The Children of Húrin

Húrin is captured by Morgoth, who curses his family and forces him to watch everything. His son, Túrin, is sent to Doriath as a boy. Proud and unlucky, he runs away, becomes an outlaw leader and kills his friend Beleg by mistake. In Nargothrond, his advice leads the city to ruin at the hands of the dragon Glaurung. The dragon bewitches Túrin's sister, Nienor, who loses her memory. Not knowing who she is, Túrin marries her. He deals Glaurung a fatal blow, and the dying dragon tells Nienor the truth, so she throws herself into the gorge. When he learns it, Túrin kills himself with his own sword. Set free, Húrin finds his wife, Morwen, dying by their children's grave.

1. ReferenceBorn from a Finnish myth

   Túrin was modeled on Kullervo from the Kalevala, which Tolkien retold in 1914. Túrin's ending, where he talks to his own sword, comes almost unchanged from that tale.

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2. Behind the scenesNo. 1 in 2007

   The book debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times hardcover fiction list. Within two weeks, 900,000 copies were in print worldwide, double the initial plan.

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3. ReferenceIllustrated by the films' artist

   The 33 illustrations are by Alan Lee, one of the lead concept artists on Peter Jackson's trilogy. He shared the Oscar for art direction on The Return of the King.

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