Finn and Hengest

J. R. R. Tolkien

Overview

This volume assembles Tolkien’s detailed lecture notes on two intertwined Old English fragments: the Battle of Finnsburg and the story of Hengest, the semi-legendary Jutish leader. Working from scant textual clues, Tolkien reconstructs the historical and linguistic background of 5th-century Frisian-Franish conflicts. The commentary reveals how he extracted narrative sense from place-names, personal names, and poetic kennings. Readers witness his method of blending philology with creative reconstruction long before Middle-earth emerged. The result is a scholarly detective story that illuminates both the poem and the scholar.

Who it's for

• Students of Old English language and metre
• Tolkien fans curious about his academic roots
• Historians exploring early medieval Britain and Frisia

Key features

• Language: English
• Based on Tolkien’s Oxford lectures, edited by Alan Bliss
• Includes reconstructed texts and line-by-line commentary