The Mind of Tolkien

Tolkien’s Requiem explores the tale of Beren and Lúthien as a doorway into the vast early history of Middle-earth, an era which forms the backdrop for the beloved stories of Bilbo, Frodo, Sam, Gandalf, and Aragorn. For fans of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings hungry for more of Middle-earth, yet daunted by The Silmarillion’s complexity, Tolkien’s Requiem serves as a concise introduction to the themes and stories of the First Age.

In Tolkien’s Overture, John Carswell conducts a close reading of the text of “Ainulindalë”, and then goes on to explore the role of music in Middle-earth’s history, from the creation of Elves, Dwarves, and Men in the First Age to the great events of the late Third Age as recounted in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Furthermore, it delves into the mystery of evil, as embodied in the mighty Melkor, the great villain of the First Age and the mentor of Sauron, the Dark Lord of Mordor.

This book is part 3 in The Mind of Tolkien series. Why did Númenor fall? In Tolkien’s Tragedy, writer and podcaster John Carswell turns to the most devastating story in Tolkien’s legendarium: the rise and ruin of Númenor, the greatest realm of Men. Set at the heart of the Second Age, Númenor’s story is not merely one of political collapse or military defeat, but of moral failure —pride, envy, the fear of death, and the slow seduction of power.