Ever since J.R.R. Tolkien's death in 1973, his estate has released his unfinished work in dribs and drabs, expanding his mythos with short stories, essays and unfinished novellas that deepen fans' understanding of the man and his genre-defining world of Middle-Earth. The Story of Kullervo shines light on an early obsession of Tolkien that led to one of his most famous incomplete works, The Children of Húrin.
Based on a collection of Finnish epics, The Story of Kullervo follows a traditional mythical plot. A young man, imbued with magical powers, sets out on a mission of revenge, only to betray his family while trying to reclaim their honor. But Tolkien, in his early 20s when he began Kullervo, is a deft author, turning a very old story into something with more gravitas and character depth than the original.
Although the text is incomplete, editor Verlyn Flieger provides ample illuminating endnotes, and grounds the work in Tolkien's career with two informative essays, one preceding the text and one at its end. She also provides two versions of a talk Tolkien gave around the time he became fascinated with Finnish sagas, "On 'The Kalevala,' or Land of Heroes," and it is the best part of the book. It's a reminder that Tolkien was first and foremost a strong academic, able expertly to convey tricky concepts and win over his listeners. The unfinished story of Kullervo is interesting, especially for Tolkien completists, but "On 'The Kalevala' " is worthwhile for any reader interested in myth, saga and how stories transcend boundaries. --Noah Cruickshank, marketing manager, Open Books, Chicago, Ill.