!" - Wall Street Journal