Today “The Story of Kullervo”, an unfinished novel written by J.R.R. Tolkien when he was an undergraduate at Oxford University, will be published in Britain. Based on “The Kalevala”, a Finnish epic poem, it had previously only been published in an academic journal. Now the work, which Tolkien described as the “germ” of his later books, will have a far wider audience. It is the latest example of publishers’ enthusiasm for releasing early works by much-loved authors. “Go Set a Watchman”, a previously unpublished novel by Harper Lee, has topped bestseller lists in America since its release five weeks ago. But some question the merit of releasing juvenilia or early drafts. Reviewers have picked over “Go Set a Watchman”. And readers who devoured “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” may be disappointed; Tolkien’s journey from “Kullervo” to Middle-earth was a long and difficult one.