The Children of Hurin: J.R.R. Tolkien
The Children of Hurin is comign out very soon. April, 17 in fact! I cannot wait to read this epic by Tolkien. It takes place before the War of the Ring. The shortened version in the Sil was great. Alan lee is also doing the cover and some illustration so it will be all worth it. For anyone familiar with the story, having read the Silmarilion, itll be great I trust. For anyone who doesnt know:
It's not really that big a deal.
The "shortened version" which you speak of, that which appeared in The Silmarillion, is rightly summed up as a condensed and simplified form of the legend. This was more fully given in Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth, save for some parts which were left dubious due to innumerable competing forms.
The form to be published in April is likely much the same as that given in UT, plus a unification of the parts of the legend which were there left dubious, (e.g., Túrin's time amongst the Outlaws at Amon Rûdh).