The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun

Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction & Literature
Cover of the book The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun by J.R.R. Tolkien, HMH Books
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien ISBN: 9781328834515
Publisher: HMH Books Publication: November 7, 2017
Imprint: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Language: English
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
ISBN: 9781328834515
Publisher: HMH Books
Publication: November 7, 2017
Imprint: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Language: English

Unavailable for more than seventy years, this early but important work is published for the first time with Tolkien’s "Corrigan" poems and other supporting material, including a prefatory note by Christopher Tolkien.

Set ‘In Britain’s land beyond the seas’ during the Age of Chivalry, The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun tells of a childless Breton Lord and Lady (the ‘Aotrou’ and ‘Itroun’ of the title) and the tragedy that befalls them when Aotrou seeks to remedy their situation with the aid of a magic potion obtained from a corrigan, or malevolent fairy. When the potion succeeds and Itroun bears twins, the corrigan returns seeking her fee, and Aotrou is forced to choose between betraying his marriage and losing his life.

Coming from the darker side of J.R.R. Tolkien’s imagination, The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun, together with the two shorter ‘Corrigan’ poems (which lead up to it and are also included in this volume), were the outcome of a comparatively short but intense period in Tolkien's life when he was deeply engaged with Celtic, and particularly Breton, myth and legend.

Originally written in 1930 and long out of print, this early but seminal work is an important addition to the non-Middle-earth portion of his canon and should be set alongside The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún, The Fall of Arthur and The Story of Kullervo. Like these works, it belongs to a small but important corpus of his ventures into ‘real-world’ mythologies, each of which in its own way would be a formative influence on his own legendarium.

Edited with notes and commentary by Verlyn Flieger and a prefatory note on the text by Christopher Tolkien.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Unavailable for more than seventy years, this early but important work is published for the first time with Tolkien’s "Corrigan" poems and other supporting material, including a prefatory note by Christopher Tolkien.

Set ‘In Britain’s land beyond the seas’ during the Age of Chivalry, The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun tells of a childless Breton Lord and Lady (the ‘Aotrou’ and ‘Itroun’ of the title) and the tragedy that befalls them when Aotrou seeks to remedy their situation with the aid of a magic potion obtained from a corrigan, or malevolent fairy. When the potion succeeds and Itroun bears twins, the corrigan returns seeking her fee, and Aotrou is forced to choose between betraying his marriage and losing his life.

Coming from the darker side of J.R.R. Tolkien’s imagination, The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun, together with the two shorter ‘Corrigan’ poems (which lead up to it and are also included in this volume), were the outcome of a comparatively short but intense period in Tolkien's life when he was deeply engaged with Celtic, and particularly Breton, myth and legend.

Originally written in 1930 and long out of print, this early but seminal work is an important addition to the non-Middle-earth portion of his canon and should be set alongside The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún, The Fall of Arthur and The Story of Kullervo. Like these works, it belongs to a small but important corpus of his ventures into ‘real-world’ mythologies, each of which in its own way would be a formative influence on his own legendarium.

Edited with notes and commentary by Verlyn Flieger and a prefatory note on the text by Christopher Tolkien.

More books from HMH Books

Cover of the book A Talent for Trouble by J.R.R. Tolkien
Cover of the book The Betrayal of Maggie Blair by J.R.R. Tolkien
Cover of the book Hero's Song by J.R.R. Tolkien
Cover of the book Pull Up a Chair by J.R.R. Tolkien
Cover of the book The Informant by J.R.R. Tolkien
Cover of the book Curious George Goes to the Zoo (Read-aloud) by J.R.R. Tolkien
Cover of the book Gideon and Otto by J.R.R. Tolkien
Cover of the book Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus by J.R.R. Tolkien
Cover of the book A Kid's Guide to Washington, D.C. by J.R.R. Tolkien
Cover of the book Out of Darkness by J.R.R. Tolkien
Cover of the book The Janus Stone by J.R.R. Tolkien
Cover of the book The Lemonade Crime by J.R.R. Tolkien
Cover of the book The Best American Essays 2011 by J.R.R. Tolkien
Cover of the book Trouble Next Door by J.R.R. Tolkien
Cover of the book Why We Dream by J.R.R. Tolkien
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy