The Children of Hurin by J. R. R. Tolkien. Short summary

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Hurin refused to give Morgoth the location of the city of Gondolin. For this the magician cursed the hero’s wife and children. Turin brings death to everyone he loves. He marries his sister. She throws herself from a cliff. Turin commits suicide.

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The elven kingdoms are dying. The invisible city of Gondolin remains. Morgoth demands that the human leader Hurin give up the city’s location. He refuses. Morgoth casts a spell on Hurin’s family.

His young son Turin has left home after the death of his sister Urwen. He was raised in the Enchanted Kingdom by Thingol. In his search for Morgoth, the grown-up warrior Turin experiences many adventures. He visited the fortress of Nargothrond and the elven kingdom of Noldor.

In the forest of Bretil he meets his sister Nienor. The dragon Glaurung’s spell caused her to lose her memory, and Turin himself was too young when he fled from his father’s home not to recognize her. Not knowing that she is a blood relative, Turin falls in love with the girl. They marry.

Turin defeats the dragon in battle. The spell of Glaurung breaks, and Nienor recognises her own brother in her husband. In despair, she throws herself from the cliff. On hearing of this, Turin stabs himself to death with a sword. Morwen’s mother comes to their grave, and there she dies of grief.