The Children of Hurin
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
This book is rather a quick read. Slow to start but the action picks up nicely and then carries you along. Images have been included to give you a visual perspective.
The story itself? If you have read The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien you would know that they take place in the third (?) age. Other of his books cover the same period while others give you an overview of the history of middle earth. The Children of Hurin goes back to the days of antiquity. The first age when the great evil first took a permanent body and, as always, was striving to crush middle earth in his hand.
It begins with a battle between good and evil. Turin, one of the human leaders, joins forces with some of the elves to throw back the hand from Angband. The battle is lost and Turin is taken captive. The story then turns to his home where his pregnant wife and infant son Hurin wait for Turin’s return. If you are expecting a happy tale don’t pick-up the book. The story is a dark one and tradgeties abound. A curse placed upon the family of Turin by Morgoth exacts a terrible price. Hunted and haunted heros and heroins. There are moments of victory mind you but the twists in the story may be found disturbing by some readers.
As I came down to the last couple of chapters the reading became too familiar. I knew the outcome before the chapter ended. Perhaps having read many of the other books this story was covered in part and my mind filled in the rest. Either that or my longterm memory is on the fritz and I have read the book before. I doubt that but just incase you are an avid reader of Tolkien’s work you should know that the ending may not be too surprising. If you haven’t read any of Tolkien’s works before there is a good primer at the beginning of the book to help the novice understand the overall storyline of middle earth.