Silmarillion, the

The tales of ''The Silmarillion'' were the underlying inspiration and source of J.R.R. Tolkien's imaginative writing; he worked on the book throughout his life, but never brought it to a final form. Long preceding in its origins ''The Lord of the Rings,'' it is the story of the First Age of Tolkien's world, the ancient drama to which characters in ''The Lord of the Rings'' looks back, and in which some of them, such as Elrond and Galadriel, took part. The title Silmarillion is shortened from Quenta Silamarillion, ''The History of the Silmarils'', the three great jewels created by Fëanor, most gifted of the Elves, in which he imprisoned the light of the Two Trees that illuminated Valinor, the land of the gods. ''The Silmarillion'' is the history of the rebellion of Fëanor and his people against the gods, their exile in Middle-earth, and their war, hopeless despite all the heroism of Elves and Men, against the great Enemy.