Title: Rough, But Worth It
Review: It's easy to see why Tolkien wanted this appended as a prologue to Lord of the Rings and it's equally easy to see why the publisher rejected that idea. If you're a fan of Tolkien's world-building, then this is worthwhile, but it's a slog. The language is very lofty, the litany of names is challenging, and the prose is... turgid.But if you can make it though the muck, you'll find a rich and tragic story about a world that starts in a state of beauty and perfection and slowly slides into despair and destruction. It gives context to the world of Lord of the Rings and enriches some of the themes of sacrifice that run through Tolkien's works.
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