TCG Letter #7 / Carpenter Letter #7

Tolkien applies for the position of 'Professorship of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University'. He describes his schooling and his time at Leeds University as Reader in English Language, and details what he would do if he were to be accepted for the Professorship at Oxford.

In November 2023, HarperCollins published a new updated version of The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien and a small addition was added to this letter where Tolkien says that his department's achievements in scholarship appear small but that a number of those who obtained a first class have gone on to work on such distinguished projects as the Oxford English Dictionary, and to work on the 'Survey of English Place-Names'. He also notes that some very interesting dissertations have been presented recently, notably on place-names of Richmondshire, and a translation of Saga of Hrolf Kraki. He expects both to be published.

The date on the application letter is June 25th, but Scull and Hammond note in Chronology (2017, p. 139) that Tolkien dated the cover letter June 27th, so this was not actually mailed on the 25th.