The Fall Of Arthur

Beskrivelse

Discover the previously unpublished tale by J.R.R. Tolkien that explores the final chapter of King Arthur's legendary saga. This work delves into the dramatic events surrounding England's iconic hero in a poetic form rarely seen from Tolkien.

An exceptional poetic retelling of King Arthur's last days, crafted in Old English alliterative verse.

The Fall of Arthur stands as Tolkien's sole exploration of the Arthurian legends, showcasing his mastery of the Old English alliterative metre. Through this style, he infuses the ancient stories with a deep sense of gravity and destiny.

The poem recounts Arthur's journey to distant pagan lands, Guinevere's escape from Camelot, the epic naval battle upon Arthur's return, the betrayal by Mordred, and Lancelot's inner turmoil within his French stronghold.

Although Tolkien began working on this narrative poem in the early 1930s and shared it with a close friend who urged him to complete it, he ultimately left it unfinished. Evidence suggests he may have abandoned it around 1937, coinciding with the release of The Hobbit and the early developments of The Lord of the Rings.

Years later, in 1955, Tolkien expressed hope to finish the poem, but it never came to fruition. Alongside the poem, numerous manuscript pages reveal extensive drafts, structural experiments, narrative outlines, and intriguing notes.

These materials hint at mysterious connections between the Arthurian ending and The Silmarillion, as well as the tragic conclusion of Lancelot and Guinevere's love story, which Tolkien never completed.

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