THE FALL OF ARTHUR

The Fall of Arthur is an unfinished poem by J.R.R. Tolkien, retrieved from his archives by his son Christopher. It tells the story of legendary King Arthur’s last campaign, during which, while on the outskirts of the forest of Mirkwood, he is forced to return to Britain when he learns of the treachery of his son, Mordred. Already wounded by the infidelity of his wife Guinevere with the now exiled first knight Lancelot, Arthur rallies the knights loyal to him for the final battle against the rebel Mordred and his foreign mercenaries.

Full of power, passion and vivid imagery, the poem highlights the unique narrative gift of the great J.R.R. Tolkien. Included are three informative essays by Christopher Tolkien, exploring the literary universe of King Arthur’s stories, revealing the deeper meaning of the verses and tracing the special relationship between Arthur’s Fall and the author’s crowning creation, the Silmarillion.

The Greek translation uses the iambic fifteen-syllable system. The translated poem coexists with the original so that, together with the translator’s footnotes, the reader can better understand the legend that has been captivating the public’s imagination for centuries.