Douglas Charles Kane’s “Arda Reconstucted: The Creation of the Published Simarillion”

[jallanite]

This is a book which ought to be considered by those interested in this thread.

The book is Arda Reconstructed: The Creation of the Published Silmarillion. It is published by Bethlehem: Lehigh University Press, 2009.

The book largely duplicates this group of threads, providing the details which might be used to create a superior version of the Silmarillion. It resembles more closely Lindil’s idea of a book that contains a commentary on all passages from Tolkien’s writing that connect to the Silmarillion.

After a short introduction, Kane introduces a chapter corresponding to a chapter on the Silmarillion. Each of the chapters mostly contains a table containing the Silmarillion chapter or chapters broken down into individual paragraphs, the words that begins each section, the page number where the section begins, the primary source for that section, and secondary sources for that section where they exist.

For examples, the first listing in the first table, using “ ¦ ” to mark column spacing, is:

1 ¦ “It is told among…” ¦ 35 ¦ §31 of version D of the Ainulindalë ¦ AAm §13: “Arda was filled with the sound of his laughter” and “Melkor fled before his wrath and his laughter, and forsook Arda”

Kane then, in the associated chapter, comments on the text of Christopher Tolkien’s text as compared to the arguably more genuine texts. Kane does not usually use material from the first three books of the HOME series and usually gives precedence to Tolkien’s latest writings on any matter, although not always.

Kane finds that Christopher Tolkien’s work is mostly justifiable, but sometimes is not. Christopher Tolkien often omits what Kane feels should have been included. In particular, Christopher Tolkien and Guy Kay often reduce the role of females in the work. Kane suggests a coherent account of the Nauglamir (Neclace of the Dwarves) that does not include the inventions of Christopher Tolkien and Guy Kay. Kane also believes that most of the Second Prophecy of Mandos should be included, that Tolkien only intended part of it should be removed.

For references to Kane’s work, see:

http://www.amazon.com/Arda-Reconstru.../dp/0980149630 (check reviews),

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Arda-Reconst.../dp/1611460565 (check review),

http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2011/...-charles-kane/ (interview),

http://themidhavens.net/heretic_lore...reconstructed/ (review),

http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/press/...onstructed.php (review).

This book is almost essential for this project as almost all of the research work has been done, and has been done well.

[Findegil]

Thank you for pionting us to this book, but as you can see in the thread "Have you read or the intention to read Arda Reconstructed" we are already aware of it.

It is true that it is a very helpful book for those still interested in this project, but it does not really provide one with additional sources that should be considered.

Respectfuly
Findegil

[jallanite]

Originally Posted by Findegil

It is true that it is a very helpful book for those still interested in this project, but it does not really provide one with additional sources that should be considered.

I never claimed that the book provided any additional sources.

Nor should it.

What it does do is organize material so that it is more easily found rather than by searching through thread after thread and book after book of the HOME series and other books edited by Christopher Tolkien. And it does so accurately and (at least mostly) completely for the material it covers, the later material.

[Galin]

(...) Christopher Tolkien often omits what Kane feels should have been included. In particular, Christopher Tolkien and Guy Kay often reduce the role of females in the work.

And as for the claim that CJRT reduced the role of females... I further suggest this discussion (especially that between Doug Kane and Carl Hostetter [Voronwe and Aelfwine]):

http://www.thehalloffire.net/forum/v...t=2184&start=0

[jallanite]

Originally Posted by Galin

And as for the claim that CJRT reduced the role of females... I further suggest this discussion (especially that between Doug Kane and Carl Hostetter [Voronwe and Aelfwine]):

http://www.thehalloffire.net/forum/v...t=2184&start=0

I don’t see that that thread helps at all. I see that my own statement is actually somewhat weaker than what Kane claims.

I doubt that Christopher Tolkien and Guy Kay consciously decided to reduce female rolls and Kane never claims they did.

[Galin]

Originally Posted by jallanite

I don’t see that that thread helps at all. I see that my own statement is actually somewhat weaker than what Kane claims.

Well I do think the thread helps in explaining what you've simplified here (however purposely, for brevity no doubt) in but one sentence.

I doubt that Christopher Tolkien and Guy Kay consciously decided to reduce female rolls and Kane never claims they did.

I don't believe that anyone in any way decided to reduce female roles specifically, and the point in the thread is not whether or not Doug Kane explicitly claims so, but his choice of presentation in raising this issue. Even possibly raising the question of misogyny is serious stuff in my opinion, so how one presents the matter, specifically, is important.