Beren and Lúthien

The story of a mortal man and an immortal Elven-maiden whose love leads to an impossible quest to steal a jewel from the crown of the Dark Lord Morgoth. It is presented here as a collection of all Tolkien's versions of the story, from earliest poem to final prose.

Yes -- the same story, but presented in multiple versions showing how it evolved across Tolkien's entire creative life. The Silmarillion version is the final compressed prose form; this volume shows all the stages before it, including the original poetry.

Tolkien identified with Beren and saw Luthien as an embodiment of his love for his wife Edith. After Edith died in 1971, Tolkien had Luthien inscribed on her grave; after Tolkien died in 1973, Beren was added to his.

The great hound given by the Vala Orome to Celegorm, who then accompanies Beren and Luthien on their quest. He is fated only to die at the hands of the greatest wolf that ever lived -- a prophecy that comes true in the story.

Yes -- Tolkien identified Beren and Luthien as the second of his three Great Tales of the First Age, alongside The Children of Hurin and The Fall of Gondolin.

Tolkien's long alliterative poem telling the Beren and Luthien story, begun in 1925. An earlier version appears in The Lays of Beleriand; it is one of the central texts in this volume as well.

This volume is not a single, cohesive narrative but rather a scholarly compilation of various drafts, poetic fragments, and prose versions of the tale that J.R.R. Tolkien wrote and revised over several decades. It is designed to showcase the evolution of the story through the author's creative process, accompanied by editorial commentary from Christopher Tolkien.

Readers unfamiliar with the broader history of Middle-earth may find the context provided in The Silmarillion helpful for understanding the characters and their relationships. Because this book focuses on the development of a specific legend, it is generally intended for those already acquainted with the author's legendarium rather than as an entry point.