The SilmarillionThe Silmarillion
Score Classic
What it's about
The Silmarillion tells of the Elder Days, the First Age of Tolkien's world: the creation of the world, the rise of Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, and the long war of the High Elves to recover the Silmarils, jewels holding the light of the Two Trees of Valinor. It's the ancient history that the characters of The Lord of the Rings look back on.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 23 weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and was one of the ten best-selling books of 1977. It's the foundation of Tolkien's mythology.
You'll love it if you liked
The Lord of the Rings
The Hobbit
The Children of HurinGood to know
It reads more like mythology than a novel, with many names. The early chapters are the hardest; it gets easier.
By the numbers
- Readers51 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller81 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #129 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #280 of the 762 classics we rank
- #898 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Epic
More by J. R. R. Tolkien
The Lord of the RingsThe HobbitThe Children of HurinIf you like this, read next
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Hyperion
The Godfather
The Pillars of the Earth
The Dispossessed
A Tree Grows in BrooklynExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Silmarillion worth reading?
Yes. It spent 23 weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and was one of the ten best-selling books of 1977. It ranks #898 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 74.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Silmarillion about?
The Silmarillion tells of the Elder Days, the First Age of Tolkien's world: the creation of the world, the rise of Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, and the long war of the High Elves to recover the Silmarils, jewels holding the light of the Two Trees of Valinor. It's the ancient history that the characters of The Lord of the Rings look back on.
How long does it take to read The Silmarillion?
About 12 hours (481 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Silmarillion?
If you liked it, try The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien or The Children of Hurin by J. R. R. Tolkien.