Christopher Tolkien has died

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The Tolkien Society

Daniel Helen

16 January 2020

It is with great sadness that we can confirm that Tolkien’s son and literary executor Christopher Tolkien has died aged 95.

Christopher was born in Leeds, United Kingdom, on 21 November 1924. After a childhood in Oxford, he joined the RAF during the Second World War and was stationed to South Africa. After the war, he finished his studies and became a lecturer in Old and Middle English as well as Old Icelandic at the University of Oxford. After his father’s death in 1973, he became the literary executor of the Tolkien Estate and went on to edit and publish his father’s unpublished material starting with The Silmarillion in 1977 and ending with The Fall of Gondolin in 2018.

Upon hearing the news, Tolkien Society Chair, Shaun Gunner, said:

All of us in the Tolkien Society will share in the sadness at the news of Christopher Tolkien’s death, and we send our condolences to Baillie, Simon, Adam, Rachel and the whole Tolkien family at this difficult time. Christopher’s commitment to his father’s works have seen dozens of publications released, and his own work as an academic in Oxford demonstrates his ability and skill as a scholar. Millions of people around the world will be forever grateful to Christopher for bringing us

The Silmarillion, The Children of Húrin, The History of Middle-earth series and many others. We have lost a titan and he will be sorely missed.

 

Tolkien scholar Dr Dimitra Fimi reflected on Christopher’s academic contribution:

(Snip)

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Chapter Index Silmarillion

00:52 AINULINDALE - The Music of the Ainur (Illuvatar and the Creation of Arda the world of Middle-Earth)

27:07 VALAQUENTA - Account of the Valar and the Maiar (Descriptions of the Gods, their powers and dwellings, and the Balrogs) 50:52 QUENTA SILMARILLION: THE HISTORY OF THE SILMARILS Chapter 1 - Of the Beginning of Days (Melkor and the Lamps; the Creation of Aman, Valinor, and Utumno; Yavanna's and the Two Trees of Valinor)

1:07:13 (missing lines)- "But Manwe Sulimo (means Lord of the Winds), highest and holiest of the Valar, sat upon the borders of Aman, forsaking not in his thought the outer lands. For his throne was set in majesty upon the pinnacle of Taniquetil, the highest of the mountains of the world, standing upon the margin of the sea. Spirits in the shape of hawks and eagles flew ever to and from his halls, and their eyes could see to the depths of the seas and pierce the hidden caverns beneath the world. Thus they brought word to him of well nigh all that passed in Arda. Yet some things were hidden even from the eyes of Manwe and the servants of Manwe. For where Melkor sat in his dark thought impenetrable shadows lay. Manwe has no thought for his own honor and is not jealous of his power, but rules all to peace. The Vanyar he loved best of all.

1:15:40 QS chap 2- Of Aule and Yavanna (origin of Dwarves and Ents)

1:28:00 Aule makes a joke

1:28:28 QS chap 3- Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor (Varda or Elbereth Gilthoniel and the Stars, Orome at Cuivienen, the origin of Orcs, Tulkas wrestling, the Summons of Manwe and the Sundering of the Elves)

1:53:40 QS chap 4- Of Thingol and Melian

1:57:50 QS chap 5- Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalie (Sundering of the Elves continue as they travel to Valinor, the settlement of Valinor, and the Swan ships of the Teleri)

2:14:26 (missing lines)

2:14:27 QS chap 6- Of Feanor and the Unchaining of Melkor

2:25:25 QS chap 7- Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor

2:42:15 QS chap 8- Of the Darkening of Valinor

2:55:08 QS chap 9- Of the Flight of the Noldor

3:22:17 (missing lines)