The Fall of Númenor
And Other Tales from the Second Age of Middle-Earth
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
The Fall of Númenor
Buy Now for $30.09
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Samuel West
-
Brian Sibley
-
Written by:
-
J.R.R. Tolkien
-
Brian Sibley - editor
About this listen
J.R.R. Tolkien famously described the Second Age of Middle-earth as a ‘dark age, and not very much of its history is (or need be) told’. And for many years readers would need to be content with the tantalizing glimpses of it found within the pages of The Lord of the Rings and its appendices, including the forging of the Rings of Power, the building of the Barad-dûr and the rise of Sauron.
It was not until Christopher Tolkien published The Silmarillion after his father’s death that a fuller story could be told. Although much of the book’s content concerned the First Age of Middle-earth, there were at its close two key works that revealed the tumultuous events concerning the rise and fall of the island of Númenor. Raised out of the Great Sea and gifted to the Men of Middle-earth as a reward for aiding the angelic Valar and the Elves in the defeat and capture of the Dark Lord Morgoth, the kingdom became a seat of influence and wealth; but as the Númenóreans’ power increased, the seed of their downfall would inevitably be sown, culminating in the Last Alliance of Elves and Men.
Even greater insight into the Second Age would be revealed in subsequent publications, first in Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth, then expanded upon in Christopher Tolkien’s magisterial twelve-volume The History of Middle-earth, in which he presented and discussed a wealth of further tales written by his father, many in draft form.
Now, adhering to the timeline of ‘The Tale of Years’ in the appendices to The Lord of the Rings, editor Brian Sibley has assembled into one comprehensive volume a new chronicle of the Second Age of Middle-earth, told substantially in the words of J.R.R. Tolkien from the various published texts.
©2022 HarperCollinsPublishers (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers LtdYou may also enjoy...
-
The Children of Hurin
- Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Christopher Lee
- Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 280
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 245
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 244
There are tales of Middle-earth from times long before The Lord of the Rings. The story told in this book is set in the great country that lay beyond the Grey Havens in the West: lands where Treebeard once walked, but which were drowned in the great cataclysm that ended the First Age of the World.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Poorly organized
- By MistahMojoRyan on 2018-08-17
Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
-
Beren and Lúthien
- Written by: Christopher Tolkien, J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Timothy West, Samuel West
- Length: 6 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 80
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 64
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 64
Beren was a mortal man, but Lúthien was an immortal Elf. Her father, a great Elvish lord, was deeply opposed to Beren, and imposed on him an impossible task that he must perform before he might wed Lúthien. Undaunted by Lord Thingol’s challenge, Beren and Lúthien embark on the supremely heroic attempt to rob Morgoth, the greatest of all evil beings, of a Silmaril, one of the hallowed jewels that adorn the Black Enemy’s crown.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Good Text, Strange Format.
- By Anonymous User on 2020-11-03
Written by: Christopher Tolkien, and others
-
The Fall of Gondolin
- Written by: Christopher Tolkien, J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Timothy West, Samuel West
- Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 88
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 70
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 70
Gondolin, beautiful but undiscoverable, is central to the enmity of two of the greatest powers in the world. Morgoth of the uttermost evil seeks in vain to discover the marvellously hidden city of his Elven enemies, while the gods in Valinor refuse to support Ulmo Lord of Waters' designs to protect it. Into this world comes Tuor, cousin of Túrin, and guided unseen by Ulmo he sets out on the fearful journey to Gondolin to warn them of their coming doom.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent
- By Anonymous User on 2021-03-03
Written by: Christopher Tolkien, and others
-
The Silmarillion
- Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Martin Shaw
- Length: 14 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 868
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 730
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 730
The complete unabridged audiobook of J.R.R Tolkien's The Silmarillion. The Silmarillion is an account of the Elder Days, of the First Age of Tolkien’s world. It is the ancient drama to which the characters in The Lord of the Rings look back, and in whose events some of them such as Elrond and Galadriel took part.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
A truly epic tale, just not good as an audiobook
- By CullenJ on 2019-03-15
Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
-
Unfinished Tales
- Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien - editor
- Narrated by: Timothy West, Samuel West
- Length: 21 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 105
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 78
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 78
Unfinished Tales is a collection of narratives ranging in time from the Elder Days of Middle-earth to the end of the War of the Ring and provides those who have read The Lord of the Rings with a whole collection of background and new stories from the 20th century’s most acclaimed popular author.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Brilliant handling of complex material
- By Tihemme Gagnon on 2021-05-13
Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien, and others
-
Tales from the Perilous Realm
- Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Derek Jacobi
- Length: 7 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 36
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 33
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 33
Combined into one volume, this is the definitive collection of Tolkien's five acclaimed modern classic 'fairie' tales in the vein of The Hobbit, read by Derek Jacobi. The five tales are written with the same skill, quality and charm that made The Hobbit a classic. Largely overlooked because of their short lengths, they are joined here in one volume which reaffirms Tolkien's place as a master storyteller for listeners young and old.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
The short stories are great, however...
- By Linda in Nepean, Canada on 2023-08-01
Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
-
The Children of Hurin
- Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Christopher Lee
- Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 280
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 245
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 244
There are tales of Middle-earth from times long before The Lord of the Rings. The story told in this book is set in the great country that lay beyond the Grey Havens in the West: lands where Treebeard once walked, but which were drowned in the great cataclysm that ended the First Age of the World.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Poorly organized
- By MistahMojoRyan on 2018-08-17
Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
-
Beren and Lúthien
- Written by: Christopher Tolkien, J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Timothy West, Samuel West
- Length: 6 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 80
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 64
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 64
Beren was a mortal man, but Lúthien was an immortal Elf. Her father, a great Elvish lord, was deeply opposed to Beren, and imposed on him an impossible task that he must perform before he might wed Lúthien. Undaunted by Lord Thingol’s challenge, Beren and Lúthien embark on the supremely heroic attempt to rob Morgoth, the greatest of all evil beings, of a Silmaril, one of the hallowed jewels that adorn the Black Enemy’s crown.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Good Text, Strange Format.
- By Anonymous User on 2020-11-03
Written by: Christopher Tolkien, and others
-
The Fall of Gondolin
- Written by: Christopher Tolkien, J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Timothy West, Samuel West
- Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 88
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 70
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 70
Gondolin, beautiful but undiscoverable, is central to the enmity of two of the greatest powers in the world. Morgoth of the uttermost evil seeks in vain to discover the marvellously hidden city of his Elven enemies, while the gods in Valinor refuse to support Ulmo Lord of Waters' designs to protect it. Into this world comes Tuor, cousin of Túrin, and guided unseen by Ulmo he sets out on the fearful journey to Gondolin to warn them of their coming doom.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent
- By Anonymous User on 2021-03-03
Written by: Christopher Tolkien, and others
-
The Silmarillion
- Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Martin Shaw
- Length: 14 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 868
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 730
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 730
The complete unabridged audiobook of J.R.R Tolkien's The Silmarillion. The Silmarillion is an account of the Elder Days, of the First Age of Tolkien’s world. It is the ancient drama to which the characters in The Lord of the Rings look back, and in whose events some of them such as Elrond and Galadriel took part.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
A truly epic tale, just not good as an audiobook
- By CullenJ on 2019-03-15
Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
-
Unfinished Tales
- Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien - editor
- Narrated by: Timothy West, Samuel West
- Length: 21 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 105
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 78
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 78
Unfinished Tales is a collection of narratives ranging in time from the Elder Days of Middle-earth to the end of the War of the Ring and provides those who have read The Lord of the Rings with a whole collection of background and new stories from the 20th century’s most acclaimed popular author.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Brilliant handling of complex material
- By Tihemme Gagnon on 2021-05-13
Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien, and others
-
Tales from the Perilous Realm
- Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Derek Jacobi
- Length: 7 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 36
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 33
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 33
Combined into one volume, this is the definitive collection of Tolkien's five acclaimed modern classic 'fairie' tales in the vein of The Hobbit, read by Derek Jacobi. The five tales are written with the same skill, quality and charm that made The Hobbit a classic. Largely overlooked because of their short lengths, they are joined here in one volume which reaffirms Tolkien's place as a master storyteller for listeners young and old.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
The short stories are great, however...
- By Linda in Nepean, Canada on 2023-08-01
Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien
What the critics say
"How, given little over half a century of work, did one man become the creative equivalent of a people?" (The Guardian)
"Demanding to be compared with English mythologies…at times rises to the greatness of true myth." (Financial Times)
"A creation of singular beauty…magnificent in its best moments." (Washington Post)
What listeners say about The Fall of Númenor
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Mathew
- 2022-12-20
2nd Age Source Material
Excellent consolidation of all the bits of history of the 2nd age.
Too bad the writing team for the rings of power weren’t as attached to JRR and Christopher Tolkien’s work. They could have fleshed out the gaps to make an interesting series…
The story of Aldarion And Erendis is particularly poignant.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anastasia Beaverhausen
- 2023-01-29
Different ratings for different readers….
If you are a long standing Tolkien fan (like me) who has read all of the HoME books, the Silmarillion, The Hobbit, LOTR and appendixes, The Letters then this book will offer you nothing new. It’s a wonderful collection of the parts of all of those books that deal with Numenor and it‘s enjoyable, but again, nothing new - I give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you are a Tolkien fan looking to explore more of the History of Middle Earth this is a wonderful starting point. You get a concise introduction to the world through pieces that can easily be followed through to The LOTR. For these readers I would give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you are reading/listening to this because you love Amazon Prime‘s The Rings of Power series you will be sorely disappointed. Amazon strayed way, way off from what Tolkien actually wrote, keeping only the barest details. You will probably not like this if you are one of these fans.
Another note on Amazon’s series: I love the Tolkien legendarium and wish they would have kept more in line with the written history. If you can think of what Amazon has done as something wholly separate then it’s not too bad. Nonetheless, while they did a good job of presenting a Middle Earth themed story it’s nothing like the true history and I’m just glad Christopher Tolkien is not around to see it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Langer MD
- 2023-03-21
Encyclopedic Legendarium. Buy The Text Version
This book is a largely academic work aimed at fans who are *obsessed* with Tolkien's Middle Earth. Editor Brian Sibley exhibits Autistic-level geeky punctiliousness: recording every conceivable mention of the Númenoreans that he can mine from the poems, texts, and letters of J.R.R. Tolkien (or his son Christopher) over the course of a century. The book is festooned with footnotes and page references - essentially making it into a desk reference.
The narration from the duo of Brian Sibley and Samuel West is professional and clear.. but includes annoying mid-sentence shifts (Sibley: "And Tolkien wrote:.." West: ".."Aldarion traveled to Eregion".." Sibley: "..see 'Unfinished Tales' Chapter 7, Page 442.." etc). It wouldn't be terrible, except the sound settings for each reader are glaringly different - it sounds like Harper Collins Audio engineers just spliced segments together without any attempt to match them. Oh.. and DO NOT LISTEN THROUGH EARBUDS (the volume leveling is likewise non-existent).
Given the quite dry material and lazy quality standards, I can only rate this audiobook version of 'The Fall Of Númenor' 6.5 stars out of 10. If you are dead set on having this otherwise outstanding Middle Earth Lore book in your library.. obtain a paper or eBook copy.
[Incidentally: At one point, I actually said out loud: "OMG!! WHO CARES IF ONE SOURCE SAYS A *FICTIONAL* KING DIED IN 3175 AND ANOTHER SAYS 3177!?!". That there is an ensuing five minute discussion of the discrepancy is mindblowing. These überfans take themselves waaaaaaay too seriously]
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!