cartas de tolkien.doc

8/10/2019 cartas de tolkien.doc

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THE LETTERS OF J. R. R. TOLKIEN

A selection edited byHumphrey Carpenter

with the assistance of

Christopher Tolkien

LondonEORE !LLEN " #N$IN

%oston Sydney

& To Edith %ratt............................................................................................................................&'( From a letter to Edith %ratt () No*em+er &,&-.......................................................................&& From a letter to Edith %ratt (/ No*em+er &,&0.......................................................................&(- From a letter to Edith %ratt ( 1ar2h &,&/...............................................................................&0 To . %. Smith..........................................................................................................................&-

/ To 1rs E. 1. $ri3ht.................................................................................................................&/) To the Ele2tors o4 the Ra5linson and %os5orth 6ro4essorship o4 !n3lo7Sa8on9 #ni*ersity o4O84ord................................................................................................................................................&)

: From a letter to the ;i2e Chan2ellor o4 Leeds #ni*ersity........................................................&,, To Susan


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-' From a letter to 1i2hael Tolkien / O2to+er &,-'...............................................................0/-& From a letter to 1i2hael Tolkien ( January &,-&................................................................0)-( To 1i2hael Tolkien.................................................................................................................0:- From a letter to 1i2hael Tolkien /7: 1ar2h &,-&..................................................................0,-- From a letter to 1i2hael Tolkien &: 1ar2h &,-&................................................................/-0 To 1i2hael Tolkien................................................................................................................./-

-/ From a dra4t to R. $. Chapman (/ No*em+er &,-&..............................................................//-) To Stanley #n5in.................................................................................................................../:-: To C. S. Le5is........................................................................................................................./,-, To C. S. Le5is ?dra4t@.............................................................................................................)'0' From a letter to Christopher Tolkien (0 O2to+er &,-...........................................................)(0& From a letter to Christopher Tolkien () O2to+er &,-...........................................................)0( From a letter to Christopher Tolkien (, No*em+er &,-.......................................................)-0 To Christopher Tolkien (' Northmoor Road9 O84ord............................................................)00- From a letter to Christopher Tolkien : January &,--..........................................................)/00 To Christopher Tolkien...........................................................................................................))0/ From a letter to Christopher Tolkien & 1ar2h &,-- ?FS /@....................................................):

0) From an air3raph to Christopher Tolkien ' 1ar2h &,-- ?FS &(@.........................................),0: To Christopher Tolkien...........................................................................................................:'0, From an air3raph to Christopher Tolkien 0 !pril &,-- ?FS &-@.............................................:&/' To Christopher Tolkien ?air3raph@..........................................................................................:(/& From a letter to Christopher Tolkien &: !pril &,-- ?FS &)@..................................................:/( From an air3raph to Christopher Tolkien ( !pril &,-- ?FS &:@........................................:0/ To Christopher Tolkien...........................................................................................................://- To Christopher Tolkien (' Northmoor Road9 O84ord............................................................:)/0 From an air3raph to Christopher Tolkien - 1ay &,-- ?FS (&@..............................................:,// From a letter to Christopher Tolkien / 1ay &,-- ?FS ((@.....................................................,'/) From an air3raph to Christopher Tolkien && 1ay &,-- ?FS (@............................................,&/: From an air3raph to Christopher Tolkien &( 1ay &,-- ?FS (-@............................................,(/, To Christopher Tolkien...........................................................................................................,)' To Christopher Tolkien (' Northmoor Road9 O84ord............................................................,-)& To Christopher Tolkien ?air3raph@..........................................................................................,0)( To Christopher Tolkien (' Northmoor Road9 O84ord............................................................,/) From a letter to Christopher Tolkien &' June &,-- ?FS '@...................................................,))- From a letter to Stanley #n5in (, June &,--........................................................................,:)0 To Christopher Tolkien...........................................................................................................,,)/ From a letter to Christopher Tolkien (: July &,-- ?FS ,@..................................................&'')) From a letter to Christopher Tolkien & July &,-- ?FS -&@..................................................&'&

): From a letter to Christopher Tolkien &( !u3ust &,-- ?FS -@.............................................&'(), From a letter to Christopher Tolkien (( !u3ust &,-- ?FS -0@.............................................&':' From an air3raph to Christopher Tolkien.............................................................................&'-:& To Christopher Tolkien.........................................................................................................&'0:( From an air3raph to Christopher Tolkien.............................................................................&'): From a letter to Christopher Tolkien / O2to+er &,-- ?FS 0-@..............................................&'::- From an air3raph to Christopher Tolkien..............................................................................&&':0 From an air3raph to Christopher Tolkien..............................................................................&&&:/ From a letter to Christopher Tolkien ( O2to+er &,-- ?FS 0)@............................................&&(:) To Christopher Tolkien.........................................................................................................&&:: From a letter to Christopher Tolkien (: O2to+er &,-- ?FS 0:@............................................&&-

:, To Christopher Tolkien.........................................................................................................&&0,' To Christopher Tolkien.........................................................................................................&&:,& To Christopher Tolkien (' Northmoor Road9 O84ord...........................................................&&,


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,( From a letter to Christopher Tolkien &:


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&-- To Naomi 1it2hison...........................................................................................................&,&-0 From a letter to Rayner #n5in & 1ay &,0-.....................................................................&,:&-/ From a letter to !llen " #n5in June &,0-.....................................................................&,,&-) From a letter to !llen " #n5in &0 June &,0-...................................................................(''&-: From a letter to Katherine Farrer ) !u3ust &,0-................................................................('&&-, From a letter to Rayner #n5in , Septem+er &,0-.............................................................('(

&0' From a letter to !llen " #n5in &: Septem+er &,0-..........................................................('&0& From a letter to Hu3h %ro3an &: Septem+er &,0-.............................................................('-&0( From a letter to Rayner Heppenstall9 %%C (( Septem+er &,0-.........................................('0&0 To 6eter Hastin3s ?dra4t@.....................................................................................................('/&0- To Naomi 1it2hison...........................................................................................................(&(&00 To Naomi 1it2hison ?dra4t@................................................................................................(&0&0/ To Ro+ert 1urray9 SJ. ?dra4t@..............................................................................................(&/&0) From a letter to Katherine Farrer () No*em+er &,0-........................................................((&&0: From a letter to Rayner #n5in (


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&,/ From a letter to Katherine Fairer (& 1ar2h &,0)...............................................................()-&,) From a letter to Rayner #n5in , 1ay &,0).......................................................................()0&,: From a letter to Rayner #n5in &, June &,0).....................................................................()/&,, From a letter to Caroline E*erett (- June &,0)..................................................................())('' From a letter to 1aor R. %o5en (0 June &,0).................................................................(),('& From a letter to Rayner #n5in ) Septem+er &,0).............................................................(:'

('( From a letter to Christopher and Faith Tolkien...................................................................(:&(' From a letter to Her+ert S2hiro &) No*em+er &,0)...........................................................(:(('- From a letter to Rayner #n5in )


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(-: To Sir Stanley #n5in..........................................................................................................0(-, From a letter to 1i2hael eor3e Tolkien &/ O2to+er &,/................................................0-(0' To 1i2hael Tolkien )/ Sand4ield Road9 Headin3ton9 O84ord............................................00(0& To 6ris2illa Tolkien.............................................................................................................0:(0( From a letter to 1i2hael Tolkien ?dra4t@.............................................................................0,(0 From a letter to Rayner #n5in (


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'' From a letter to $alter Hooper (' Fe+ruary &,/:..............................................................-&:'& From a letter to


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0( From a letter to #n34r !alsteinsdottir 0 June &,)........................................................-))0 From a letter to Lord Hals+ury - !u3ust &,)...................................................................-):0- To 6ris2illa Tolkien.............................................................................................................-),

Introdu2tion

To5ards the end o4 his li4e9 J. R. R. Tolkien 5as depri*ed 4or a 4e5 5eeks o4 the use o4 his ri3htarm. He told his pu+lisher =I 4ound not +ein3 a+le to use a pen or pen2il as de4eatin3 as the loss o4her +eak 5ould +e to a hen.=

!n immense amount o4 Tolkien=s time 5as taken up 5ith the 5ritten 5ord not ust hisa2ademi2 5ork and the stories o4 =1iddle7earth=9 +ut also letters. 1any o4 these had to +e 5ritten inthe 5ay o4 +usiness9 +ut in any 2ase letter75ritin3 5as on most o22asions a 4a*ourite a2ti*ity 5ithhim. The 2onseMuen2e is that an immense num+er o4 letters +y Tolkien sur*i*eD and 5hen9 5ith thehelp o4 Christopher Tolkien9 I +e3an 5ork on this sele2tion9 it +e2ame o+*ious that an enormousMuantity o4 material 5ould ha*e to +e omitted9 and that only passa3es o4 parti2ular interest 2ould +ein2luded. Naturally9 priority has +een 3i*en to those letters 5here Tolkien dis2usses his o5n +ooksD

+ut the sele2tion has also +een made 5ith an eye to demonstratin3 the hu3e ran3e o4 Tolkien=s mind

and interests9 and his idiosyn2rati2 +ut al5ays 2lear *ie5 o4 the 5orld.!mon3 the omissions is the *ery lar3e +ody o4 letters he 5rote +et5een &,& and &,&: to Edith

%ratt9 5ho 5as his 4ian2e and then his 5i4eD these are hi3hly personal in 2hara2ter9 and 4rom them Iha*e 2hosen only a 4e5 passa3es 5hi2h re4er to 5ritin3s in 5hi2h Tolkien 5as en3a3ed at the time.%et5een &,&: and &,) 4e5 letters sur*i*e9 and su2h as ha*e +een preser*ed re2ord ?un4ortunately@nothin3 a+out Tolkien=s 5ork on The Silmarillion and The Hobbit,5hi2h he 5as 5ritin3 at thistime. %ut 4rom &,) on5ards there is an un+roken series o4 letters to the end o4 his li4e9 3i*in39o4ten in 3reat detail9 an a22ount o4 the 5ritin3 o4 The Lord of the Rings,and o4 later 5ork on TheSilmarillion,and o4ten in2ludin3 len3thy dis2ussions o4 the meanin3 o4 his 5ritin3s.

$ithin the letters 2hosen 4or pu+li2ation9 all passa3es omitted ha*e +een indi2ated +y a ro5 o4fourdots9 thus.... In 2ases 5here threedots appear9 this is the usa3e employed +y Tolkien himsel4 inthe letter. In almost all 2ases9 omissions ha*e +een made simply 4or reasons o4 spa2e9 and only *eryrarely has it +een ne2essary to lea*e a passa3e out o4 a letter 4or reasons o4 dis2retion.

Tolkien=s ori3inal te8t has +een le4t unaltered e82ept in the 2ase o4 the address and date9 5hi2hha*e +een 3i*en a22ordin3 to the same system throu3hout the +ook. and in the matter o4 titles o4Tolkien=s +ooks. He himsel4 employed a num+er o4 di44erent systems 4or 3i*in3 titles 4or instan2e9the Hobbit,the =Ho++it=9 The Hobbit, the Hobbit, The Hobbit!so also 5ith The Lord of the Rings"In 3eneral9 editorial pra2ti2e has +een to re3ularise these titles a22ordin3 to the usual system9 thou3hthe ori3inal 4orm has +een le4t 5here it is o4 interest.

Some letters are printed 4rom 2ar+on 2opies kept +y TolkienD he only +e3an to make 2ar+ons o4his letters to5ards the end o4 his li4e9 and this e8plains 5hy there is no tra2e o4 earlier letters unless

the ori3inals themsel*es 2an +e dis2o*ered. Other letters in the +ook are printed 4rom a dra4t ordra4ts 5hi2h di44er 4rom the te8t that he a2tually sent ?i4 he sent one at all@9 and in 2ertain instan2es a2ontinuous te8t has +een assem+led 4rom se*eral 4ra3ments o4 dra4ts in 2ases 5here this has +eendone9 the letter is headed =


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indi2ated +y a superior numeral in the te8t. Notes are num+ered 2onse2uti*ely throu3hout ea2hletter9 and are identi4ied letter +y letter ?rather than pa3e +y pa3e@ at the +a2k o4 the +ook. The notesha*e +een 2ompiled a22ordin3 to the prin2iple o4 pro*idin3 su2h in4ormation as is ne2essary 4or2omprehension9 +ut the aim has +een +re*ity9 too9 and it is assumed that the reader 5ill ha*e a 4airlythorou3h kno5led3e o4 The Hobbitand The Lord of the Rings"%earin3 in mind the lar3e num+er o4editions o4 the latter +ook9 5ith their di44erent pa3inations9 Tolkien=s pa3e7re4eren2es to it in his

letters are e8plained in the notes9 5ith a 2itation o4 the passa3e to 5hi2h he is re4errin3.In the editorial notes9 4our +ooks are 2ited +y +rie4 titles#ictures, $nfinished Tales, %iography,&n'lings"These are9 in 4ull#ictures by (" R" R" Tol'ien,5ith 4ore5ord and notes +y ChristopherTolkien ?&,),@D J. R. R. Tolkien9 $nfinished Tales,edited +y Christopher Tolkien ?&,:'@D HumphreyCarpenter9(" R" R" Tol'ien, a biography ?&,))@D and Humphrey Carpenter9 The &n'lings?&,):@. !ll4our +ooks are pu+lished in %ritain +y eor3e !llen " #n5in Ltd.9 and in !meri2a +y theHou3hton 1i44lin Company.

The di*ision o4 la+our +et5een mysel4 and Christopher Tolkien has +een as 4ollo5s. I mysel42olle2ted and trans2ri+ed all the letters9 and the initial sele2tion 5as mineD he 2ommented on thesele2tion and trans2ription9 and made *arious su33estions 4or 2han3es9 5hi2h 5e dis2ussed 4urther9and adopted 5ith *arious emendations. $e then 4ound it ne2essary to redu2e the te8t Muite se*erely9

4or 2onsiderations o4 spa2eD a3ain9 I proposed the initial 2uts9 he made 2omments on mysu33estions9 and 5e a3reed on a 4inal pro2edure. $ith the notes9 too9 I 5rote the ori3inal te8t9 andhe a3ain 2ommented on 5hat I had done and supplied 2ertain additional pie2es o4 in4ormation. The

+ook as pu+lished there4ore re4le2ts my o5n taste and ud3ement rather more than his9 +ut it is alsothe produ2t o4 our oint 5orkD and I am *ery 3rate4ul to him 4or sparin3 many hours9 and 4or 3uidin3and en2oura3in3 me.

Finally I am9 o4 2ourse9 *ery 3rate4ul too to those many people 5ho lent letters. 1ost o4 theseare a2kno5led3ed in the +ook9 in that their names appear as the re2ipients o4 the lettersD in those4e5 2ases 5here letters 5ere lent +ut ha*e not +een in2luded9 I must +oth thank those 2on2erned andapolo3ise to them 4or the 4a2t that their letter or letters 5ere omitted 4or reasons o4 spa2e. I mustalso thank the *arious or3anisations and indi*iduals 5ho helped me mem+ers o4 the TolkienSo2iety o4 reat %ritain9 the !meri2an Tolkien So2iety9 and the 1ythopoei2 So2iety9 5ho pu+li2isedour 5ish to tra2e letters9 and in some 2ases put us in tou2h 5ith o5ners o4 lettersD the %%C $ritten!r2hi*es9 the %odleian Li+rary9 the O84ord #ni*ersity 6ress and its


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1 To Edith Bratt

ATolkien +e2ame en3a3ed to Edith %ratt9 5hom he had met durin3 his adoles2en2e in %irmin3ham9 inJanuary &,&9 5hen he 5as t5enty7one. The 4ollo5in3 letter 5as 5ritten durin3 his 4inal year as anunder3raduate at O84ord9 5hen he 5as studyin3 En3lish Lan3ua3e " Literature9 and at the same time 5asdrillin3 in the #ni*ersity O44i2ers= Trainin3 Corps as a preparation 4or oinin3 the army.B

ANot datedD O2to+er &,&-B E8eter Colle3e9 O84ord

1y Edith darlin3Qes I 5as rather surprised +y your 2ard o4 Sat. mornin3 and rather sorry +e2ause I kne5 my

letter 5ould ha*e to 5ander a4ter you. Qou do 5rite splendid letters to me9 little oneD I am su2h a pi3to you thou3h. It seems a3eAsB sin2e I 5rote. I ha*e had a +usy ?and *ery 5et@ 5eek end.

Friday 5as 2ompletely une*ent4ul and Sat too thou3h 5e had a drill all a4ternoon and 3otsoaked se*eral times and our ri4les 3ot all 4ilthy and took a3es to 2lean a4ter5ards.

I spent most o4 the rest o4 those days indoors readin3 I had an essay9 as I told you9 +ut I didn=t3et it 4inished as Shakespeare 2ame up and then ?Lieutenant@ Thompson ?*ery healthy and 5ell inhis ne5 uni4orm@ and pre*ented me doin3 5ork on the Sa++ath9 as I had proposed to do..... I 5ent toSt !loysius 4or Hi3h 1ass and I rather enoyed it it is su2h a3es sin2e I heard one 4or Fr. F.5ouldn=t let me 3o 5hen I 5as at the Oratory last 5eek.

I hadto pay a duty 2all to the Re2tor in the a4ternoon 5hi2h 5as *ery +orin3. His 5i4e really isappallin3 I 3ot a5ay as soon as possi+le and 4led +a2k in the rain to my +ooks. Then I 5ent andsa5 1r Sisam and told him I 2ould not 4inish my essay till $ed and stayed and talked 5ith him 4orsome time9 then I 5ent and had an interestin3 talk 5ith that Muaint man Earp I ha*e told you o4 andintrodu2ed him ?to his 3reat deli3ht@ to the =Kle*al= the Finnish +allads.

!mon3st other 5ork I am tryin3 to turn one o4 the stories P 5hi2h is really a *ery 3reat storyand most tra3i2 into a short story some5hat on the lines o4 1orris= roman2es 5ith 2hunks o4

poetry in +et5een.....I ha*e 3ot to 3o to the 2olle3e li+rary no5 and 3et 4ilthy amon3st dusty +ooks and then han3

a+out and see the %ursar. .... R.


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2 From a letter to Edith Bratt 27 November 1914

I did a+out - hrs. A5orkB ,.('7& or so in the mornin3 drilled all a4ternoon 5ent to a le2ture 07/and a4ter dinner ?5ith a man 2alled Earp@ had to 3o to a meetin3 o4 the Essay Clu+ an in4ormalkind o4 last 3asp AB. There 5as a +ad paper +ut an interestin3 dis2ussion. It 5as also 2ompositionmeetin3 and I read =Earendel= 5hi2h 5as 5ell 2riti2ised.


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3 From a letter to Edith Bratt 26 November 1915

A!4ter 3raduatin3 at O84ord 5ith a First Class in En3lish9 Tolkien 5as 2ommissioned in the Lan2ashireFusiliers. This letter 5as 5ritten 4rom Ru3eley Camp in Sta44ordshire9 5here he 5as trainin3. 1ean5hile he5as 5orkin3 on a poem9 =Kortirion amon3 the Trees=9 su33ested +y $ar5i2k9 5here Edith %ratt 5as li*in3.The poem des2ri+es a =4adin3 to5n upon a little hill=9 5here =lin3er yet the Lonely Companies .... The holy4airies and immortal el*es.= For =the T.C.%.S.= see no. 0.B

The usual kind o4 mornin3 standin3 a+out and 4reein3 and then trottin3 to 3et 5armer so as to4reee a3ain. $e ended up +y an hour=s +om+7thro5in3 5ith dummies. Lun2h and a 4reein3a4ternoon. !ll the hot days o4 summer 5e dou+led a+out at 4ull speed and perspiration9 and no5 5estand in i2y 3roups in the open +ein3 talked at Tea and another s2ram+le I 4ou3ht 4or a pla2e atthe sto*e and made a pie2e o4 toast on the end o4 a kni4e 5hat days I ha*e 5ritten out a pen2il2opy o4 =Kortirion=. I hope you 5on=t mind my sendin3 it to the T.C.%.S. I 5ant to send themsomethin3 I o5e them all lon3 letters. I 5ill start on a 2are4ul ink 2opy 4or little you no5 and sendit tomorro5 ni3ht9 as I don=t think I shall 3et more than one 2opy typed ?it is so lon3@. No on se2ondthou3hts I am sendin3 you the pen2il 2opy ?5hi2h is *ery neat@ and shall keep the T.C.%.S. 5aitin3till I 2an make another.


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4 From a letter to Edith Bratt 2 March 1916

This misera+le drilin3 a4ternoon I ha*e +een readin3 up old military le2ture7notes a3ainPand 3ettin3 +ored 5ith them a4ter an hour and a hal4. I ha*e done some tou2hes to my nonsense4airy lan3ua3e to its impro*ement.

I o4ten lon3 to 5ork at it and don=t let mysel4 =2ause thou3h I lo*e it so it does seem su2h a madho++y


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5 To G. B. Smith

A$hile they 5ere at Kin3 Ed5ard=s S2hool9 %irmin3ham9 in &,&&9 Tolkien and three 4riends9 Ro+ ilson9eo44rey Smith and Christopher $iseman9 4ormed themsel*es into an uno44i2ial and semi7se2ret so2iety5hi2h they 2alled =the T.C.%.S.=9 initials standin3 4or =Tea Clu+ and %arro*ian So2iety=9 an allusion to their4ondness 4or ha*in3 tea in the s2hool li+rary9 illi2itly9 and in %arro5=s Stores near the s2hool. Sin2e lea*in3Kin3 Ed5ard=s9 the T.C.%.S. had kept in 2lose tou2h 5ith ea2h other9 and in


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I do ho5e*er dread and 3rie*e a+out it apart 4rom my o5n personal lon3in3s +e2ause I2annot a+andon yet the hope and am+itions ?in2hoate and 2loudy I kno5@ that 4irst +e2ame2ons2ious at the Coun2il o4 London. That Coun2il 5as as you kno5 4ollo5ed in my o5n 2ase 5ithmy 4indin3 a *oi2e 4or all kinds o4 pent up thin3s and a tremendous openin3 up o4 e*erythin3 4ormeP& ha*e al5ays laid that to the 2redit o4 the inspiration that e*en a 4e5 hours 5ith the 4oural5ays +rou3ht to all o4 us.

There you are P I ha*e sat solemnly do5n and tried to tell you drily ust 5hat I think. I ha*emade it sound *ery 2old and distant and i4 it is in2oherent that is due to its +ein3 5ritten atdi44erent sittin3s amon3st the noise o4 a *ery +orin3 Company mess.

Send it on to Chris i4 you think it 5orth 5hile. I do not kno5 5hat is to +e our mo*e ne8t or5hat is in store. Rumour is as +usy as the uni*ersal 5eariness o4 all this 5ar allo5s it to +e. I 5ish I2ould kno5 5here you are. I make a 3uess o4 2ourse.

I 2ould 5rite a hu3e letter +ut I ha*e lots o4 o+s on. The %de. Si3. O44r. is a4ter me 4or a2on4a+ulation9 and I ha*e t5o ro5s &' ha*e 5ith the U1 and a detesta+le /.' parade /.' pm o4a sunny Sa++ath.

$rite to me 5hen you 3et the 3host o4 a 2han2e.Qours

John Ronald.


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6 To Mr E. M. !ri"ht

AIn &,(' Tolkien 5as appointed Reader in En3lish Lan3ua3e at Leeds #ni*ersity9 a post that 5as later2on*erted into a 6ro4essorshipD see no. -/ 4or an a22ount o4 the inter*ie5 leadin3 to his appointment.Tolkien 5as no5 married to Edith %ranD +y &,( he had t5o 2hildren9 John and 1i2hael. In &,(( he

pu+lished a 3lossary to a 1iddle En3lish Reader edited +y his 4ormer tutor9 Kenneth Sisam. He also +e3an5ork 5ith E. ;. ordon on an edition o4 Sir )awain and the )reen Knight" The 4ollo5in3 letter9a2kno5led3in3 re2eipt o4 an arti2le a+out that poem9 is addressed to the 5i4e o4 Joseph $ri3ht9 editor o4 the

*nglish Dialect Dictionary?=E.


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7 To the Elector o# the $a%li&o& a&d Bo%orth 'ro#eorhi( o# )&"lo*Sa+o&, -&iverit o#

/+#ord

AIn the summer o4 &,(0 the 6ro4essorship o4 !n3lo7Sa8on at O84ord 5as ad*ertised9 4ollo5in3 theresi3nation o4 $. !. Crai3ie. Tolkien de2ided to apply9 thou3h he 5as only thirty7three. This is his 4ormalletter o4 appli2ation9 dated () June &,(0.B

entlemen9

I desire to o44er mysel4 as a 2andidate 4or the Ra5linson and %os5orth 6ro4essorship o4 !n3lo7Sa8on.

! Chair 5hi2h a44ords su2h opportunity o4 e8pressin3 and 2ommuni2atin3 an instru2tedenthusiasm 4or !n3lo7Sa8on studies and 4or the study o4 the other Old ermani2 lan3ua3es isnaturally attra2ti*e to me9 nor 2ould I desire anythin3 +etter than to +e reasso2iated in this 5ay 5iththe O84ord En3lish S2hool. I 5as a mem+er o4 that S2hool +oth as under3raduate and as tutor9 anddurin3 my 4i*e years= a+sen2e in Leeds am happy to ha*e remained in tou2h 5ith it9 moreespe2ially9 in the last t5o years9 as an E8aminer in the Final S2hools.

I entered E8eter Colle3e as Stapledon E8hi+itioner in &,&&. !4ter takin3 Classi2al 1oderationsin &,& ?in 5hi2h I spe2ialied in reek philolo3y@9 I 3raduated 5ith 4irst 2lass honours in En3lishin &,&09 my spe2ial su+e2t +ein3 Old I2elandi2. #ntil the end o4 &,&: I held a 2ommission in theLan2ashire Fusiliers9 and at that date entered the ser*i2e o4 the O84ord En3lish


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0 From a letter to the ice ha&cellor o# eed -&iverit

(( July &,(01y ele2tion to the Ra5linson " %os5orth pro4essorship at O84ord has ust +een announ2ed to

me9 " I ha*e a22epted it takes e44e2t 4rom ne8t O2to+er &st P only 5ith 4eelin3s o4 3reat re3ret atthis sudden se*eran2e9 in spite o4 this une8pe2ted turn o4 4ortune 4or mysel4.

Only the sudden resi3nation o4 my prede2essor has thrust this upon me so soon P I dimly

2o*eted it as a thin3 perhaps 4or the more distant years9 +ut no5 a4ter this #ni*ersity=s kindness9 andthe 3reat happiness o4 my +rie4 period o4 5ork here9 I 4eel un3rate4ul in askin3 to +e released 4rommy appointment so soon. I hope 4or your 4or3i*eness.


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9 To Sa& a"&all, Geor"e )lle& -&%i& td.

ATolkien 5rote the 3reater part o4 The Hobbitdurin3 his 4irst se*en years as 6ro4essor o4 !n3lo7Sa8on atO84ord. ! te8t 5as in e8isten2e +y the 5inter o4 &,(9 5hen it 5as read +y C. S. Le5is9 thou3h at this sta3ethe types2ript apparently la2ked the 4inal 2hapters9 and +roke o44 shortly +e4ore the death o4 the dra3onSmau3. This types2ript 5as e*entually seen +y Susan


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1 To . ). Frth, )lle& -&%i&

ASome time +et5een &,( and &,)9 Tolkien 5rote and illustrated a short +ook 4or 2hildren entitled +r%liss"For a des2ription o4 it9 see %iographyp. &/. It 5as sho5n to !llen " #n5in at the same time thatThe Hobbit 5as su+mitted. The pu+lishers said they 5ould +e happy to a22ept it9 pro*idin3 Tolkien 2ouldredu2e the num+er o4 2olours in the dra5in3s.B

I) January &,) (' Northmoor Road9 O84ord


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12 To )lle& -&%i&

AIn mid71ar2h9 Tolkien returned the proo4s o4 The Hobbitto !llen " #n5in9 ha*in3 marked them 5ith a*ery lar3e num+er o4 alterations to the ori3inal te8t. He 5as told that as a result he mi3ht ha*e to pay part o4the 2ost o4 2orre2tion9 thou3h the pu+lishers noted that he had de*ised re*isions 5hi2h 5ould o22upy e8a2tlythe same spa2e as the ori3inal te8t. $ith the 4ollo5in3 letter9 he su+mitted a dra5in3 4or the dust7a2ket95hi2h in2luded a runi2 ins2ription.B

& !pril &,) (' Northmoor Road9 O84ord


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13 To . ). Frth, )lle& -&%i&

AOn && 1ay9 !llen " #n5in told Tolkien that they had interested =one o4 the outstandin3 4irms o4 !meri2anpu+lishers= in The Hobbit,and said that this 4irm =5ould like a num+er o4 4urther illustrations in 2olour andsu33ested employin3 3ood !meri2an artists=. !llen " #n5in9 ho5e*er9 thou3ht =it 5ould +e +etter i4 all theillustrations 5ere 4rom your hand=.B

& 1ay &,) (' Northmoor Road9 O84ord


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14 To )lle& -&%i&

AThe pu+lishers had su33ested to Tolkien that The Hobbitshould +e pu+lished in O2to+er &,)9 ust a4ter the+e3innin3 o4 the 1i2haelmas Term at O84ord. They also told him that they had 4or5arded his letter a+outillustrations ?no. &@ to the Hou3hton 1i44lin Company o4 %oston9 1assa2husetts9 5ho 5ere to pu+lish the

+ook in !meri2a.B

(: 1ay &,) (' Northmoor Road9 O84ord


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15 To )lle& -&%i&

AEn2losed 5ith this letter 5as a 2oloured *ersion o4 the dra5in3 =The Hill Ho++iton7a2ross7the7$ater=.Tolkien had already sent 4our ne5 2oloured dra5in3s =Ri*endell=9 =%il+o 5oke 5ith the early sun in hiseyes=9 =%il+o 2omes to the Huts o4 the Ra4t7el*es=9 and =Con*ersation 5ith Smau3=. !ll o4 these e82ept the=Huts o4 the Ra4t7el*es= 5ere used in the 4irst !meri2an edition9 and all e82ept =%il+o 5oke 5ith the early sunin his eyes= 5ere added to the se2ond %ritish impression.B

& !u3ust &,) (' Northmoor Road9 O84ord


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I am in your hands9 i4 you think that is the ri3ht note. Stri2t truth is9 I suppose9 not ne2essary ?ore*en desira+le@. %ut I ha*e a 2ertain an8iety lest the H.1.Co seie upon the 5ords and e8a33eratethe ina22ura2y to 4alsehood. !nd re*ie5ers are apt to lean on hints. !t least I am 5hen per4ormin3that 4un2tion.

Nursery3I ha*e ne*er had one9 and the study has al5ays +een the pla2e 4or su2h amusements.In any 2ase is the a3e7impli2ation ri3ht I should ha*e said =the nursery= ended a+out : 5hen

2hildren 3o 4orth to s2hool. That is too youn3. 1y eldest +oy 5as thirteen 5hen he heard the serial.It did not appeal to the youn3er ones 5ho had to 3ro5 up to it su22essi*ely.Lent35e must pass that ?thou3h stri2tly it 5as 4or2ed on the 4riends +y me@. The 1S. 2ertainly

5andered a+out9 +ut it 5as not9 as 4ar as I kno59 e*er read to2hildren9 and only read byone 2hild ?a3irl o4 &(7&@9 +e4ore 1r #n5in tried it out.

Abstruse3I do not pro4ess an =a+struse= su+e2t not Mua =!n3lo7Sa8on=. Some 4olk may thinkso9 +ut I do not like en2oura3in3 them. Old En3lish and I2elandi2 literature are no more remote4rom human 2on2erns9 or di44i2ult to a2Muire 2heaply9 than 2ommer2ial Spanish ?say@. I ha*e tried

+oth. In any 2ase e82ept 4or the runes ?!n3lo7Sa8on@ and the d5ar47names ?I2elandi2@9 neitherused 5ith antiMuarian a22ura2y9 and +oth re3ret4ully su+stituted to a*oid a+struseness 4or the3enuine alpha+ets and names o4 the mytholo3y into 5hi2h 1r %a33ins intrudes I am a4raid my

pro4essional kno5led3e is not dire2tly used. The ma3i2 and mytholo3y and assumed =history= andmost o4 the names ?e.3. the epi2 o4 the Fall o4 ondolin@ are9 alas9 dra5n 4rom unpu+lishedin*entions9 kno5n only to my 4amily9 1iss ri44iths and 1r Le5is. I +elie*e they 3i*e the narrati*ean air o4 =reality= and ha*e a northern atmosphere. %ut I 5onder 5hether one should lead theunsuspe2tin3 to ima3ine it all 2omes out o4 the =old +ooks=9 or tempt the kno5in3 to point out that itdoes not

=6hilolo3y= my real pro4essional +a3 o4 tri2ks may +e a+struse9 and perhaps more2ompara+le to


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17 To Sta&le -&%i&, hairma& o# )lle& -&%i&

A#n5in had sent Tolkien a letter 4rom the author Ri2hard Hu3hes9 5ho had +een 3i*en a 2opy o4 The Hobbit+y !llen " #n5in. Hu3hes 5rote to #n5in =I a3ree 5ith you that it is one o4 the +est stories 4or 2hildren Iha*e 2ome a2ross 4or a *ery lon3 time..... The only sna3 I 2an see is that many parents .... may +e a4raid that2ertain pans o4 it 5ould +e too terri4yin3 4or +edside readin3.= #n5in also mentioned that his o5n ele*en7year7old son Rayner9 5ho had 5ritten the report on the manus2ript o4 The Hobbit5hi2h had led to its

pu+li2ation ?see %iography pp. &:'7:&@9 had +een re7readin3 the +ook no5 that it 5as in print. #n5in

2on2luded +y 5arnin3 Tolkien that =a lar3e pu+li2= 5ould +e =2lamourin3 ne8t year to hear more 4rom youa+out Ho++its=B

&0 O2to+er &,) (' Northmoor Road9 O84ord


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5hat I mu2h desire to do9 and not 4ail o4 4inan2ial duty. 6erhaps&

I think =O84ord= interest is mildly aroused. I am 2onstantly asked ho5 my ho++it is. The attitudeis ?as I 4oresa5@ not unmi8ed 5ith surprise and a little pity. 1y o5n 2olle3e is I think 3ood 4ora+out si8 2opies9 i4 only in order to 4ind material 4or teasin3 me. !ppearan2e in The Times2on*in2ed one or t5o o4 my more sedate 2ollea3ues that they 2ould admit kno5led3e o4 my=4antasy= ?i.e. indis2retion@ 5ithout loss o4 a2ademi2 di3nity. The pro4essor o4 %yantine reek

+ou3ht a 2opy9 =+e2ause 4irst editions o4 X!li2eX are no5 *ery *alua+le=. I did hear that the Re3ius6ro4essor o4 1odern History 5as re2ently seen readin3 =The Ho++it=. It is displayed +y 6arkers +utnot else5here ?I think@.

I am pro+a+ly 2omin3 to to5n9 to hear 6ro4essor Joseph ;endryes at the !2ademy on$ednesday O2t. ()th. I 5onder 5ould that +e a suita+le day 4or the lun2heon you kindly asked meto last summer !nd in any 2ase9 I 2ould +rin3 +r %lissto the o44i2e so as to 3et the de4inite ad*i2eon 5hat is needed to make it reprodu2i+le promised +y 1r Furth

Qours sin2erelyJ. R. R. Tolkien.

6S. I a2kno5led3e sa4e re2eipt o4 the spe2imen =pi2tures= sent to !meri2a.

&Not that =e8aminin3= is *ery pro4ita+le. Uuite small sales 5ould surpass it. Y&'' reMuires nearly as mu2h la+our asa 4ull7sied no*el.


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10 From a letter to Sta&le -&%i& 23 /ctober 1937

AOn &, O2to+er9 #n5in 5rote to Tolkien =I think there is 2ause 4or your 4aint hope..... It is seldom that a2hildren=s 5riter 3ets 4irmly esta+lished 5ith one +ook9 +ut that you 5ill do so *ery rapidly I ha*e not thesli3htest dou+t. .... Qou are one o4 those rare people 5ith 3enius9 and9 unlike some pu+lishers9 it is a 5ord Iha*e not used hal4 a doen times in thirty years o4 pu+lishin3.=B

Thank you in return 4or your en2oura3in3 letter. I 5ill start somethin3 soon9 " su+mit it to your

+oy at the earliest opportunity.


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19 To Sta&le -&%i&

ATolkien lun2hed 5ith #n5in in London on &0 No*em+er9 and told him a+out a num+er o4 his 5ritin3s5hi2h already e8isted in manus2ript the series o4.ather 1hristmas Letters,5hi2h he had addressed to his2hildren ea2h Christmas sin2e &,('D *arious short tales and poemsD and The Silmarillion" Follo5in3 thismeetin39 he handed to !llen " #n5in the =Uuenta Silmarillion=9 a prose 4ormulation o4 the latter +ook9to3ether 5ith the lon3 un4inished poem XThe est o4 %eren and Lthien=. These 5ere sho5n to one o4 the4irm=s outside readers9 Ed5ard Cranksha59 5ho reported un4a*oura+ly on the poem9 +ut praised the prose

narrati*e 4or its =+re*ity and di3nity=9 thou3h he said he disliked its =eye7splittin3 Celti2 names=. His report2ontinued =It has somethin3 o4 that mad9 +ri3ht7eyed +eauty that perple8es all !n3lo7Sa8ons in 4a2e o4Celti2 art.= These 2omments 5ere passed on to Tolkien.B

&/


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2 To . ). Frth, )lle& -&%i&

AOn &)


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21 From a letter to )lle& -&%i& 1 Febrar 1930

$ould you ask 1r #n5in 5hether his son9 a *ery relia+le 2riti29 5ould 2are to read the 4irst2hapter o4 the seMuel to The Hobbit I ha*e typed it. I ha*e no 2on4iden2e in it9 +ut i4 he thou3ht it a

promisin3 +e3innin39 2ould add to it the tale that is +re5in3.


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22 To . ). Frth, )lle& -&%i& 2 Northmoor $oad, /+#ord

- Fe+ruary &,:


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24 To Sta&le -&%i&

AOn && Fe+ruary9 #n5in reported that his son Rayner 5as =deli3hted 5ith the 4irst 2hapter= o4 the ne5 story.B

&: Fe+ruary &,: (' Northmoor Road9 O84ord


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25 To the editor o# the /berver

AOn &/ January &,:9 the 6bser-erpu+lished a letter9 si3ned =Ha+it=9 askin3 5hether ho++its mi3ht ha*e+een su33ested to Tolkien +y Julian Hu8ley=s a22ount o4 =the Xlittle 4urry menX seen in !4ri2a +y nati*esand .... at least one s2ientist=. The letter75riter also mentioned that a 4riend had =said she remem+ered an old4airy tale 2alled XThe Ho++itX in a 2olle2tion read a+out &,'-=9 in 5hi2h the 2reature o4 that name =5asde4initely 4ri3htenin3=. The 5riter asked i4 Tolkien 5ould =tell us some more a+out the name and in2eption o4the intri3uin3 hero o4 his +ook. .... It 5ould sa*e so many resear2h students so *ery mu2h trou+le in the

3enerations to 2ome. !nd9 +y the 5ay9 is the ho++it=s stealin3 o4 the dra3on=s 2up +ased on the 2up7stealin3episode in %eowulf I hope so9 sin2e one o4 the +ook=s 2harms appears to +e its Spenserian harmonisin3 o4the +rilliant threads o4 so many +ran2hes o4 epi29 mytholo3y9 and ;i2torian 4airy literature.= Tolkien=s reply9thou3h it 5as not intended 4or pu+li2ation ?see the 2on2lusion o4 no. (/@9 5as printed in the 6bser-eron ('Fe+ruary &,:.B

Sir9 I need no persuasion I am as sus2epti+le as a dra3on to 4lattery9 and 5ould 3ladly sho5o44 my diamond 5aist2oat9 and e*en dis2uss its sour2es9 sin2e the Ha+it ?more inMuisiti*e than theHo++it@ has not only pro4essed to admire it9 +ut has also asked 5here I 3ot it 4rom. %ut 5ould notthat +e rather un4air to the resear2h students To sa*e them trou+le is to ro+ them o4 any e82use 4ore8istin3.

Ho5e*er9 5ith re3ard to the Ha+it=s prin2ipal Muestion there is no dan3er I do not remem+er

anythin3 a+out the name and in2eption o4 the hero. I 2ould 3uess9 o4 2ourse9 +ut the 3uesses 5ouldha*e no more authority than those o4 4uture resear2hers9 and I lea*e the 3ame to them.I 5as +orn in !4ri2a9 and ha*e read se*eral +ooks on !4ri2an e8ploration. I ha*e9 sin2e a+out

&:,/9 read e*en more +ooks o4 4airy7tales o4 the 3enuine kind. %oth the 4a2ts produ2ed +y the Ha+it5ould appear9 there4ore9 to +e si3ni4i2ant.

%ut are they I ha*e no 5akin3 re2olle2tion o4 4urry pi3mies ?in +ook or moonli3ht@D nor o4 anyHo++it +o3ey in print +y &,'-. I suspe2t that the t5o ho++its are a22idental homophones9 and am2ontent&that they are not ?it 5ould seem@ synonyms. !nd I protest that my ho++it did not li*e in!4ri2a9 and 5as not 4urry9 e82ept a+out the 4eet. Nor indeed 5as he like a ra++it. He 5as a

prosperous9 5ell74ed youn3 +a2helor o4 independent means. Callin3 him a =nassty little ra++it= 5as apie2e o4 *ul3ar trollery9 ust as =des2endant o4 rats= 5as a pie2e o4 d5ar4ish mali2e P deli+erate

insults to his sie and 4eet9 5hi2h he deeply resented. His 4eet9 i4 2on*eniently 2lad and shod +ynature9 5ere as ele3ant as his lon39 2le*er 4in3ers.

!s 4or the rest o4 the tale it is9 as the Ha+it su33ests9 deri*ed 4rom ?pre*iously di3ested@ epi29mytholo3y9 and 4airy7story not9 ho5e*er9 ;i2torian in authorship9 as a rule to 5hi2h eor3e1a2donald is the 2hie4 e82eption.%eowulf is amon3 my most *alued sour2esD thou3h it 5as not2ons2iously present to the mind in the pro2ess o4 5ritin39 in 5hi2h the episode o4 the the4t arosenaturally ?and almost ine*ita+ly@ 4rom the 2ir2umstan2es. It is di44i2ult to think o4 any other 5ay o42ondu2tin3 the story at that point. I 4an2y the author o4%eowulf 5ouldsay mu2h the same.

1y tale is not 2ons2iously +ased on any other +ook P sa*e one9 and that is unpu+lished the=Silmarillion=9 a history o4 the El*es9 to 5hi2h 4reMuent allusion is made. I had not thou3ht o4 the4uture resear2hersD and as there is only one manus2ript there seems at the moment small 2han2e o4this re4eren2e pro*in3 use4ul.

%ut these Muestions are mere preliminaries. No5 that I ha*e +een made to see 1r. %a33ins=sad*entures as the su+e2t o4 4uture enMuiry I realise that a lot o4 5ork 5ill +e needed. There is theMuestion o4 nomen2lature. The d5ar47names9 and the 5iard=s9 are 4rom the Elder Edda. The ho++it7names 4rom O+*ious Sour2es proper to their kind. The 4ull list o4 their 5ealthier 4amilies is%a33ins9 %o44in9 %ol3er9 %ra2e3irdle9 %randy+u2k9 %urro5es9 Chu++9 ru++9 Horn+lo5er96roud4oot9 Sa2k*ille9 and Took. The dra3on +ears as name a pseudonym the past tense o4 the

primiti*e ermani2 *er+ Smugan, to sMueee throu3h a hole a lo5 philolo3i2al est. The rest o4 thenames are o4 the !n2ient and El*ish $orld9 and ha*e not +een modernised.

!nd 5hy dwar-es rammar pres2ri+es dwarfsD philolo3y su33ests that dwarrows5ould +e the

histori2al 4orm. The real ans5er is that I kne5 no +etter. %ut dwar-es3oes 5ell 5ith el-esD and9 inany 2ase9 elf, gnome, goblin, dwarfare only appro8imate translations o4 the Old El*ish names 4or

&Not Muite. I should like9 i4 possi+le9 to learn more a+out the 4airy7tale 2olle2tion9 2. &,'-.


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+ein3s o4 not Muite the same kinds and 4un2tions.These d5ar*es are not Muite the d5ar4s o4 +etter kno5n lore. They ha*e +een 3i*en

S2andina*ian names9 it is trueD +ut that is an editorial 2on2ession. Too many names in the ton3uesproper to the period mi3ht ha*e +een alarmin3.


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26 To Sta&le -&%i&

AOn ( 1ar2h9 #n5in sent Tolkien an e8tra2t 4rom a reader=s report on C.S.Le5is=s 6ut of the Silent #lanet"The reader 2ommented =1r Le5is is Muite likely9 I dare say9 to 5rite a 5orth 5hile no*el one day. This oneisn=t 3ood enou3h Muite.= The reader ud3ed the 2reatures o4 the planet 1ala2andra to +e =+unk=. #n5inasked Tolkien 4or his opinion o4 the +ook.B

- 1ar2h &,: (' Northmoor Road9 O84ord


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I think is e8plained at the end o4 the +ook ?not that I think that this learned detail matters9 +ut it is asle3itimate as pseudo7s2ienti4i2 learnin3@. In 2on2lusion I mi3ht say that in desi3natin3 the #fifltriggias the =5orkers= your reader also misses the point9 and is misled +y 2urrent notions that are notappli2a+le. %ut I ha*e pro+a+ly said more than enou3h. I at any rate should ha*e +ou3ht this story atalmost any pri2e i4 I had 4ound it in print9 and loudly re2ommended it as a =thriller= +y ?ho5e*er andsurprisin3ly@ an intelli3ent man. %ut I kno5 only too sadly 4rom e44orts to 4ind anythin3 to read

e*en 5ith an =on demand= su+s2ription at a li+rary that my taste is not normal. I read =;oya3e to!r2turus= 5ith a*idity P the most 2ompara+le 5ork9 thou3h it is +oth more po5er4ul and moremythi2al ?and less rational9 and also less o4 a story no one 2ould read it merely as a thriller and5ithout interest in philosophy reli3ion and morals@. I 5onder 5hat your reader thinks o4 it !ll thesame I shall +e 2om4orted on my o5n +ehal49 i4 the se2ond reader supports my taste a +it more

V

The seMuel to The Hobbithas no5 pro3ressed as 4ar as the end o4 the third 2hapter. %ut storiestend to 3et out o4 hand9 and this has taken an unpremeditated turn. 1r Le5is and my youn3est +oyare readin3 it in +its as a serial. I hesitate to +other your son9 thou3h I should *alue his 2riti2isms. !t

any rate i4 he 5ould like to read it in serial 4orm he 2an. 1y Christopher and 1r Le5is appro*e itenou3h to say that they think it is +etter than theHobbit!+ut Rayner need not a3reeI ha*e re2ei*ed a 2opy o4 the !meri2an edition. Not so +ad. I am 3lad they ha*e in2luded the

ea3le pi2ture9 +ut I 2annot ima3ine 5hy they ha*e spoilt the Ri*endell pi2ture9 +y sli2in3 the topand 2uttin3 out the ornament at the +ottom. !ll the numerous te8tual errors are o4 2ourse in2luded. Ihope it 5ill some day +e possi+le to 3et rid o4 them.

I don=t kno5 5hether you sa5 the lon3 and ridi2ulous letter in The 6bser-er ofFe+. ('9 andthou3ht I had suddenly 3one 2ra2ked. I think the editor 5as un4air. There 5as a letter si3ned Ha+itin the paper in January ?askin3 i4 the ho++it 5as in4luen2ed +y Julian Hu8ley=s le2tures on 4urry!4ri2an py3mies9 and other Muestions@. I sent this estin3 reply 5ith a stamped en*elope 4ortransmission to Ha+itD and also a short and 4airly sane reply 4or pu+li2ation. Nothin3 happened 4or a

month9 and then I 5oke up to 4ind my ill72onsidered oke o22upyin3 nearly a 2olumn.$ith +est 5ishes. Qours sin2erely9

J. R. R. Tolkien.


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27 To the :o"hto& Mi##li& om(a&

A!n e8tra2t 4rom a letter apparently addressed to Tolkien=s !meri2an pu+lishers9 and pro+a+ly 5ritten in1ar2h or !pril &,:. Hou3hton 1i44lin seem to ha*e asked him to supply dra5in3s o4 ho++its 4or use insome 4uture edition o4 The Hobbit"B

I am a4raid9 i4 you 5ill need dra5in3s o4 ho++its in *arious attitudes9 I must lea*e it in thehands o4 someone 5ho 2an dra5. 1y o5n pi2tures are an unsa4e 3uide e.3. the pi2ture o4 1r.

%a33ins in Chapter ;I and WII. The *ery ill7dra5n one in Chapter WIW is a +etter 3uide than thesein 3eneral impressions.

I pi2ture a 4airly human 4i3ure9 not a kind o4 =4airy= ra++it as some o4 my %ritish re*ie5ers seemto 4an2y 4attish in the stoma2h9 shortish in the le3. ! round9 o*ial 4a2eD ears only sli3htly pointedand =el*ish=D hair short and 2urlin3 ?+ro5n@. The 4eet 4rom the ankles do5n9 2o*ered 5ith +ro5nhairy 4ur. Clothin3 3reen *el*et +ree2hesD red or yello5 5aist2oatD +ro5n or 3reen a2ketD 3old ?or

+rass@ +uttonsD a dark 3reen hood and 2loak ?+elon3in3 to a d5ar4@.!2tual sie only important i4 other o+e2ts are in pi2ture say a+out three 4eet or three 4eet si8

in2hes. The ho++it in the pi2ture o4 the 3old7hoard9 Chapter WII9 is o4 2ourse ?apart 4rom +ein3 4at inthe 5ron3 pla2es@ enormously too lar3e. %ut ?as my 2hildren9 at any rate9 understand@ he is really ina separate pi2ture or =plane= +ein3 in*isi+le to the dra3on.

There is in the te8t no mention o4 his a2Muirin3 o4 +oots. There should +e It has dropped outsomeho5 or other in the *arious re*isions the +ootin3s o22urred at Ri*endellD and he 5as a3ain

+ootless a4ter lea*in3 Ri*endell on the 5ay home. %ut sin2e leathery soles9 and 5ell7+rushed 4urry4eet are a 4eature o4 essential ho++itness9 he ou3ht really to appear un+ooted9 e82ept in spe2ialillustrations o4 episodes.


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20 To Sta&le -&%i&

AOn & June9 #n5in told Tolkien that Hou3hton 1i44lin had no5 sold appro8imately three thousand 2opies o4the !meri2an edition o4 The Hobbit"In !pril9 the +ook had +een a5arded a Z(0' prie +y the New 7or'

Herald Tribune4or the +est u*enile story o4 the season. 1ean5hile Rayner #n5in had 2riti2ised the se2ondand third 2hapters o4 the ne5 story 4or ha*in3 too mu2h =ho++it talk=.B

- June &,: (' Northmoor Road9 O84ord


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29 From a letter to Sta&le -&%i& 25 ;l 1930

A!llen " #n5in had ne3otiated the pu+li2ation o4 a erman translation o4 The Hobbit 5ith R>tten "Loenin3 o4 6otsdam. This 4irm 5rote to Tolkien askin3 i4 he 5as o4 =aris2h= ?aryan@ ori3in.B

I must say the en2losed letter 4rom R>tten and Loenin3 is a +it sti44.


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3 To $


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31 To .).Frth, )lle& -&%i&

A!mon3 the stories that Tolkien sho5ed to his pu+lishers durin3 &,)9 as a possi+le su22essor to TheHobbit,5as a short *ersion o4.armer )iles of Ham"!llen " #n5in liked it9 +ut 4elt that it 5ould need the2ompanionship o4 other stories to make it into a +ook o4 su44i2ient len3th. They also9 o4 2ourse9 en2oura3edTolkien to 5rite the seMuel to The Hobbit"B

(- July &,: (' Northmoor Road9 O84ord


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32 To ;oh& Mae#ield

A1ase4ield9 then 6oet Laureate9 to3ether 5ith Ne*ill Co3hill or3anised an entertainment in O84ord durin3the summers o4 &,: and &,,9 entitled Summer Di-ersions"In &,: he in*ited Tolkien to impersonateChau2er and re2ite 4rom memory theNuns #riests Tale"He 5rote to Tolkien en2losin3 some lines o4 *erse5ith 5hi2h he proposed to introdu2e him.B

() July &,: (' Northmoor Road9 O84ord


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34 To Sta&le -&%i&

& O2to+er &,: (' Northmoor Road9 O84ord


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35 To . ). Frth, )lle& -&%i& 2 Northmoor $oad, /+#ord

( Fe+ruary &,,


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36 To . ). Frth, )lle& -&%i&

AOn : Fe+ruary9 Furth sent a royalty 2heMue 4or The Hobbit,and told Tolkien that the middle o4 June 5as thelatest date +y 5hi2h !llen " #n5in must ha*e the ne5 story i4 they 5ere 3oin3 to pu+lish it +y Christmas.B

&' Fe+ruary &,, (' Northmoor Road9 O84ord


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37 To Sta&le -&%i&

A!llen " #n5in 5ere pu+lishin3 a re*ision +y C. L. $renn o4 Clark Hall=s translation o4 %eowulf"Tolkienhad a3reed to 5rite a 4ore5ord9 and durin3 the se2ond hal4 o4 &,, he re2ei*ed se*eral enMuiries 4rom the

pu+lishers a+out the pro3ress o4 this. He le4t these enMuiries unans5ered until


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30 To Sta&le -&%i&

ATolkien had still not deli*ered the 4ore5ord to the Clark Hall%eowulf translation +y () 1ar2h9 5hen !llen" #n5in 5rote a desperate letter askin3 5hat had happened to it9 and tellin3 him that =a 5ord or t5o= 5ould

+e enou3h. The te8t sent +y Tolkien 5ith the 4ollo5in3 letter 5as9 despite its len3th9 used in 4ull 5hen the+ook 5as pu+lished.B

' 1ar2h &,-' (' Northmoor Road9 O84ord


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39 From a letter to Michael Tol8ie&(, Septem+er &,-'AIn the late summer o4 &,-'9 t5o 5omen e*a2uees 5ere +illeted 4or a short time on the Tolkien household.B

Our e*a2uees 5ent o44 a3ain this mornin39 +a2k home to !sh4ord ?they 5ere rail5ay 4olk@9 a4ters2enes o4 2omedy and pathos. I ha*e ne*er 2ome a2ross more simple9 helpless9 3entle and unhappysouls ?mother and dau3hter7in7la5@. They had +een a5ay 4rom their hus+ands 4or the 4irst time intheir married li*es9 and 4ound they 5ould pre4er to +e +lo5n to +its.


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4 From a letter to Michael Tol8ie&/ O2to+er &,-'AIn Septem+er &,, Tolkien=s se2ond son9 then a3ed nearly nineteen9 *olunteered 4or army ser*i2e9 +ut 5asinstru2ted to spend one year at uni*ersity and then enlist. He entered Trinity Colle3e9 O84ord9 and le4t ita3ain the 4ollo5in3 summer to train as an anti7air2ra4t 3unner.B

I am *ery sorry indeed9 dear +oy9 that your ;arsity 2areer has +een 2ut in t5o. It 5ould ha*e+een +etter9 i4 you had +een the elder and 2ould ha*e 4inished +e4ore the army took you. %ut I still

hope you 5ill +e a+le to 2ome +a2k a3ain. !nd 2ertainly you 5ill learn a lot9 4irst Thou3h in timeso4 pea2e 5e 3et9 perhaps ?and naturally and 4or the purpose ri3htly@9 too en3rossed in thinkin3 o4e*erythin3 as a preparation or trainin3 or a makin3 one 4it 4or 5hat !t any minute it is 5hat 5eare and are doin39 not 5hat 5e plan to +e and do that 2ounts. %ut I 2annot pretend that I mysel44ound that idea mu2h 2om4ort a3ainst the 5aste o4 time and militarism o4 the army. It isn=t the tou3hstu44 one minds so mu2h. I 5as pit2hed into it all9 ust 5hen I 5as 4ull o4 stu44 to 5rite9 and o4 thin3sto learnD and ne*er pi2ked it all up a3ain.


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42 To Michael Tol8ie&

A!4ter takin3 pan 5ith his 3un7+attery in the de4en2e o4 aerodromes durin3 the %attle o4 %ritain9 1i2hael5as inured in an a22ident 5ith an army *ehi2le durin3 ni3ht trainin39 and 5as sent to hospital in $or2ester.This is one o4 se*eral letters his 4ather sent to him there.B

&( January &,-& (' Northmoor Road9 O84ord1y dearest 1i2k9

It seems a lon3 time sin2e I 5rote and it has +een a rather dreary and +usy time9 5ith a 4ouleast 5ind +lo5in3 steadily9 day a4ter day9 and the 5eather *aryin3 4rom +one7pier2in3 2old to 3reydamp 2hill..... I ha*e had one amusement lately


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natural ran3e 4or it is their 3i4t to +e re2epti*e9 stimulated9 4ertilied ?in many other matters than thephysi2al@ +y the male. E*ery tea2her kno5s that. Ho5 Mui2kly an intelli3ent 5oman 2an +e tau3ht93rasp his ideas9 see his point and ho5 ?5ith rare e82eptions@ they 2an 3o no 4urther9 5hen theylea*e his hand9 or 5hen they 2ease to take apersonalinterest in him"%ut this is their natural a*enueto lo*e. %e4ore the youn3 5oman kno5s 5here she is ?and 5hile the romanti2 youn3 man9 5hen hee8ists9 is still si3hin3@ she may a2tually =4all in lo*e=. $hi2h 4or her9 an unspoiled natural youn3

5oman9 means that she 5ants to +e2ome the mother o4 the youn3 man=s 2hildren9 e*en i4 that desireis +y no means 2lear to her or e8pli2it. !nd then thin3s are 3oin3 to happen and they may +e *erypain4ul and harm4ul9 i4 thin3s 3o 5ron3. 6arti2ularly i4 the youn3 man only 5anted a temporary3uidin3 star and di*inity ?until he hit2hes his 5a33on to a +ri3hter one@9 and 5as merely enoyin3the 4lattery o4 sympathy ni2ely seasoned 5ith a titillation o4 se8 all =uiteinno2ent9 o4 2ourse9 and5orlds a5ay 4rom =sedu2tion=.

Qou may meet in li4e ?as in literature &@ 5omen 5ho are 4li3hty9 or e*en plain 5anton P I don=tre4er to mere 4lirtatiousness9 the sparrin3 pra2ti2e 4or the real 2om+at9 +ut to 5omen 5ho are toosilly to take e*en lo*e seriously9 or are a2tually so depra*ed as to enoy =2onMuests=9 or e*en enoythe 3i*in3 o4 pain +ut these are a+normalities9 e*en thou3h 4alse tea2hin39 +ad up+rin3in39 and2orrupt 4ashions may en2oura3e them. 1u2h thou3h modern 2onditions ha*e 2han3ed 4eminine

2ir2umstan2es9 and the detail o4 5hat is 2onsidered propriety9 they ha*e not 2han3ed natural instin2t.! man has a li4e75ork9 a 2areer9 ?and male 4riends@9 all o4 5hi2h 2ould ?and do 5here he has any3uts@ sur*i*e the ship5re2k o4 =lo*e=. ! youn3 5oman9 e*en one =e2onomi2ally independent=9 as theysay no5 ?it usually really means e2onomi2 su+ser*ien2e to male 2ommer2ial employers instead o4to a 4ather or a 4amily@9 +e3ins to think o4 the =+ottom dra5er= and dream o4 a home9 almost at on2e.I4 she really 4alls in lo*e9 the ship5re2k may really end on the ro2ks. !ny5ay 5omen are in 3eneralmu2h less romanti2 and more pra2ti2al.


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lo*ed his +etrothed and +ride as a youn3 man9 has li*ed 4aith4ul to her as a 5i4e in mind and +ody5ithout deli+erate 2ons2ious e8er2ise o4 the will,5ithout sel47denial. Too 4e5 are told that P e*enthose +rou3ht up =in the Chur2h=. Those outside seem seldom to ha*e heard it. $hen the 3lamour5ears o449 or merely 5orks a +it thin9 they think they ha*e made a mistake9 and that the real soul7mate is still to 4ind. The real soul7mate too o4ten pro*es to +e the ne8t se8ually attra2ti*e person that2omes alon3. Someone 5hom they mi3ht indeed *ery pro4ita+ly ha*e married9 i4 only P. Hen2e

di*or2e9 to pro*ide the =i4 only=. !nd o4 2ourse they are as a rule Muite ri3ht they did make amistake. Only a -ery5ise man at the endo4 his li4e 2ould make a sound ud3ement 2on2ernin35hom9 amon3st the total possi+le 2han2es9 he ou3ht most pro4ita+ly to ha*e married Nearly allmarria3es9 e*en happy ones9 are mistakes in the sense that almost 2ertainly ?in a more per4e2t5orld9 or e*en 5ith a little more 2are in this *ery imper4e2t one@ +oth partners mi3ht ha*e 4oundmore suita+le mates. %ut the =real soul7mate= is the one you are a2tually married to. Qou really do*ery little 2hoosin3 li4e and 2ir2umstan2e do most o4 it ?thou3h i4 there is a od these must +e Hisinstruments9 or His appearan2es@. It is notorious that in 4a2t happy marria3es are more 2ommon5here the =2hoosin3= +y the youn3 persons is e*en more limited9 +y parental or 4amily authority9 aslon3 as there is a so2ial ethi2 o4 plain unromanti2 responsi+ility and 2onu3al 4idelity. %ut e*en in2ountries 5here the romanti2 tradition has so 4ar a44e2ted so2ial arran3ements as to make people

+elie*e that the 2hoosin3 o4 a mate is solely the 2on2ern o4 the youn39 only the rarest 3ood 4ortune+rin3s to3ether the man and 5oman 5ho are really as it 5ere =destined= 4or one another9 and 2apa+leo4 a *ery 3reat and splendid lo*e. The idea still dales us9 2at2hes us +y the throat poems andstories in multitudes ha*e +een 5ritten on the theme9 more9 pro+a+ly9 than the total o4 su2h lo*es inreal li4e ?yet the 3reatest o4 these tales do not tell o4 the happy marria3e o4 su2h 3reat lo*ers9 +ut o4their tra3i2 separationD as i4 e*en in this sphere the truly 3reat and splendid in this 4allen 5orld ismore nearly a2hie*ed +y =4ailure= and su44erin3@. In su2h 3reat ine*ita+le lo*e9 o4ten lo*e at 4irstsi3ht9 5e 2at2h a *ision9 I suppose9 o4 marria3e as it should ha*e +een in an un4allen 5orld. In this4allen 5orld 5e ha*e as our only 3uides9 pruden2e9 5isdom ?rare in youth9 too late in a3e@9 a 2lean9heart9 and 4idelity of will"....

1y o5n history is so e82eptional9 so 5ron3 and imprudent in nearly e*ery point that it makes itdi44i2ult to 2ounsel pruden2e. Qet hard 2ases make +ad la5D and e82eptional 2ases are not al5ays3ood 3uides 4or others. For 5hat it is 5orth here is some auto+io3raphy mainly on this o22asiondire2ted to5ards the points of age, and finance"

I 4ell in lo*e 5ith your mother at the appro8imate a3e o4 &:. Uuite 3enuinely9 as has +eensho5n thou3h o4 2ourse de4e2ts o4 2hara2ter and temperament ha*e 2aused me o4ten to 4all +elo5the ideal 5ith 5hi2h I started. Qour mother 5as older than I9 and not a Catholi2. !lto3etherun4ortunate9 as *ie5ed +y a 3uardian. !nd it wasin a sense *ery un4ortunateD and in a 5ay *ery +ad4or me. These thin3s are a+sor+in3 and ner*ously e8haustin3. I 5as a 2le*er +oy in the throes o45ork 4or ?a *ery ne2essary@ O84ord s2holarship. The 2om+ined tensions nearly produ2ed a +ad

+reakdo5n. I mu44ed my e8ams and thou3h ?as years a4ter5ards my HAeadB 1AasterB told me@ I

ou3ht to ha*e 3ot a 3ood s2holarship9 I only landed +y the skin o4 my teeth an e8hi+ition o4 Y/' atE8eter ust enou3h 5ith a s2hool lea*in3 s2holarshipB o4 the same amount to 2ome up on ?assisted+y my dear old 3uardian@. O4 2ourse there 5as a 2redit side9 not so easily seen +y the 3uardian. I5as 2le*er9 +ut not industrious or sin3le7mindedD a lar3e pan o4 my 4ailure 5as due simply to not5orkin3 ?at least not at 2lassi2s@ not +e2ause I 5as in lo*e9 +ut +e2ause I 5as studyin3 somethin3else othi2 and 5hat not. Ha*in3 the romanti2 up+rin3in3 I made a +oy7and73irl a44air serious9 andmade it the sour2e o4 e44ort. Naturally rather a physi2al 2o5ard9 I passed 4rom a despised ra++it on ahouse se2ond7team to s2hool 2olours in t5o seasons. !ll that sort o4 thin3. Ho5e*er9 trou+le aroseand I had to 2hoose +et5een diso+eyin3 and 3rie*in3 ?or de2ei*in3@ a 3uardian 5ho had +een a4ather to me9 more than most real 4athers9 +ut 5ithout any o+li3ation9 and =droppin3= the lo*e7a44airuntil I 5as (&. I don=t re3ret my de2ision9 thou3h it 5as *ery hard on my lo*er. %ut that 5as not my

4ault. She 5as per4e2tly 4ree and under no *o5 to me9 and I should ha*e had no ust 2omplaint?e82ept a22ordin3 to the unreal romanti2 2ode@ i4 she had 3ot married to someone else. For *erynearly threeyears I did not see or 5rite to my lo*er. It 5as e8tremely hard9 pain4ul and +itter9


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espe2ially at 4irst. The e44e2ts 5ere not 5holly 3ood I 4ell +a2k into 4olly and sla2kness andmisspent a 3ood deal o4 my 4irst year at Colle3e. %ut I don=t think anythin3 else 5ould ha*e

usti4ied marria3e on the +asis o4 a +oy=s a44airD and pro+a+ly nothin3 else 5ould ha*e hardened the5ill enou3h to 3i*e su2h an a44air ?ho5e*er 3enuine a 2ase o4 true lo*e@ permanen2e. On the ni3hto4 my (&st +irthday I 5rote a3ain to your mother Jan. 9 &,&. On Jan. :th I 5ent +a2k to her9 and

+e2ame en3a3ed9 and in4ormed an astonished 4amily. I pi2ked up my so2ks and did a spot o4 5ork

?too late to sa*e Hon. 1ods. 4rom disaster@ and then 5ar +roke out the ne8t year9 5hile I still hada year to 3o at 2olle3e. In those days 2haps oined up9 or 5ere s2orned pu+li2ly. It 5as a nasty 2le4tto +e in9 espe2ially 4or a youn3 man 5ith too mu2h ima3ination and little physi2al 2oura3e. Node3ree no money 4ian2e. I endured the o+loMuy9 and hints +e2omin3 outspoken 4rom relati*es9stayed up9 and produ2ed a First in Finals in &,&0. %olted into the army July &,&0. I 4ound thesituation intolera+le and married on 1ar2h ((9 &,&/. 1ay 4ound me 2rossin3 the Channel ?I stillha*e the *erse I 5rote on the o22asion@ 4or the 2arna3e o4 the Somme.

Think o4 your mother Qet I do not no5 4or a moment 4eel that she 5as doin3 more than sheshould ha*e +een asked to do not that that detra2ts 4rom the 2redit o4 it. I 5as a youn3 4ello59 5itha moderate de3ree9 and apt to 5rite *erse9 a 4e5 d5indlin3 pounds p. a. ?Y(' -'@9 and no

prospe2ts9 a Se2ond Lieut. on )]/ a day in the in4antry 5here the 2han2es o4 sur*i*al 5ere a3ainst

you hea*ily ?as a su+altern@. She married me in &,&/ and John 5as +orn in &,&) ?2on2ei*ed and2arried durin3 the star*ation7year o4 &,&) and the 3reat #7%oat 2ampai3n@ round a+out the +attle o4Cam+rai9 5hen the end o4 the 5ar seemed as 4ar7o44 as it does no5. I sold out9 and spent to pay thenursin37home9 the last o4 my 4e5 South !4ri2an shares9 =my patrimony=.

Out o4 the darkness o4 my li4e9 so mu2h 4rustrated9 I put +e4ore you the one 3reat thin3 to lo*eon earth the %lessed Sa2rament. .... There you 5ill 4ind roman2e9 3lory9 honour9 4idelity9 and thetrue 5ay o4 all your lo*es upon earth9 and more than that


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44 From a letter to Michael Tol8ie&&: 1ar2h &,-&ATolkien=s maternal an2estors9 the Su44ields9 2ame 4rom the $est 1id7lands9 and 5ere parti2ularly asso2iated5ith $or2estershire.B

Thou3h a Tolkien +y name9 I am a Su44ield +y tastes9 talents9 and up+rin3in39 and any 2omer o4that 2ounty A$or2estershireB ?ho5e*er 4air or sMualid@ is in an inde4ina+le 5ay =home= to me9 as noother part o4 the 5orld is. Qour 3randmother9 to 5hom you o5e so mu2h 4or she 5as a 3i4ted lady

o4 3reat +eauty and 5it9 3reatly stri2ken +y od 5ith 3rie4 and su44erin39 5ho died in youth ?at -@o4 a disease hastened +y perse2ution o4 her 4aith died in the postman=s 2otta3e at Rednal9 and is

+uried at %roms3ro*e.


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Qour o5n Father.


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46 From a dra#t to $. !. ha(ma& 26 November 1941

Aeor3e S. ordon9 5ho died early in &,-(9 5as Tolkien=s head o4 department at Leeds #ni*ersity in theearly &,('s9 +e4ore +e2omin3 6ro4essor o4 En3lish Literature at O84ord and then 6resident o4 1a3dalenColle3e. This dra4t appears to ha*e +een 5ritten in reply to a reMuest 4rom Chapman9 the Se2retary to the


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room 4or students and 5ith this 2entre the 3ro5in3 +ody o4 students +e2ame a 2ohesi*e unit9 andderi*ed some o4 the +ene4its ?or distant re4le2tions o4 them@ that 5e asso2iate 5ith a uni*ersityrather than a muni2ipal 2olle3e. It 5ould not ha*e +een di44i2ult to +uild on this 4oundation. %ut I4an2y that9 a4ter he le4t9 the thin3 ust =ran on=9 and did not 4all into hands o4 the same Muality. In any2ase num+ers 4ell and 4inan2es 2han3ed. !nd ;i2e7Chan2ellors. Sir 1i2hael Sadler I ima3ine 5as ahelp4ul superiorD and he le4t a+out the same time.


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47 To Sta&le -&%i&

A#n5in 5rote on -


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40 To . S. e%i

ALe5is kept *ery 4e5 letters9 and only t5o that Tolkien a2tually sent to him ha*e sur*i*ed. ?For the se2ond9see no. &&.@ XThe #.U.= is an a++re*iation 4or =#seless Uua2k=9 the ni2kname 3i*en +y his 4ello5 Inklin3s toR. E. Ha*ard9 Tolkien and Le5is=s do2tor. =Ridley= 5as 1. R. Ridley o4 %alliol Colle3e9 5ho9 5ith Tolkienand Le5is9 5as in*ol*ed in tea2hin3 4or2es 2adets at the uni*ersity9 on the 5artime =short 2ourses=. Le5is5as9 mean5hile9 also tra*ellin3 around En3land 3i*in3 talks on the Christian reli3ion to R!F stations.B

(' !pril &,- A(' Northmoor Road9 O84ordB1y dear Ja2k9;. sorry to hear you are laid lo5 and 5ith no #.U. to su33est that it may +e your last illness

Qou must +e * dis2onsolate. I +e3in to think that 4or us to meet on $ednesdays is a duty thereseem to +e so many o+sta2les and 4iendish de*i2es to pre*ent it.

I hope to ha*e a 3ood report o4 you soon. %ut do not trou+le yoursel4. Ridley 5as so astoundedat the i3noran2e o4 all (( 2adets9 re*ealed in his 4irst 2lass9 that he has leaped at the 2han2e o4another hour9 esp. sin2e other5ise there 5as no =#se o4 EAn3lishB= 2lass ne8t 5eek at all. Qou 2an ?i4you 5ish@ sho*e in =!rthur= on some other date9 5hen you are re2o*ered 4ully. The tutorials do notmatter.

I 4ear you are attemptin3 too mu2h. For e*en i4 you ha*e merely 3ot =4lu=9 you are pro+. tirin3

yoursel4 into an easy *i2tim. !s a mere =dire2tor=9 I shall hope *. mu2h to persuade you to ease o44 intra*el ?i4 poss.@9 and put some 5ei3ht into this 2adet stu44. I am a +it alarmed +y it. 1y lonema2hine73un sin2e it started seems to me to ha*e missed the tar3et9 and it needs at least one more3un to depend on other than the *alua+le Ridley.

I lun2hed at the !ir SMuadron to7day " 3ot a +rie4 5hi44 o4 an atmosphere no5 all too 4amiliarto you9 I e8pe2t.

Qours a44e2tionatelyT

6S. Ridley=s 4irst Muestion in the test7paper 5as a 3roup o4 5ords to de4ine apposite9 re*erend9*enal9 2hori29 se2ular and a 4e5 others.Not one2adet 3ot anyo4 the 5ords ri3ht.


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49 To . S. e%i =dra#t>

A! 2omment on Le5is=s su33estion9 in 1hristian %eha-iour?&,-@9 that =there ou3ht to +e t5o distin2t kindso4 marria3e= Christian marria3e9 5hi2h is +indin3 and li4elon39 and marria3e72ontra2ts solemnised only +ythe State9 5hi2h make no su2h demands. The dra4t9 apparently 5ritten in &,-9 5as 4ound tu2ked intoTolkien=s 2opy o4 Le5is=s +ooklet.B

1y dear L.9

I ha*e +een readin3 your +ooklet =Christian %eha*iour=. I ha*e ne*er 4elt happy a+out your *ie5o4 Christian =poli2y= 5ith re3ard to di-orce"I 2ould not +e4ore say 5hy +e2ause on the sur4a2eyour poli2y seems to +e reasona+leD and it is at any rate the system under 5hi2h Roman Catholi2salready li*e. For the moment I 5ill not ar3ue 5hether your poli2y is in 4a2t ri3ht ?4or today@9 e*enan ine*ita+le situation. %ut I should like to point out that your opinion is in your +ooklet +ased onan ar3ument that sho5s a 2on4usion o4 thou3ht dis2o*era+le 4rom that +ooklet itsel4.

p. -. =I=d +e *ery an3ry i4 the 1ohammedans tried to pre*ent the rest o4 us 4rom drinkin3 5ine.=Justly so. Let us 2onsider this point alone9 at 4irst. $hy $ell9 i4 5e try to as2end strai3hta5ay to arational plane9 and lea*e +ehind mere an3er 5ith anyone 5ho inter4eres 5ith our ha+its ?3ood or

+ad@9 the ans5er is +e2ause the 1ohammedans 5ould +e 3uilty o4 inusti2e. They 5ould +einurin3 us +y depri*in3 us o4 our share in a uni-ersal human right, the temperate use o4 5ine9a3ainst our 5ill. Qou made that Muite 2lear in your remarks a+out Temperance,p. &.

%ut look no5 at pp. (/9 '9 &. There you 5ill o+ser*e that you are really 2ommitted ?5ith theChristian Chur2h as a 5hole@ to the *ie5 that 1hristian marriage mono3amous9 permanent9ri3idly =4aith4ul= is in 4a2t the truth a+out se8ual +eha*iour 4or all humanity3this is the only road o4total health ?in2ludin3 se8 in its proper pla2e@ 4or all men and 5omen. That it is dissonant 5ithmen=s present se87psy2holo3y does not dispro*e this9 as you see =I think it is the instin2t that has3one 5ron39= you say. Indeed i4 this 5ere not so9 it 5ould +e an intolera+le inusti2e to impose

permanent mono3amy e*en on Christians. I4 Christian marria3e 5ere in the last analysis =unnatural=?o4 the same type as say the prohi+ition o4 4lesh7meat in 2ertain monasti2 rules@ it 2ould only +eimposed on a spe2ial =2hastity7order= o4 the Chur2h9 not on the uni*ersal Chur2h. No item o4

2ompulsory Christian morals is *alid only 4or Christians. ?See II So2ial 1orality at the +e3innin3.@ual pleasure, as al2oholi2 temperan2e is the +est 5ay o4enoyin3 +eer and 5ine.


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ma2hine ?5hate*er philosophi2al de4en2e they may put up@9 as 2ertainly as men 5ho 3et drunk?dou+tless 5ith a philosophi2 de4en2e also@. They are inurin3 themsel*es9 other people9 and so2iety9

+y their +eha*iour. !nd 5ron3 +eha*iour ?i4 it is really 5ron3 on uni*ersal prin2iples@ ispro3ressi*e9 al5ays it ne*er stops at +ein3 =not *ery 3ood=9 =se2ond +est= it either re4orms9 or 3oeson to third7rate9 +ad9 a+omina+le. In no department is that truer than in se8 as you yoursel4 *i*idlye8hi+it9 in the 2omparison +et5een a dish o4 +a2on and strip7tease. Qou sho5 too that you yoursel4

suspe2t that the +reak7do5n o4 se87reti2en2e in our time has not made matters +etter +ut 5orse.!nyone in any 2ase 2an see that the enormous e8tension and 4a2ilitation o4 =di*or2e= in our days9sin2e those o4 ?say@ Trollopean so2iety9 has done 3reat so2ial harm. It is a slippery slope leadin3Mui2kly to Reno9 and +eyond in 4a2t already to a promis2uity +arely restrained +y le3alities 4or a

pair 2an no5 di*or2e one another9 ha*e an interlude 5ith ne5 partners9 and then =re7marry=. !situation is +ein39 has +een9 produ2ed in 5hi2h ordinary unphilosophi2al and irreli3ious 4olk are notonly notrestrained +y la5 4rom in2onstan2y9 +ut are a2tually +y la5 and so2ial 2ustom en2oura3edto in2onstan2y. I need hardly add that a situation is thus +ein3 produ2ed in 5hi2h it is intolera+lyhard to +rin3 up Christian youth in Christian se8ual morals ?5hi2h are e8 hypothesi 2orre2t morals4or all9 and 5hi2h 5ill +e lost +ut 5hi2h depend upon Christian youth 4or their maintenan2e@.

On 5hat 3rounds then do you part 2ompany 5ith those Christians 5ho resist9 step +y step9

attempts to e8tend and make di*or2e easier ?On one point only 5ould I a3ree. I do not *ie5e8tension o4 the pro*isions o4 the la5 to all 2lasses ?irrespe2ti*e o4 rank and money@ as an e8tensiono4 di*or2e it is rather usti2e i4 you 2an ha*e real usti2e in e*il. I think in so desperate a +attle?a+out so 4undamental and *ital a matter@ that resistan2e e*en o4 =2heapenin3= o4 di*or2e may +ede4ended 5hy not sa*e the poor +y their po*ertyD +ut I admit that as an e8pedient poli2y it may

+e 3i*en an u3ly t5ist +y the enemy.@I should like to kno5 on 5hat 3rounds you +ase your =t5o7marria3e= system From the

+iolo3i2al7so2iolo3i2al point o4 *ie5 I 3ather ?4rom Hu8ley and others@ that mono3amy is pro+a+lyhi3hly +ene4i2ial to a 2ommunity. On that plane9 permanen2e and ri3id 4idelity 5ould not appear at4irst si3ht to +e essential. !ll that the =so2ial dire2tor= reMuires 5ould seem to +e a hi3h de3ree o4se8ual 2ontinen2e. %ut has this e*er +een9 and 2an it e*er +e in 4a2t a2hie*ed 5ithout =san2tions= orreli3io7le3al ordinan2e that in*ests the marria3e 2ontra2t 5ith =a5e= It does not look like it. The

+attle may +e a losin3 one9 +ut I 2annot help suspe2tin3 that those 5ho 4i3ht a3ainst the di-orceinthis 2ase o4 la5 and reli3ion are in the ri3ht. Sentire 2um e22lesia ho5 o4ten one 4inds that this is atrue 3uide. I say this all the more 2heer4ully9 +e2ause on this point I mysel4 dissentedin 4eelin3 ?note8pressly +e2ause I am under sa*in3 o+edien2e@. %ut I 5as then still under the delusion thatChristian marria3e 5as ust a +it o4 spe2ial +eha*iour o4 my =se2t or order=.

The last Christian marria3e I attended 5as held under your system the +ridal pair 5ere=married= t5i2e. They married one another +e4ore the Chur2h=s 5itness ?a priest@9 usin3 one set o44ormulas9 and makin3 a *o5 o4 li4elon3 4idelity ?and the 5oman o4 o+edien2e@D they then marrieda3ain +e4ore the State=s 5itness ?a re3istrar9 and in this 2ase addin3 in my *ie5 to the impropriety

a 5oman@ usin3 another set o4 4ormulas and makin3 no *o5 o4 4idelity or o+edien2e. I 4elt it 5asan a+omina+le pro2eedin3 and also ridi2ulous9 sin2e the 4irst set o4 4ormulas and *o5s in2ludedthe latter as the lesser. In 4a2t it 5as only not ridi2ulous on the assumption that the State 5as in 4a2tsayin3 +y impli2ation I do not re2o3nie the e8isten2e o4 your 2hur2hD you may ha*e taken 2ertain*o5s in your meetin37pla2e +ut they are ust 4oolishness9 pri*ate ta+oos9 a +urden you take onyoursel4 a limited and impermanent 2ontra2t is all that is really ne2essary 4or 2itiens. In other5ords this =sharp di*ision= is a pie2e o4 propa3anda9 a 2ounter7homily deli*ered to youn3 Christians4resh 4rom the solemn 5ords o4 the Christian minister.

AThe dra4t ends here.B


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51 From a letter to hrito(her Tol8ie& 27 /ctober 1943

AC. E. 1. Joad9 5ell kno5n 4rom his +road2asts on the %%C %rains Trust, had ust pu+lished The Reco-eryof %elief,an indi2ation that he had returned 4rom a3nosti2ism to Christianity. He had +een in*ited to dine5ith C.S.Le5is at 1a3dalen Colle3e.B

!t ,& 5ent to 1a3dalen and sa5 the Joad. He is ?e82ept in 4a2e@ not only *ery like a toad9 +utis in 2hara2ter *. like 1r Toad o4 Toad Hall9 " I no5 per2ei*e that the author o4 the est 5as more

su+tle than I kne5. Still he is intelli3ent9 kindly9 and 5e a3reed on many 4undamental points. He hasthe ad*anta3e o4 ha*in3 +een in Russia and loathin3 it. He says the =ne5 to5ns= do not rise a+o*e$illesden le*el9 and the 2ountry does not rise at all. He said i4 you 3ot into a train and looked out o4the 5indo59 and then read a +ook 4or a 4e5 hours9 and looked out a3ain P there 5ould +e nothin3outside to see to sho5 that the train had mo*ed at all


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54 From a letter to hrito(her Tol8ie& : January &,--Remem+er your 3uardian an3el. Not a plump lady 5ith s5an75in3s %ut at least this is my

notion and 4eelin3 as souls 5ith 4ree75ill 5e are9 as it 5ere9 so pla2ed as to 4a2e ?or to +e a+le to4a2e@ od. %ut od is ?so to speak@ also +ehind us9 supportin39 nourishin3 us ?as +ein3 [email protected] +ri3ht point o4 po5er 5here that li4e7line9 that spiritual um+ili2al 2ord tou2hes there is our!n3el9 4a2in3 t5o 5ays to od +ehind us in the dire2tion 5e 2annot see9 and to us. %ut o4 2ourse do

not 3ro5 5eary o4 4a2in3 od9 in your 4ree ri3ht and stren3th ?+oth pro*ided =4rom +ehind= as I [email protected] you 2annot a2hie*e in5ard pea2e9 and it is 3i*en to 4e5 to do so ?least o4 all to me@ in tri+ulation9do not 4or3et that the aspiration 4or it is not a *anity9 +ut a 2on2rete a2t. I am sorry to talk like this9and so haltin3ly. %ut I 2an do no more 4or you dearest. ....

I4 you don=t do so already9 make a ha+it o4 the =praises=. I use them mu2h ?in Latin@ the loria6atri9 the loria in E82elsis9 the Laudate


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55 To hrito(her Tol8ie&

AChristopher had no5 le4t 4or South !4ri2a9 5here he 5as to train as a pilot. This is the 4irst o4 a lon3 serieso4 letters to him9 5hi2h 5ere num+ered9 4or reasons 5hi2h Tolkien 3i*es here.B

&: January &,-- (' Northmoor Road9 O84ordF^der his briddan suna ?&@ 1y dearest9

I am a4raid it is a *ery lon3 time ?or it seems so a2tually it is a+out : days@ sin2e I 5roteD +ut Idid not Muite kno5 5hat to do9 until 5e 3ot your letter yesterday. .... I am 3lad my last lon3 letter2au3ht you +e4ore you 5ent $e don=t kno5 yet9 o4 2ourse9 ust 5hen that 5as9 or 5hither. ....

I 3a*e ( le2tures yesterday9 and then 2on4erred 5ith a+riel Tur*ille76etre a+out Cardi44. .... Imana3ed ust to 2at2h the last post 5ith my Cardi44 report. Then I had to 3o and sleep ?@ at C.HeadU. I did not not mu2h. I 5as in the small C room *ery 2old and damp. %ut an in2idento22urred 5hi2h mo*ed me and made the o22asion memora+le. 1y 2ompanion in mis4ortune 5asCe2il Roth ?the learned Je5 historian@. I 4ound him 2harmin39 4ull o4 3entleness ?in e*ery sense@Dand 5e sat up till a4ter &( talkin3. He lent me his 5at2h as there 5ere no 3oin3 2lo2ks in the pla2e and nonetheless himsel4 2ame and 2alled me at &' to ) so that I 2ould 3o to Communion It seemedlike a 4leetin3 3limpse o4 an un4allen 5orld. !2tually I 5as a5ake9 and ust ?as one does@

dis2o*erin3 a num+er o4 reasons ?other than tiredness and ha*in3 no 2han2e to sha*e or e*en 5ash@9su2h as the desira+ility o4 3ettin3 home in 3ood time to open up and un7+la2k and all that9 5hy Ishould not 3o. %ut the in2ursion o4 this 3entle Je59 and his som+re 3lan2e at my rosary +y my +ed9settled it. I 5as do5n at St !loysius at ).&0 ust in time to 3o to Con4ession +e4ore 1assD and I2ame home ust +e4ore the end o4 1ass. .... I le2tured at && a.m. ?a4ter 2olle2tin3 4ish@D and mana3edto ha*e a 2ollo3uin3 5ith the +rothers Le5is and C. $illiams ?at the $hite Horse@. !nd that isa+out all the top o44 the ne5s as 4ar as I am 2on2erned E82ept that thefoulsdo not lay9 +ut I ha*estill to 2lean out their den. ....

I start to7day numberingea2h letter9 and each page, sothat i4 any 3o a5ry you 5ill kno5 andthe +are ne5s o4 importan2e 2an +e made up. This is ?No. &@ o4 6ater ad Filium Natu ?sed haudalioMuin@ minimum F^der suna his 3num9 bm 3in3stan nalles unlo4estan. ?I suppose a pro4essor

o4 Old En3lish may +e permitted to use that lan3ua3e to a 4ormer pupil Muery 4or re4. to 2ensor9 i4any@. I 2an=t 5rite Russian and 4ind 6olish rather sti2ky yet. I e8pe2t poor old 6opta5ski 5ill +e5onderin3 ho5 I am 3ettin3 on9 soon. It 5ill +e a lon3 time +e4ore I 2an +e o4 any assistan2e to himin de*isin3 a ne5 te2hni2al *o2a+ulary The *o2a+. 5ill ust happen alon3 any5ay ?i4 there areany 6oles and 6oland le4t@....


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56 From a letter to hrito(her Tol8ie& 1 March 1944 =FS 6>

AFor =The #seless Uua2k=9 see the introdu2tory note to no. -:.B

!s I ha*e hardly seen any+ody in the last 4e5 5eeks there is no Muip9 est9 or other item o4merriment to re2ord. The #seless Uua2k has returned to O84ord !lmost the only 5ire I ha*e e*er

pulled that has run3 a +ell. %ut there he is9 uni4orm9 red7+eard9 slo5 smile and all9 still in Na*y9 +utli*in3 at home and 5orkin3 on his resear2h %oard ?1alaria@. He seems pleased9 and so do the%oard. !ll done at the 1itre 5here I pi2ked up an ur3ent enMuiry as to his 5herea+outs9 as +ein3the one man 5anted. He 5as on the other side o4 the 3lo+e ust then. Le5is is as ener3eti2 and ollyas e*er9 +ut 3ettin3 too mu2h pu+li2ity 4or his or any o4 our tastes. =6eter+orou3h=9 usually 4airlyreasona+le9 did him the dou+t4ul honour o4 a pe2uliarly mis representati*e and asinine para3raph inthe


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57 From a& air"ra(h to hrito(her Tol8ie& 3 March 1944 =FS 12>

I sa5 the t5o Le5is +ros. yesterday9 " lun2hed 5ith C.S.L. Muite an outin3 4or me. Theinde4ati3a+le man read me pan o4 a ne5 story %ut he is puttin3 the s2re5 on me to 4inish mine. Ineeded some pressure9 " shall pro+a+ly respondD +ut the =*a2.= is already hal4 o*er " the e8am.5ood only ust 2leared.


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50 To hrito(her Tol8ie&

A! des2ription o4 a *isit to %irmin3ham9 5here Tolkien 5as attendin3 a lun2h 3i*en +y the ne5 headmastero4 his s2hool. Kin3 Ed5ard=s9 5hi2h sin2e his s2hooldays had mo*ed to ne5 +uildin3s in another part o4 the2ity.B

!pril &,-- ?FS &@ (' Northmoor Road9 O84ord1y dearest9

I 5rote you an air3raph on Thursday last at ni3htD +ut un4ortunately it 5as not sent o44 onFriday9 and on Saturday I 5ent o44 early and in a rush to %rum. So it has only 3one today. Nothin3more has 2ome 4rom you sin2e yours o4 & 1ar2h ?arri*ed (:@. I 2an=t remem+er mu2h a+outFriday9 e82ept that the mornin3 5as 5re2ked +y shoppin3 and Mueuein3 result one sla+ o4 pork7pieDand that I had a dread4ully +ad and lu3u+riously dull dinner in 2olle3e9 and 5as 3lad to 3et home

+e4ore , p.m. %ut I ha*e +e3un to ni++le at Ho++it a3ain. I ha*e started to do some ?pain4ul@ 5orkon the 2hapter 5hi2h pi2ks up the ad*entures o4 Frodo and Sam a3ainD and to 3et mysel4 attunedha*e +een 2opyin3 and polishin3 the last 5ritten 2hapter ?Orthan27Stone@. Saturday 5as amemora+le day. rey9 damp and unpleasin3. %ut I 3ot o44 a+out , a.m. Cy2led to 6em+roke anddeposited +ike and lamps. Cau3ht the ,.'9 5hi2h ?ust9 I suppose9 +e2ause I had time to spare@ le4tO84ord on time ?@9 4or the 4irst time in human memory9 and rea2hed %rum only a 4e5 minuteslate. I 4ound mysel4 in a 2arria3e o22upied +y an R.!.F. o44i2er ?this 5ar=s 5in3s9 5ho had +een toSouth !4ri2a thou3h he looked a +it elderly@9 and a *ery ni2e youn3 !meri2an O44i2er9 Ne57En3lander. I stood the hot7air they let o44 as lon3 as I 2ouldD +ut 5hen I heard the Qank +ur+lin3a+out =Feudalism= and its results on En3lish 2lass7distin2tions and so2ial +eha*iour9 I opened a

+roadside. The poor +oo+ had not9 o4 2ourse9 the *ery 4aintest notions a+out =Feudalism=9 or historyat all +ein3 a 2hemi2al en3ineer. %ut you 2an=t kno2k =Feudalism= out o4 an !meri2an=s head9 anymore than the =O84ord !22ent=. He 5as impressed I think 5hen I said that an En3lishman=s relations5ith porters9 +utlers9 and tradesmen had as mu2h 2onne8ion 5ith =Feudalism= as skys2rapers had5ith Red Indian 5i35ams9 or takin3 o44 one=s hat to a lady has 5ith the modern methods o42olle2tin3 In2ome Ta8D +ut I am 2ertain he 5as not 2on*in2ed. I did ho5e*er 3et a dim notion into

his head that the =O84ord !22ent= ?+y 5hi2h he politely told me he meant mine@ 5as not =4or2ed= and=put on=9 +ut a natural one learned in the nursery and 5as moreo*er not 4eudal or aristo2rati2 +ut a*ery middle72lass +our3eois in*ention. !4ter I told him that his =a22ent= sounded to me like En3lisha4ter +ein3 5iped o*er 5ith a dirty spon3e9 and 3enerally su33ested ?4alsely@ to an En3lish o+ser*erthat9 to3ether 5ith !meri2an slou2h9 it indi2ated a slo*enly and ill7dis2iplined people 5ell9 5e 3otMuite 4riendly. $e had some +ad 2o44ee in the re4reshment room at Sno5 Hill9 and parted.

I then strolled a+out my =home to5n= 4or a +it. E82ept 4or one pat2h o4 3hastly 5re2ka3e ?opp.my old s2hool=s site@ it does not look mu2h dama3ed not +y the enemy. The 2hie4 dama3e has +eenthe 3ro5th o4 3reat 4lat 4eatureless modern +uildin3s. The 5orst o4 all is the 3hastly multiple7storeere2tion on the old site. I 2ouldn=t stand mu2h o4 that or the 3hosts that rose 4rom the pa*ementsD soI 2au3ht a tram 4rom the same old 2omer at 5hi2h I used to 2at2h it to 3o out to the playin3 4ields.


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59 From a& air"ra(h to hrito(her Tol8ie& 5 )(ril 1944 =FS 14>

I ha*e seriously em+arked on an e44ort to 4inish my +ook9 " ha*e +een sittin3 up rather late alot o4 re7readin3 and resear2h reMuired. !nd it is a pain4ul sti2ky +usiness 3ettin3 into s5in3 a3ain. Iha*e 3one +a2k to Sam and Frodo9 and am tryin3 to 5ork out their ad*entures. ! 4e5 pa3es 4or a loto4 s5eat +ut at the moment they are ust meetin3 ollum on a pre2ipi2e. $hat a lot o4 5ork you

put into the typin39 and the 2hapters 5ritten out so +eauti4ully I 5ish I still had my amanuensis and

2riti2 near at hand.


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61 From a letter to hrito(her Tol8ie& 10 )(ril 1944 =FS 17>

It has +een a 3reat e*ent to7day9 all your 2ro5d o4 letters arri*in39 and mu2h delayin3 the eatin3o4 +reak4ast..... Qour a22ounts9 5hi2h 5ere un2ensored9 distressed +ut did not surprise me. Ho5 itreminds me o4 my o5n e8perien2e Only in one 5ay 5as I +etter o44 5ireless 5as not in*ented. Idaresay it had some potential 4or 3ood9 +ut it has in 4a2t in the main +e2ome a 5eapon 4or the 4ool9the sa*a3e9 and the *illain to a44li2t the minority 5ith9 and to destroy thou3ht. Listenin3 in has killed

listenin3. I 2an only hope you 5on=t ha*e any more !ltmarks I 5as al5ays a3ainst your 2hoi2e o4ser*i2e ?on the 3round it seems a 5ar +ehind@D +ut at least it should not later land you o4ten in to theanimal horror o4 the li4e o4 a2ti*e ser*i2e on the earth su2h as tren2hli4e as I kne5 it. E*en H65ere a 6aradise to that and the !ltmark not ?pro+.@ mu2h 5orse. !t least at present you are 3ettin3an o22asional 2han2e to read. I am 3lad. od +less you. ys dG3or bu 3ebyld ha4a 5ana3eh5yl2es9 s5 i2 b 5ne to. I4 the 2ensor ?and you@ 5ill permit me to Muote an an2ient *nglish

poet and I 2an=t help thinkin3 it 2omes +etter 4rom 4ather to son9 than 4rom youn3 %eo5ul49 a+outyour a3e9 to old 3rey+eard Hroth3ar fre ^3h5yl2 s2eal ende 3e+idan 5orolde l4es 5yr2e se bemGte dGmes cr dabe. Cold stem 2ounselD and mu2h depends on =he 5ho may=9 and

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