1936

21 July 1936

?Guy Pocock (BBC) to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1826

The BBC writes to Tolkien for permission to broadcast a portion of his translation of the Middle English poem Pearl. Tolkien will reply on the same day ...

21 July 1936

J.R.R. Tolkien to ?Guy Pocock (BBC)

#1827

Tolkien replies to the BBC's request to broadcast a portion of his translation of Pearl. He gives permission for the reading.

1937

16 November 1937

C.V. Salmon to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2105

C.V. Salmon from the BBC writes to Tolkien to ask if he would like to discuss a project. Salmon wants to give a broadcast on Beowulf including a reading...

17 November 1937

J.R.R. Tolkien to C.V. Salmon

#2106

Tolkien replies to Salmon of the BBC who had written asking about Tolkien's interest in a BBC Radio programme on Beowulf. Tolkien would be very int...

23 November 1937

C.V. Salmon to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2110

Salmon writes to Tolkien and asks if they can meet in Oxford on 29 November, a Monday.

26 November 1937

J.R.R. Tolkien to C.V. Salmon

#2111

Tolkien replies to Salmon. He can meet him any time on Monday, 29th November.

30 November 1937

C.V. Salmon to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2114

Salmon had visited Tolkien in Oxford the previous day and they had organised a date for their Beowulf broadcast but he writes to say that the date is no...

3 December 1937

J.R.R. Tolkien to C.V. Salmon

#2118

Tolkien replies to C.V. Salmon of the BBC. He is available on 14 January for the broadcast of the Beowulf reading but objects to the loss of five minute...

7 December 1937

C.V. Salmon to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2119

Salmon replies to Tolkien's letter agreeing that it better to cut down the reading, retaining the introductory reading for their Beowulf broadcast.

15 December 1937

C.V. Salmon to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2120

C.V. Salmon writes asking Tolkien if he is free after 3 January (1938) to rehearse the reading of their Beowulf broadcast.

17 December 1937

C.V. Salmon to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2122

Salmon writes to ask Tolkien how he would like to be described in the Radio Times for their Beowulf broadcast.

18 December 1937

J.R.R. Tolkien to C.V. Salmon

#2123

Tolkien writes to C.V. Salmon explaining that he has been ill and has not yet written the broadcast for 14 January on Beowulf. he will get it to him as ...

24 December 1937

C.V. Salmon to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2127

C.V. Salmon writes to Tolkien to suggest that they set 12 January 1938 for their rehearsal of the Beowulf broadcast on BBC Radio.

27 December 1937

J.R.R. Tolkien to C.V. Salmon

#2128

Tolkien replies to C.V. Salmon. He says that he is in London on 10 January, which would work better for him. He explains that he is still unwell but tha...

1938

3 January 1938

C.V. Salmon to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2130

C.V. Salmon writes to Tolkien to confirm that he has secured a studio for their rehearsal of the Beowulf broadcast which will take place on 14 January. ...

?6 January 1938

J.R.R. Tolkien to C.V. Salmon

#2131

Tolkien writes to C.V. Salmon to confirm that he should be at the BBC studio by 11am on January 10th, if the 9.12am train to London is on time. He remar...

?7 January 1938

J.R.R. Tolkien to C.V. Salmon

#2132

Tolkien sends his script to C.V. Salmon for their BBC Radio Beowulf broadcast. He hopes that he has managed to time it correctly for the fifteen minute ...

13 January 1938

J.R.R. Tolkien to C.V. Salmon

#2133

Tolkien sends a revised script for the Beowulf broadcast. He mentions that one of his children has "suddenly developed a bad heart" and he has...

1949

6 October 1949 (resent twice)*

T.S. Gregory to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2736

T.S. Gregory from the Talks Department at the BBC, writes to Tolkien. He would like Tolkien to speak on the Third Programme about the fourteenth-century...

1950

11 August 1950

Harman Grisewood to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2782

Harman Grisewood, Controller from the BBC's Third Programme writes to Tolkien after hearing that he has completed a translation of a part of Sir Ga...

17 August 1950

J.R.R. Tolkien to Harman Grisewood

#2783

In reply to #TCGLetter2782, Tolkien remarks that his translation of Sir Gawain is now far advanced, and he would welcome interest in it being using on B...

7 September 1950

Harman Grisewood to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2788

Grisewood writes again to Tolkien, asking to see a part of Tolkien's text for Sir Gawain and the Green Knight to judge its suitability for broadcas...

25 September 1950

J.R.R. Tolkien to Harman Grisewood

#2806

Tolkien replies to Grisewood on the matter if his translation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. He is yet to complete it but includes a portion that h...

26 October 1950

Harman Grisewood to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2810

Harman Grisewood replies to Tolkien. His in-progress translation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight will be suitable for broadcast on BBC radio.

30 October 1950

D.G. Bridson to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2811

Assistant Head of Features for the BBC, D.G. Bridson, writes to Tolkien about his translation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. It will have to be spl...

13 November 1950

J.R.R. Tolkien to D.G. Bridson

#2822

In reply to Bridson, Tolkien remarks that he has no other reason to visit London currently but would be able to visit around 2nd December after the end ...

20 November 1950

D.G. Bridson to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2823

Bridson returns Tolkien's Sir Gawain text for revision. He suggests that Tolkien does nothing until they discuss the broadcast, but that it will be...

1953

15 July 1953

Dylan Thomas to P.H. Newby

#2545

Dylan Thomas was asked to read Tolkien's translation of Sir Gawain & The Green Knight on the BBC Third Programme. Thomas was in America and was una...

31 August 1953

J.R.R. Tolkien to George Sayer

#2546

Letter discussing galleys of Lord of the Rings as well as Tolkien's translation of Sir Gawain. Although he complains about the lack of a tape recor...

15 October 1953

J.R.R. Tolkien to P.H. Newby

#1431

Carpenter #141a

Tolkien writes to P.H. Newby, giving details of his various health issues at present. He is suffering from laryngitis, lumbago, and sciatica. He still h...

6 November 1953

J.R.R. Tolkien to P.H. Newby

#2547

Tolkien apologises for missing rehearsals, but had a throat illness. He agrees to postpone his BBC recording until December.

1954

22 November 1954

J.R.R. Tolkien to Miss Perry

#1086

Tolkien replies to Miss Perry, who had sent Tolkien a favourable review of The Lord of the Rings. He was very pleased and discusses it along with other ...

1955

28 June 1955

J.R.R. Tolkien to Miss Perry

#1089

Tolkien mentions his visit to London where he met Rayner Unwin. He met Mr. Wilson, who he described as "the small old Scot who seems to reign over ...

1971

8 January 1971

J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael George Tolkien

#2683

Tolkien writes about his love of Ireland. Tolkien's Interview with Denys Gueroult was repeated on the radio and he had forgotten it being recorded ...

1980

24 September 1980

BBC to Jan Veltman

#2890

The BBC confirmed that they do not have a recording of Tolkien's Sir Gawain radio broadcast in the archives.

1981

20 March 1981

John Jones to Jan Veltman

#2891

Professor Jones stated that Merton College did not have a recording of Tolkien's BBC Radio Sir Gawain.