About the book
Unavailable for more than seventy years, this early but important work is published for the first time with Tolkien’s \"Corrigan\" poems and other supporting material, including a prefatory note by Christopher Tolkien.
Set ‘In Britain’s land beyond the seas’ during the Age of Chivalry, The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun tells of a childless Breton Lord and Lady (the ‘Aotrou’ and ‘Itroun’ of the title) and the tragedy that befalls them when Aotrou seeks to remedy their situation with the aid of a magic potion obtained from a corrigan, or malevolent fairy. When the potion succeeds and Itroun bears twins, the corrigan returns seeking her fee, and Aotrou is forced to choose between betraying his marriage and losing his life.
Coming from the darker side of J.R.R. Tolkien’s imagination, The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun, together with the two shorter ‘Corrigan’ poems (which lead up to it and are also included in this volume), were the outcome of a comparatively short but intense period in Tolkien's life when he was deeply engaged with Celtic, and particularly Breton, myth and legend.
Originally written in 1930 and long out of print, this early but seminal work is an important addition to the non-Middle-earth portion of his canon and should be set alongside The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún, The Fall of Arthur and The Story of Kullervo. Like these works, it belongs to a small but important corpus of his ventures into ‘real-world’ mythologies, each of which in its own way would be a formative influence on his own legendarium.
Edited with notes and commentary by Verlyn Flieger and a prefatory note on the text by Christopher Tolkien.
Editions of Lay Of Aotrou And Itroun
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781328557520
- EBook
- ISBN 9781328834515
Read an Excerpt
Unavailable for more than seventy years, this early but important work is published for the first time with Tolkien’s \"Corrigan\" poems and other supporting material, including a prefatory note by Christopher Tolkien.
Set ‘In Britain’s land beyond the seas’ during the Age of Chivalry, The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun tells of a childless Breton Lord and Lady (the ‘Aotrou’ and ‘Itroun’ of the title) and the tragedy that befalls them when Aotrou seeks to remedy their situation with the aid of a magic potion obtained from a corrigan, or malevolent fairy. When the potion succeeds and Itroun bears twins, the corrigan returns seeking her fee, and Aotrou is forced to choose between betraying his marriage and losing his life.
Coming from the darker side of J.R.R. Tolkien’s imagination, The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun, together with the two shorter ‘Corrigan’ poems (which lead up to it and are also included in this volume), were the outcome of a comparatively short but intense period in Tolkien's life when he was deeply engaged with Celtic, and particularly Breton, myth and legend.
Originally written in 1930 and long out of print, this early but seminal work is an important addition to the non-Middle-earth portion of his canon and should be set alongside The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún, The Fall of Arthur and The Story of Kullervo. Like these works, it belongs to a small but important corpus of his ventures into ‘real-world’ mythologies, each of which in its own way would be a formative influence on his own legendarium.
Edited with notes and commentary by Verlyn Flieger and a prefatory note on the text by Christopher Tolkien.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lay Of Aotrou And Itroun about?
Unavailable for more than seventy years, this early but important work is published for the first time with Tolkien’s \"Corrigan\" poems and other supporting material, including a prefatory note by Christopher Tolkien.
Set ‘In Britain’s land beyond the seas’ during the Age of Chivalry, The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun tells of a childless Breton Lord and Lady (the ‘Aotrou’ and ‘Itroun’ of the title) and the tragedy that befalls them when Aotrou seeks to remedy their situation with the aid of a magic potion obtained from a corrigan, or malevolent fairy. When the potion succeeds and Itroun bears twins, the corrigan returns seeking her fee, and Aotrou is forced to choose between betraying his marriage and losing his life.
Coming from the darker side of J.R.R. Tolkien’s imagination, The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun, together with the two shorter ‘Corrigan’ poems (which lead up to it and are also included in this volume), were the outcome of a comparatively short but intense period in Tolkien's life when he was deeply engaged with Celtic, and particularly Breton, myth and legend.
Originally written in 1930 and long out of print, this early but seminal work is an important addition to the non-Middle-earth portion of his canon and should be set alongside The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún, The Fall of Arthur and The Story of Kullervo. Like these works, it belongs to a small but important corpus of his ventures into ‘real-world’ mythologies, each of which in its own way would be a formative influence on his own legendarium.
Edited with notes and commentary by Verlyn Flieger and a prefatory note on the text by Christopher Tolkien.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Lay Of Aotrou And Itroun?
Fiction > Traditional or cultural fiction and true stories, tales and retellings
Where can I read a sample of Lay Of Aotrou And Itroun?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781328557520
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Lay Of Aotrou And Itroun?
J.R.R. Tolkien, Verlyn Flieger
Who is the Publisher of the book Lay Of Aotrou And Itroun?
HarperCollins
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Lay Of Aotrou And Itroun is available as paperback(ISBN 9781328557520) and ebook(ISBN 9781328834515)
Where can I buy Lay Of Aotrou And Itroun online or support local independent bookshops?
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