[Calibandar]

I thought this was a joke but apparently it is not.

http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/press/857-Ne...gurd_Gudrun.php

Quote

HarperCollins is to publish a new book by the late Lord of the Rings author J R R Tolkien. The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún, edited and introduced by Tolkien’s son Christopher, will be published in hardback in May 2009.

The previously unpublished work was written while Tolkien was professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University during the 1920s and '30s, before he wrote The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The publication will make available for the first time Tolkien’s extensive retelling in English narrative verse of the epic Norse tales of Sigurd the Völsung and the Fall of the Niflungs.

David Brawn, the publishing director of HarperCollins UK, said: "It is an entirely unpublished work, dates from around the early 1930s, and will be published - all being well - in May this year. Otherwise the clue as to what the book will contain is in the title - THE LEGEND OF SIGURD AND GUDRUN. You will surmise from this that it is not a Middle-earth book, but we are confident that Tolkien fans will be fascinated by it."For those who are wondering about it, I can already tell that this new edition will not be illustrated by Alan Lee; but have not been confirmed who will be the illustrator.

Christopher Tolkien edited Tolkien's most recent title The Children of Húrin in 2007.
Further details about the contents of the book will be revealed closer to publication.

[Poobah]

Is the Tolkien Estate getting low on money or something?

-Poobs

[Ran]

Calibandar,

Thanks for posting this -- hadn't heard of it. Sounds interesting, and may give some further insight into Tolkien's interpretation of some of the elements of the Norse legend which worked their way into his Middle-Earth writings. I hope it has footnotes/annotations from Tolkien providing more scholarly detail to his adaption.

[Myrddin]

I thought some other new writer had been heralded as the "New Tolkien"

:lol:

Every few years some reviewer pulls out this gem to describe the author of a new book.

[SwiftSnowmane]

First of all, being the biggest Tolkien and Old Norse geek in the world, HOW DID I NOT HEAR ABOUT THIS BEFORE????? :dunno:



And secondly,



Two of my favourite things rolled into one! YAY!!!!!!!! :cheers:




Edited to add:

If this is indeed being published due to the Tolkien Estate being low on funds, then I hope they continue to be low on funds. I don't care how obscure something may seem to the majority of casual fans---if its written by Professor Tolkien I want to have access to it! Especially if its related to his love of Anglo-Saxon and Old Norse studies. :)

Now, if only Christopher Tolkien (or whomever) would be so kind as to give The Tale of Luthien and Beren the same treatment as The Children of Hurin (illustrated novel, etc), then my universe would be complete. :thumbsup:

This post has been edited by SwiftSnowmane: 08 January 2009 - 01:19 PM

[Calibandar]

It *is* obscure. There are many articles on the net announcing this upcoming book btw, just google it, but I posted this link because these guys have also done some research as to where this idea to bundle these narrative verses comes from. In the article it is interesting that they link to a book of speeches in which Tolkien publisher Unwin was already trying to get Chris Tolkien to publish during the time CT was edited the History of Middle-Earth series 10 to 20 years ago).

It looks like CT simply decided the time was right now. In addition to the publishing of Children of Hurin in 2007 it seems the Tolkien Estate wants some of Tolkien's material to be more widely read and available.

As for the work itself, on the one hand I was hoping for another prose offering, which this is not. It will also read quite a bit more academic than Middle Earth fiction. Yet on the other hand I find Tolkien's retelling and unravelling of such a legend very interesting. Certainly it's a must buy, if only because so much of what Tolkien has done outside of the Lord of the Rings has proved to be incredibly interesting. He's got style, intellect and one hell of an education.

This post has been edited by Calibandar: 08 January 2009 - 02:09 PM

[SwiftSnowmane]

Calibandar, on Jan 8 2009, 14.07, said:

As for the work itself, on the one hand I was hoping for another prose offering, which this is not. It will also read quite a bit more academic than Middle Earth fiction. Yet on the other hand I find Tolkien's retelling and unravelling of such a legend very interesting. Certainly it's a must buy, if only because so much of what Tolkien has done outside of the Lord of the Rings has proved to be incredibly interesting. He's got style, intellect and one hell of an education.

*see bolded*

That is a plus in my book! :)


Thanks for posting this information, by the way.


Edited to say: I agree also about Tolkien's other work. I love The Lord of the Rings. Truly, its one of my favourite books. But I have found over the years that my interests and Tolkien's interests overlap considerably, and I almost unwittingly ended up follow a similar academic path as Tolkien himself. I guess its no surprise then that I should be so interested in reading his other works as well. :)

This post has been edited by SwiftSnowmane: 08 January 2009 - 07:05 PM

[BookWyrm]

Wonderful!!!!! :D Thank you so much for the news Calibandar!

[Ski the Swift]

SwiftSnowmane, on Jan 9 2009, 05.14, said:

Now, if only Christopher Tolkien (or whomever) would be so kind as to give The Tale of Luthien and Beren the same treatment as The Children of Hurin (illustrated novel, etc), then my universe would be complete. :thumbsup:

Agreed. The again I want detailed tales on all of the great things that Tolkien wrote.

*sigh*

Can't wait to get my hands on this though.

[ultraman7k]

just a few more days till this is released!

[The Pita Enigma]

I'm gonna get, probably softcover. Children of Hurin HC put a major dent in my spendings. On the other hand, it really was beautiful, so I don't know. THE PRESSURE! GAH!

[Isis]

Not illustrated by Alan Lee? Meh. :P

[Prince of the North]

The audio version will be read by Brian Cox, I believe :)

[BookWyrm]

I don't care what version comes out first, it's coming home with me. :)