The Silmarillion was the first major posthumously published book edited by Christopher Tolkien from J.R.R. Tolkien’s mythology.
J.R.R. Tolkien died in 1973, leaving behind many versions of stories about the creation of the world, the Valar, the Elves and the wars against Morgoth. Christopher Tolkien organized and edited these materials into The Silmarillion, published in 1977.
The book opens with the Ainulindalë, a creation account, and continues through the history of Arda. Its central section, the Quenta Silmarillion, recounts the struggle over the three Silmarils and includes stories such as those of Beren and Lúthien and Túrin Turambar.
The Silmarillion is not a conventional novel written in one final form. It is a carefully assembled work based on drafts from different periods. Later publications, including Unfinished Tales and The History of Middle-earth, reveal more of the underlying manuscript history.