Before the Fellowship set out on their quest to save Middle-earth, before Bilbo Baggins stumbled in the dark and found a magical golden ring, and before Eru Ilúvatar created Arda, there was THE STORY OF KULLERVO. And buried deep within the roots of this tale lay the foundations for Túrin Turambar and the vast stories and themes that would open up the world of Middle-earth to readers years later.

Between 1912 and 1915, then-poet J.R.R. Tolkien had become enamored of the Finnish epic Kalevala, of which the Kullervo Cycle is a part. A dark tale befitting the time in which Tolkien found himself with England embroiled in World War I and he himself on the cusp of heading into the conflict, the young undergraduate found his interest drifting to prose, and Kullervo seemed the best place for him to begin to turn the dark epic poem into a short story.

"Those who have examined Tolkien's academic life and interests will find it to be a vital addition to the growing collection of work that highlights the larger collection of work outside of his Middle-earth."

And THE STORY OF KULLERVO is dark. It is the tale of a young boy whose father is killed by his brother, the magician Untamo, who then takes possession of his widow and four children. Raised in the home of this murderous villain, Kullervo survives three attempts on his own life by his master. He is broken and alone, and it is only the love of his twin sister, Wanona, that keeps him going and the protection of his dog Musti that keeps him alive. Kullervo is eventually sold into slavery to a smithy, whose wife abuses Kullervo repeatedly. The boy swears vengeance upon the man who has destroyed his life and family. Kullervo is brooding, angry and violent; given his life, it seems only natural. Yet, in his quest for revenge, he finds a tragedy deeper than any he could have expected.

Tolkien's original version of this tale was left incomplete, but editor Verlyn Flieger presents the nearly two-thirds-complete tale here, along with Tolkien's draft synopses and lecture on the Kalevala, and Flieger’s own essay, “Tolkien, Kalevala, and The Story of Kullervo,” which help make this much more than a simple unearthing of a lost tale. It is a glimpse into a young man's first attempts at myth-making, one that would lay the foundations of his own grand fantasies. It is also a more scholarly look at the work, as well as its inspiration.

THE STORY OF KULLERVO can certainly be enjoyed by anyone interested in fantasy works, but in truth, this book is mainly intended for serious fans of Tolkien, in particular those who are keen on exploring the beginning of what would grow into the Tolkien Legendarium. Those who have examined Tolkien's academic life and interests will find it to be a vital addition to the growing collection of work that highlights the larger collection of work outside of his Middle-earth.