The Cottage of Lost Play (chapter)

The Cottage of Lost Play is the name of the first chapter of The Book of Lost Tales Part One, which is the first volume of The History of Middle-earth. It contains a text that was entitled "The Cottage of Lost Play, which introduceth Book of Lost Tales".

J.R.R. Tolkien first wrote the text around 1917 - it is about the coming of a semi-invented character named Eriol, a mariner, from England to Tol Eressëa and to the Cottage of Lost Play.

The chapter that follows is "The Music of the Ainur".

Chapter synopsis
Eriol, whose actual name is Ælfwine, arrives in his errant sea farings at the Lonely Island, or Tol Eressëa. Finding a place to acquaint with others and stay, the Cottage of Lost Play in the town of Kortirion catches his eye, and he is let in at the door. Its kind owners are Lindo and his wife Vairë. Eriol learns of the daily customs of the Cottage, and of Tombo, the gong owned by Ilverin used to summon the children. He is given much hospitality by the couple through the evening, and as they feast he learns from Lindo of the founding of Kortirion, and from Vairë of the Cottage and its purpose.

Editor's commentary
Following the text are notes and commentary by Christopher Tolkien concerning the names that were changed by his father, other references to the Cottage elsewhere, the poem it originated from (named You & Me and the Cottage of Lost Play - all versions are written out), and the origin and context of the story of Eriol.

He also explains, at the end, the synonymy of the term Gnomes and Noldor.