A tale both tragic and deeply beautiful...

by Edualy Munoz
(Houston, TX, US)

"Turin" by Alan Lee

After reading the chapter in The Silmarillion "Of Turin Turambar", I was left with the impression that the tale was incomplete or that there was much more about it that was not being told.

When I found out that The Children of Hurin was going to be released as a single work within its own covers, I was both anxious and happy.

WARNING: SPOILERS

One of my favorite chapters is "The Words of Hurin & Morgoth", where we get a closer look at the wicked mind of the Dark Lord, his arrogance when calling himself "Elder King" and "Master of the Fates of Arda" and even claiming that "The shadow of my purpose lies upon Arda, and all that is in it bends slowly and surely to my will" (CoH pg 64).

Also the courage of Hurin in not being daunted by Morgoth and openly professing his faith and trust both in the Valar and in The One. "No more are you now than an escaped thrall of the Valar, and their chain awaits you still" (CoH pg 64).

But what gets me the most is the way Morgoth accomplishes his curse by means of Glaurung and the tender love between Nienor Niniel and Turin. He loves her so much, you can feel the hopes of his heart that with her by his side he will find peace and redemption.

Niniel's cries of desperation to Turin when he is on the floor in a swoon due to Glaurung's poisoned blood and the vivid description of her kissing him and calling him to awake is very touching; and it is heartbreaking to see the Dragon reveal to her that she's been loved and wedded by her own brother, that they are cursed.

Nienor's cry of despair when she jumps into the water with her unborn baby and then Turin's own suicide remind us that sometimes evil does have the final word.

Overall, I enjoy reading and re-reading the book, and the Audio CD version with Christopher Lee as the narrator is superb. I got to pronounce the names correctly by following his reading.