'HarperCollins has announced the acquisition of Tolkien's never-before-published poem The Fall of Arthur, which will be released for the first time next May. Running to more than 200 pages, Tolkien's story was inspired by Geoffrey of Monmouth and Thomas Malory's tales of King Arthur, and is told in narrative verse. Set in the last days of Arthur's reign, the poem sees Tolkien tackling the old king's battle to save his country from Mordred the usurper, opening as Arthur and Gawain go to war.'
'For the book's editor at HarperCollins, Chris Smith,
the news that Tolkien had finished work on The Fall of Arthur was an
unexpected surprise. "Though its title had been known from Humphrey
Carpenter's Biography and JRR Tolkien's own letters, we never supposed
that it would see the light of day," he said. He
described the previously unpublished work as "extraordinary", saying
that it "breathes new life into one of our greatest heroes, liberating
him from the clutches of Malory's romantic treatment, and revealing
Arthur as a complex, all-too human individual who must rise above the
greatest of betrayals to liberate his beloved kingdom".
These are the "new" poem's opening lines:
"Arthur eastward in arms purposed
his war to wage on the wild marches,
over seas sailing to Saxon lands,
from the Roman realm ruin defending.
Thus the tides of time to turn backward
and the heathen to humble, his hope urged him,
that with harrying ships they should hunt no more
on the shining shores and shallow waters
of South Britain, booty seeking."
his war to wage on the wild marches,
over seas sailing to Saxon lands,
from the Roman realm ruin defending.
Thus the tides of time to turn backward
and the heathen to humble, his hope urged him,
that with harrying ships they should hunt no more
on the shining shores and shallow waters
of South Britain, booty seeking."
Nice timing with the publication date as well. Just in time for all those people, who have just finished reading (re-reading?) 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings', who will be looking for something new to read. Can't help but wonder if they'll be a little disappointed though...
I'll get it, I've always enjoyed a good dose of prose and verse, and getting to read a sort of successor to Mallory's take (and Geoffrey) is fascinating. I find it amusing that they "discovered" it was finished. Always makes me wonder if the ink is still drying...
ReplyDeleteI recently realized that I never liked the Arthur tale and thought Tolkien must have thought the same or else he might have taken more interest in it, but I think Tolkien chose the right concept in making it his fall and "liberating" it from romanticisim. Still not interesting. I like the poetry form in principle, i.e. I have nothing against it and acknowledge it, and it reads relatively nicely even without achieving much clarity for me, but no thanks to King Arthur (Monty Python is enough)
ReplyDeleteI say let the poor man's memory rest already - enough with the scraps, notes, and 'newly discovered' tales. :)
ReplyDeleteComing next : JRR Tolkien's lost Shopping list. Here is an exclusive extract...
ReplyDelete6 Eggs
3 X Pints of Milk
Chocolate
Toilet Rolls X 4
Bleach
Bread
Noodles
Crisps
Fizzy Pop
Pencils
Cat Food X 4
Preparation H (large)