Beren and Lúthien is the title of J.R.R. Tolkien’s posthumously published book about the love story of Beren and Lúthien. Christopher Tolkien edited and published the volume in 2017, with illustrations by Alan Lee.
The book does not present one newly written, continuous novel. Instead, it traces the evolution of the story through versions Tolkien wrote at different times, including prose passages, poetry, and material connected with The Silmarillion.
The central tale follows Beren, a mortal Man, and Lúthien, an immortal Elf. Their quest to recover a Silmaril from Morgoth is one of the great legends of Tolkien’s First Age. The story also explores the tension between mortality, immortality, love, and sacrifice.
Christopher Tolkien’s editorial arrangement allows readers to compare changing versions of the legend. This makes the book both a narrative and a record of Tolkien’s creative process. It differs from The Silmarillion, which presents a more unified edited account.