Tolkien's Overture Audiobook By John M. Carswell cover art

Tolkien's Overture

Concerning the Music of the Ainur

Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for $0.00
Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.

Tolkien's Overture

By: John M. Carswell
Narrated by: John M. Carswell
Try for $0.00

$0.00/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $6.95

Buy for $6.95

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

And thus, was the habitation of the Children of Ilúvatar established at last in the Deeps of Time and amidst the innumerable stars.

Originally published as part of The Silmarillion in 1977, "Ainulindalë” is the creation story of Middle-earth. Like the biblical account, it begins mysteriously with one great Divinity, but from there, goes down a far different path. Whereas the biblical story involves speaking creation into being, Tolkien’s vision involves the creation of lesser gods who then create a great music that brings Middle-earth into reality.

In Tolkien’s Overture, John Carswell conducts a close reading of the text of “Ainulindalë”, and then goes on to explore the role of music in Middle-earth’s history, from the creation of Elves, Dwarves, and Men in the First Age to the great events of the late Third Age as recounted in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Furthermore, it delves into the mystery of evil, as embodied in the mighty Melkor, the great villain of the First Age and the mentor of Sauron, the Dark Lord of Mordor.

From the mystical song of the seas to the voice of Lúthien to the strangely musical ways of Tom Bombadil, the listener will come away with a far deeper understanding of Tolkien’s imaginary world, and see clearly how music is truly the preternatural fabric from which Middle-earth is made.

©2018 John M. Carswell (P)2018 True Myths Press
Art Fantasy Paranormal
No reviews yet