The tales of The Silmarillion were the underlying inspiration and source of J.R.R. Tolkien's imaginative writing; he worked on the book throughout his life but never brought it to a final form. Long preceding in its origins The Lord of the Rings, it is the story of the First Age of Tolkien's world, the ancient drama to which characters in The Lord of the RIngs look back and in which some of them, such as Elrond and Galadriel, took part.

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Silmarillion [Illustrated ebookThe collection begins with the "Ainulindale," a creation myth, proceeds to the "Valaquenta," an elvan account of the Powers (Valar and Maiar), then to "The Silmarillion," and finally to two short pieces, the "Alkallabeth" and a short legend bridging this collection and "The Lord of the Rings," entitled "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age."

Perhaps the greatest value to The Silmarillion is the cosmology that Tolkien uses to establish his world. There is certainly a very Christian element to it, with Eru (God) casting down the powerful, but prideful Melkor. But Tolkien also makes extensive use of Finnish, Norse, and Greek influences.

The first of two companion volumes which documents the later writing of The Silmarillion, Tolkien's epic tale of war. After the The Lord of the Rings was at last achieved, J R R Tolkien turned his attention once again to 'the Matter of the Elder Days'.