"...Beren was a mortal man, but L?thien was an immortal elf. Her father, a great elvish lord, in deep opposition to Beren, imposed on him an impossible task that he must perform before he might wed L?thien. This is the kernel of the legend; and it leads to the supremely heroic attempt of Beren and L?thien together to rob the greatest of all evil beings, Melkor, called Morgoth, the Black Enemy, of a Silmaril"--Jacket flap.