The provided text consists of excerpts and commentary from J. R. R. Tolkien's The Book of Lost Tales, Part 2, illustrating the early and evolving narratives that would later form the basis of The Silmarillion. The book includes original tales like "The Tale of Tinúviel" (an early version of Beren and Lúthien) and "The Fall of Gondolin," often presented in the format of stories told to a character named Eriol (or later, Ælfwine). Extensive commentary analyzes the complicated manuscript history, charting the significant changes in names (Tinwelint/Thingol, Gwendeling/Melian), character roles (such as Bnomes vs. Men), and geographical concepts (Artanor/Doriath, Hisilómë/Hithlum) across different textual versions. The book serves as a historical record of Tolkien's mythopoeic development, contrasting the original, more elaborate early prose with the later, compressed versions of the legends.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.