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(did you mean Carpenter's Letter #22?)

TCG Letter #22 / Carpenter Letter #19


From
J.R.R. Tolkien
To
Stanley Unwin
Date
16 December 1937
Type
Autograph Letter Signed
Transcript
Complete
Tolkien has received a letter from Arthur Ransome, who wonders about the use of the word "man" in The Hobbit, as well as a few other letters from readers who have "given the text a flatteringly close scrutiny." Tolkien is happy that The Silmarillion hasn't been rejected out of hand. He sends on some Tom Bombadil verses, but agrees that a sequel to The Hobbit is called for.

In a newly published portion,Letters, 2023[1] Tolkien discusses Arthur Ransome's queries sent to him on 13 Decembersee Letter from Arthur Ransome to J.R.R. Tolkien • 13 December 1937 (#106) and Letter from J.R.R. Tolkien to Arthur Ransome • 15 December 1937 (#105))[2] he says that to answer these it really needs the Silmarillion to provide answers. He notes that other correspondents have given glowing reports. He says that he is “crushed by Richard Hughes” regarding the illustrations, and notes that he agreed with him. See reference below to read Richard Hughes review of The Hobbit.
Tags
References
A photocopy of this letter was included in a 1987 press packet sent to a Blackwell's executive
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien (1981), pp. 26-27, p. 435 (Carpenter notes)
J.R.R. Tolkien A Descriptive Bibliography, A6, p. 177; Di1, p. 350, Dii43, p. 360; Dii49, pp. 361-2
Cartas de J.R.R. Tolkien, pp. 45-8, p. 618 (notas de Carpenter)
The Lord of the Rings: Souvenir Booklet Commemorating Twenty Five Years of Its Publication
Partially reproduced (mostly obscured) in the George Allen & Unwin catalogue, July-December 1981.
J.R.R. Tolkien: Life and Legend, pp. 70-1 (see items 203-4)


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