The Silmarillion was J.R.R. Tolkien’s 1977 posthumous book about the First Age, edited by Christopher Tolkien.
The book presents a wide-ranging account of Tolkien’s mythology, beginning with creation and continuing through the history of Arda. Its central sections describe the Silmarils, the jewels made by Fëanor, and the wars against Morgoth, the first Dark Lord. It also includes material about the Elves, Men, Valar, and the shaping of the world.
J.R.R. Tolkien had worked on related stories for decades but did not leave a final, unified manuscript ready for publication. Christopher Tolkien therefore assembled the published text from multiple versions and notes, making editorial choices about arrangement and consistency.
The title is sometimes confused with The Children of Húrin, which Christopher Tolkien later edited as a standalone book from one major First Age story. The Silmarillion is broader: it is a mythology and history collection rather than a single continuous quest narrative like The Hobbit.