Letters 
Letter Tags
Stats
Writing to his friend, Arthur Greaves, Lewis mentions among other matters, that he has been reading "a delightful... children's story Tolkien ...
Tolkien's children had been lent Barfield's book The Silver Trumpet by C.S. Lewis and very much enjoyed it.
Stanley Unwin sends to Tolkien the contract duplicate. This is noted by Hammond/Scull as the final step for accepting the Hobbit for publication and on ...
Tolkien writes to his daughter Priscilla in April 1937 while he is away on a walking tour of Somerset. He hopes to see her tomorrow. He remarks that he ...
Writing to Tolkien, C. A. Furth of GA&U asks him to return the approved binding for The Hobbit. He agrees that the 'wavy line' will be removed...
C. S. Lewis recieves an unbound copy of The Hobbit from GA&U.
Writing to Tolkien, Stanley Unwin suggests 17 November for their next meeting. Tolkien had written earlier that day suggesting other dates but writes an...
Writing to Stanley Unwin, Tolkien suggests that their next meeting should be in November, saying that the afternoon of the 10th is OK or that he is free...
Stanley Unwin writes to confirm 15 November for their meeting. He also remarks that he would like to see Lewis' Out of the Silent Planet. Wayne Ham...
In this two page handwritten letter, Tolkien thanks Unwin's son Rayner for his positive feedback on the first chapter of the new book, "A Long...
Stanley Unwin sends Tolkien a reader's report on Lewis' Out of the Silent Planet.
Tolkien writes to Stanley Unwin about C.S. Lewis's Out of the Silent Planet and gives him an update on progress on The Lord of the Rings. He also m...
Stanley Unwin writes to Tolkien on the matter of Lewis' Out of the Silent Planet. He has now received three readers reports on the novel and is awa...
Stanley Unwin writes to Tolkien again on the matter of Out of the Silent Planet. Having now received five reports and only one is positive. He has decid...
Tolkien thanks Stanley Unwin for the excellent news from America, where The Hobbit is selling well, and it has won a prize of $250. Rayner's review...
Tolkien writes to Mr. Furth, expressing his current state of being oppressed and unwell due to recent troubles. He submits Farmer Giles for consideratio...
Writing to his brother, W.H. Lewis, C.S. Lewis tells of an evening spent with Tolkien, Charles Williams, and C.L.Wrenn discussing matters of the bible. ...
Tolkien and other members of the Inklings meet at the Eastgate Hotel on 9 November. Lewis gives details on the night to his brother Warren. Among readin...
Hammond and Scull note that there is a meeting of the English Final Honour School examiners on 13-14 July 1940, on which Warnie writes on the 20 July, g...
Tolkien hopes that Christopher has not had air raids recently. He notes that he is very lonely without him close to home. Tolkien has been busy with ter...
To son Michael, Tolkien describes the dreary and busy time with foul weather, shares a humorous incident involving snuff at a pub, mentions committee wo...
Tolkien sends Christopher some money, and reminds him that it is important to remember birthdays, especially his mother's. Tolkien then goes on to ...
Tolkien asks how Christopher has been getting on with flight training, he says that he has been very busy with letters and chores, but did manage to hea...
Writing to Christopher, Tolkien remarks that has heard C.S. Lewis reading from his new translation of Aeneid, in rhymed alexandrines.
Tolkien writes to Christopher after hearing from his brother Michael that Christopher had been unwell again. Tolkien updates him on home life, with Edit...
Tolkien replies to a letter from Christopher, he is glad to hear from him and notes his instructions for his tobacco. He has prayed constantly for his s...
Tolkien has not written for a week and speaks of his "shame of letting a whole week go". He has been praying for Christopher constantly though...
Tolkien says they have received many letters from Christopher, he will feel much better when he knows that he has received theirs. Tolkien notes that he...
Tolkien had an outing, seeing the two Lewis brothers and having lunch with C.S. Lewis. Lewis read part of a new story.
Writing to Christopher, Tolkien updates him on his progress writing The Lord of the Rings. He had needed to sort the study, and "attend to business...
Tolkien acknowledges receiving Christopher's air letter and briefly mentions the weather. He provide updates on recent activities, including effort...
Writing to Christopher, Tolkien gives news of C.S. Lewis and his need for an operation to remove some shrapnel, which he says must have been in his arm ...
Tolkien reports in a newly published portion that he had received Christopher's air letter of 24 July. He says that his day on Friday was "gri...
Tolkien expresses joy at receiving an airgraph before Christopher's departure to Standerton. He discusses the progress of the chapters and promises...
Tolkien had seen C.S. Lewis and he notes how Lewis had been interested in the "angelic question" which Tolkien had mentioned to him in an earl...
Tolkien says that he gave two lectures yesterday, which was an "appalling" day of weather, but that he had an excellent morning "at the B...
Tolkien opens with the news that he has finished his Beowulf lectures. He has neglected academic matters in favour of working out the time-schemes and o...
In a newly published portion, Tolkien says that today is the last day for Christmas post arriving in time for Christmas and laments the way the holiday ...
Tolkien continues to talk about the movie he and Edith saw, remarking that his "mind and heart" are still thinking of it. He says that it has ...
Tolkien describes some domestic plumbing troubles that prevented him from meeting up with Lewis in the morning, but the eventually managed to make it to...
Tolkien says that he is finding lectures hard work, and that he is tired. He is surprised that he does not have written notes for Beowulf beyond approx....
Tolkien gives Roger Sharrock some job recommendations including Oxford, Southampton and Swansea. He mentions that C.S. Lewis's lectures on Charles ...
Tolkien writes to Sir Stanley Unwin, who had just been knighted. He asked about Farmer Giles of Ham. And remarks on his progress to The Hobbit sequel am...
Tolkien writes to his friend, Przemyslaw Mroczkowski, about C.S. Lewis and a potential move to Oxford. He mentions the cost of living in Oxford, and rem...
Przemysław Mroczkowski writes a second letter to Tolkien. He wants to study at Oxford and had asked if Tolkien could advise him on the costs of living ...
Tolkien and Lewis corresponded about what was being read aloud at an Inklings meeting. This was part of a larger conversation surrounding what they were...
C.S. Lewis had received a package from a friend in the US, and he sends it onto the Tolkien family. Edith had been unwell and, unlike Lewis, they did no...
Tolkien writes to Baynes making mention that Lewis had been in touch and wishes her a Happy Christmas. She (Baynes) is illustrating Lewis's Lion, W...
Pauline Baynes probably writes to Tolkien to say that she will be having lunch with C.S. Lewis in Oxford on 31 December.
Pauline Baynes had written to say she was meeting with C.S. Lewis on the 31st. Tolkien replies that he and his family would also like to meet her if pos...
Touching on poems about dragons, Beowulf, and fellow Inkling C. S. Lewis. This letter to Prof. Henry Bosley Woolf thanks him for sending a copy of a pap...
Tolkien writes to his son John about a meal that he had with Lewis, which they called the 'ham-feast'.
Tolkien apologizes for the delay in sending the revised manuscript for The Lord of the Rings. His move was incredibly challenging. Tolkien has finally c...
Tolkien writes to George Sayer apologising for not thanking Sayer for his letter. Tolkien had received books late, missing a contract deadline. Tolkien ...
Tolkien writes to Allen & Unwin asking if there will be opportunity for the book to be reviewed. He wants C.S. Lewis especially to be able to review the...
Tolkien writes to Rayner, he has been struggling with ill-health through the term and only recently has he been able to deal with "many strands&quo...
Tolkien discusses C.S. Lewis and his invitation to Cambridge. Lewis had initially refused the offer citing family obligations, namely his brother's...
Tolkien writes to H.S. Bennett who had written to Tolkien the previous day. He discusses the proposed move by C.S. Lewis to Cambridge. C.S. Lewis would ...
Tolkien writes that he has been involved with administrative duties as well as other distractions. He hopes that Nathan Starr has The Two Towers and is ...
Lewis thanks Brady for a review in the America magazine of his Narnia stories. Lewis remarks that he expected young readers to unconsciously get the the...
C.S. Lewis writes to C.A. Brady and talks about Dorothy Sayers, Charles Williams and J.R.R. Tolkien and his influence on them. "And as for anyone i...
Tolkien mentions C.S. (Jack) Lewis and acknowledges having limited knowledge of Lewis's troubles and commiserates with Farrer about her health.
Tolkien was not inclined to offer any biographical details, as he doubted their relevance. Though he does go on to give some biographical facts. This le...
Tolkien replies to Mary Newall, (d.1998), and discusses his health, thanks her for her kind words and his plans for The Silmarillion. He writes "To...
After receiving the script sent from Morton Grady Zimmerman Tolkien replies with (in parts) stinging criticism. He opens by apologising for sounding irr...
Tolkien comments on the C.S. Lewis book Studies in Words.
In the unpublished part of the letter Tolkien discusses the translation of The Lord of the Rings into Dutch, and in the published part Númenor, C.S. Le...
C.S. Lewis is surprised that Father Dominic thinks The Lord of the Rings "has not caught on".
Lewis, writing to Tolkien, remarks on his health. He does not drink beer very much nowadays and has been fitted with a catheter, which means he cannot m...
Lewis writing to Tolkien says that "one can at best only wound, not kill, the dragon. All my philosophy of history hangs upon a sentence of your ow...
Tolkien books a room for Michael George at Shidley Priory, and mentions C.S. Lewis resigning his chair at Cambridge.
Tolkien writes about the death of C.S. Lewis.
Tolkien discusses the death of C.S. Lewis.
Tolkien writes a letter to George Sayer after the death and funeral of his friend and Narnia creator C.S. Lewis. Years before Lewis had requested Tolkie...
Tolkien in this brief excerpt says that Lewis "was a voracious and retentive reader".
It had been agreed that the new paperback (see no. 248) should be given the title Tree and Leaf. Rayner Unwin asked if Tolkien could suggest a suitable ...
Tolkien was asked to write an obituary for the Royal Society's journal. He suggests Owen Barfield may be willing. Tolkien writes, saying that "...
A reply to a sympathetic letter of Professor Przemyslaw Mroczkowski in Kraków. Tolkien hopes that his friend has recovered from an operation, though To...
In an earlier letter Tolkien had suggested that James Heaf read his forthcoming book The Silmarillion. He now regrets that The Silmarillion might not be...
Tolkien wrote that he usually typed letters because of his handwriting (which can be very difficult to read at times). He talks about the invention of h...
A comment on an article about C. S. Lewis by one of his former pupils, George Bailey, in The Reporter, 23 April 1964.
Tolkien responds to a query from Pantheon Books about writing a preface to George MacDonald's The Golden Key. It never got past the draft stage, bu...
Tolkien was asked about his views on the works of C.S. Lewis.
Tolkien writes about The Silmarillion, the Númenórean legends, and his friendship with C.S. Lewis. He discusses the formation of the Tolkien Society o...
In the portion of this letter published in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien he writes to Kilby about the book Light on C.S. Lewis. Tolkien thanks Kilby for...
Tolkien writes about a new UK paperback edition of The Hobbit. He comments on replacing the note explaining Bilbo's changed story and the two Thrai...
Professor Kilby, of Wheaton College, Illinois, had met Tolkien while visiting Oxford in 1964. He now offered to return to England and help Tolkien in an...
Tolkien writes about the publication of a proposed book about him by W.H. Auden.
Writing to Mother Anthony, Tolkien says that the "young man 'Williams'" at Oxford working at the University Press was almost certain...
Donald Swann had written to Tolkien expressing interest in his poem 'Errantry'. Tolkien replied that was interested in his suggestion but wond...
Hooper had sent Tolkien a new volume of Lewis's writings, which he had edited.
The Plimmers had recently interviewed Tolkien for the Daily Telegraph Magazine, and had now sent him a draft of their article, the finished version of w...
White had written to Tolkien asking for information regarding the Inklings. Tolkien replies with some brief information "from memory". He says...
Tolkien writes to Verhulst appreciatively about C.S. Lewis's Letters to an American Lady, a copy of which Verhulst had sent him.
With reference to C. S. Lewis's verse 'We were talking of dragons, Tolkien and I / In a Berkshire bar. . . .' This short poem, first p...
Tolkien was delighted that his letter arrived safely and "so quickly", and Tolkien returns a poem, but retains the one from Bell's wife, ...
Christopher writes to Mr Lobdell about his questions concerning his father. Did Christopher influence the Lord of the Rings? Is the dwarves' langua...
Christopher answers questions about the Inklings.
Tolkien writes a short reply to Michael Bell thanking Bell for remembering him, assumed for his birthday? He congratulates Bell on "managing the me...
Tolkien writes about Aman and what happens to mortals, such as Frodo, when they go there. In a portion published in the C.S. Lewis Biography by Green To...
Letter Tags
Stats
Guide to Tolkien's Letters
C. S. Lewis
(101 letters match)1933
4 February 1933
C.S. Lewis to Arthur Greeves
#1769
Writing to his friend, Arthur Greaves, Lewis mentions among other matters, that he has been reading "a delightful... children's story Tolkien ...
1936
28 June 1936
C.S. Lewis to Owen Barfield
#2212
Tolkien's children had been lent Barfield's book The Silver Trumpet by C.S. Lewis and very much enjoyed it.
2 December 1936
Stanley Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien
#1839
Stanley Unwin sends to Tolkien the contract duplicate. This is noted by Hammond/Scull as the final step for accepting the Hobbit for publication and on ...
1937
c. 16 April 1937
J.R.R. Tolkien to Priscilla Tolkien
#1371
Carpenter #11c
Tolkien writes to his daughter Priscilla in April 1937 while he is away on a walking tour of Somerset. He hopes to see her tomorrow. He remarks that he ...
1 June 1937
C.A. Furth (GA&U) to J.R.R. Tolkien
#1919
Writing to Tolkien, C. A. Furth of GA&U asks him to return the approved binding for The Hobbit. He agrees that the 'wavy line' will be removed...
c. July 1937 - August 1937
George Allen & Unwin to C. S. Lewis
#1978
C. S. Lewis recieves an unbound copy of The Hobbit from GA&U.
28 October 1937
Stanley Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien
#2097
Writing to Tolkien, Stanley Unwin suggests 17 November for their next meeting. Tolkien had written earlier that day suggesting other dates but writes an...
29 October 1937 (first letter)
J.R.R. Tolkien to Stanley Unwin
#2096
Writing to Stanley Unwin, Tolkien suggests that their next meeting should be in November, saying that the afternoon of the 10th is OK or that he is free...
1 November 1937
Stanley Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien
#2100
Stanley Unwin writes to confirm 15 November for their meeting. He also remarks that he would like to see Lewis' Out of the Silent Planet. Wayne Ham...
1938
18 February 1938
J.R.R. Tolkien to Stanley Unwin
#27
Carpenter #24
In this two page handwritten letter, Tolkien thanks Unwin's son Rayner for his positive feedback on the first chapter of the new book, "A Long...
2 March 1938
Stanley Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien
#2137
Stanley Unwin sends Tolkien a reader's report on Lewis' Out of the Silent Planet.
4 March 1938
J.R.R. Tolkien to Stanley Unwin
#30
Carpenter #26
Tolkien writes to Stanley Unwin about C.S. Lewis's Out of the Silent Planet and gives him an update on progress on The Lord of the Rings. He also m...
16 March 1938
Stanley Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien
#2145
Stanley Unwin writes to Tolkien on the matter of Lewis' Out of the Silent Planet. He has now received three readers reports on the novel and is awa...
1 April 1938
Stanley Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien
#2146
Stanley Unwin writes to Tolkien again on the matter of Out of the Silent Planet. Having now received five reports and only one is positive. He has decid...
June 4th 1938
J.R.R. Tolkien to Stanley Unwin
#32
Carpenter #28
Tolkien thanks Stanley Unwin for the excellent news from America, where The Hobbit is selling well, and it has won a prize of $250. Rayner's review...
31 August 1938
J.R.R. Tolkien to C.A. Furth
#37
Carpenter #33
Tolkien writes to Mr. Furth, expressing his current state of being oppressed and unwell due to recent troubles. He submits Farmer Giles for consideratio...
1939
5 November 1939
C.S. Lewis to W.H. Lewis
#2184
Writing to his brother, W.H. Lewis, C.S. Lewis tells of an evening spent with Tolkien, Charles Williams, and C.L.Wrenn discussing matters of the bible. ...
11 November 1939
C.S. Lewis to W.H. Lewis
#2185
Tolkien and other members of the Inklings meet at the Eastgate Hotel on 9 November. Lewis gives details on the night to his brother Warren. Among readin...
1940
20 July 1940
C.S. Lewis to W.H. Lewis
#2206
Hammond and Scull note that there is a meeting of the English Final Honour School examiners on 13-14 July 1940, on which Warnie writes on the 20 July, g...
20 October 1940
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#1378
Carpenter #40a
Tolkien hopes that Christopher has not had air raids recently. He notes that he is very lonely without him close to home. Tolkien has been busy with ter...
1941
12 January 1941
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael Tolkien
#57
Carpenter #42
To son Michael, Tolkien describes the dreary and busy time with foul weather, shares a humorous incident involving snuff at a pub, mentions committee wo...
26 January 1941
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#1379
Carpenter #42a
Tolkien sends Christopher some money, and reminds him that it is important to remember birthdays, especially his mother's. Tolkien then goes on to ...
1943
19 September 1943
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#1387
Carpenter #49e
Tolkien asks how Christopher has been getting on with flight training, he says that he has been very busy with letters and chores, but did manage to hea...
22 September 1943
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#2397
Writing to Christopher, Tolkien remarks that has heard C.S. Lewis reading from his new translation of Aeneid, in rhymed alexandrines.
15 December 1943
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#1390
Carpenter #53a
Tolkien writes to Christopher after hearing from his brother Michael that Christopher had been unwell again. Tolkien updates him on home life, with Edit...
1944
6 January 1944
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#1391
Carpenter #53b
Tolkien replies to a letter from Christopher, he is glad to hear from him and notes his instructions for his tobacco. He has prayed constantly for his s...
25 January 1944
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#1392
Carpenter #55a
Tolkien has not written for a week and speaks of his "shame of letting a whole week go". He has been praying for Christopher constantly though...
27 March 1944
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#1393
Carpenter #56a
Tolkien says they have received many letters from Christopher, he will feel much better when he knows that he has received theirs. Tolkien notes that he...
30 March 1944
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#91
Carpenter #57
Tolkien had an outing, seeing the two Lewis brothers and having lunch with C.S. Lewis. Lewis read part of a new story.
14 May 1944
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#103
Carpenter #69
Writing to Christopher, Tolkien updates him on his progress writing The Lord of the Rings. He had needed to sort the study, and "attend to business...
10 June 1944
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#144
Carpenter #73
Tolkien acknowledges receiving Christopher's air letter and briefly mentions the weather. He provide updates on recent activities, including effort...
7 July 1944
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#1396
Carpenter #74a
Writing to Christopher, Tolkien gives news of C.S. Lewis and his need for an operation to remove some shrapnel, which he says must have been in his arm ...
31 July 1944
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#166
Carpenter #77
Tolkien reports in a newly published portion that he had received Christopher's air letter of 24 July. He says that his day on Friday was "gri...
23-25 September 1944
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#170
Carpenter #81
Tolkien expresses joy at receiving an airgraph before Christopher's departure to Standerton. He discusses the progress of the chapters and promises...
13 November 1944
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#1400
Carpenter #89a
Tolkien had seen C.S. Lewis and he notes how Lewis had been interested in the "angelic question" which Tolkien had mentioned to him in an earl...
29 November 1944
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#1401
Carpenter #91a
Tolkien says that he gave two lectures yesterday, which was an "appalling" day of weather, but that he had an excellent morning "at the B...
4 December 1944
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#1402
Carpenter #91b
Tolkien opens with the news that he has finished his Beowulf lectures. He has neglected academic matters in favour of working out the time-schemes and o...
18 December 1944
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#217
Carpenter #92
In a newly published portion, Tolkien says that today is the last day for Christmas post arriving in time for Christmas and laments the way the holiday ...
1945
9 January 1945
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#1405
Carpenter #94b
Tolkien continues to talk about the movie he and Edith saw, remarking that his "mind and heart" are still thinking of it. He says that it has ...
30-31 January 1945*
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#221
Carpenter #96
Tolkien describes some domestic plumbing troubles that prevented him from meeting up with Lewis in the morning, but the eventually managed to make it to...
17 February 1945
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#1407
Carpenter #97a
Tolkien says that he is finding lectures hard work, and that he is tired. He is surprised that he does not have written notes for Beowulf beyond approx....
17 November 1945
J.R.R. Tolkien to Roger Sharrock
#1068
Tolkien gives Roger Sharrock some job recommendations including Oxford, Southampton and Swansea. He mentions that C.S. Lewis's lectures on Charles ...
1946
21 July 1946
J.R.R. Tolkien to Stanley Unwin
#251
Carpenter #105
Tolkien writes to Sir Stanley Unwin, who had just been knighted. He asked about Farmer Giles of Ham. And remarks on his progress to The Hobbit sequel am...
2 August 1946
J.R.R. Tolkien to Przemyslaw Mroczkowski
#125
Tolkien writes to his friend, Przemyslaw Mroczkowski, about C.S. Lewis and a potential move to Oxford. He mentions the cost of living in Oxford, and rem...
2 August 1946
Przemysław Mroczkowski to J.R.R. Tolkien
#2522
Przemysław Mroczkowski writes a second letter to Tolkien. He wants to study at Oxford and had asked if Tolkien could advise him on the costs of living ...
1948
25 January 1948
J.R.R. Tolkien to C.S. Lewis
#265
Carpenter #113
Tolkien and Lewis corresponded about what was being read aloud at an Inklings meeting. This was part of a larger conversation surrounding what they were...
1949
Early March 1949
C.S. Lewis to J.R.R. Tolkien
#2707
C.S. Lewis had received a package from a friend in the US, and he sends it onto the Tolkien family. Edith had been unwell and, unlike Lewis, they did no...
20 December 1949
J.R.R. Tolkien to Pauline Baynes
#1162
Carpenter #122a
Tolkien writes to Baynes making mention that Lewis had been in touch and wishes her a Happy Christmas. She (Baynes) is illustrating Lewis's Lion, W...
?21-?24 December 1949
Pauline Baynes to J.R.R. Tolkien
#2742
Pauline Baynes probably writes to Tolkien to say that she will be having lunch with C.S. Lewis in Oxford on 31 December.
25 December 1949
J.R.R. Tolkien to Pauline Baynes
#916
Pauline Baynes had written to say she was meeting with C.S. Lewis on the 31st. Tolkien replies that he and his family would also like to meet her if pos...
1951
9 May 1951
J.R.R. Tolkien to Henry Bosley Woolf
#40
Touching on poems about dragons, Beowulf, and fellow Inkling C. S. Lewis. This letter to Prof. Henry Bosley Woolf thanks him for sending a copy of a pap...
1952
10 February 1952
J.R.R. Tolkien to Father John Tolkien
#314
Carpenter #132
Tolkien writes to his son John about a meal that he had with Lewis, which they called the 'ham-feast'.
1953
11 April 1953
J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin
#353
Carpenter #137
Tolkien apologizes for the delay in sending the revised manuscript for The Lord of the Rings. His move was incredibly challenging. Tolkien has finally c...
28 April 1953
J.R.R. Tolkien to George Sayer
#161
Tolkien writes to George Sayer apologising for not thanking Sayer for his letter. Tolkien had received books late, missing a contract deadline. Tolkien ...
5 June 1953
J.R.R. Tolkien to Allen & Unwin
#1425
Carpenter #137c
Tolkien writes to Allen & Unwin asking if there will be opportunity for the book to be reviewed. He wants C.S. Lewis especially to be able to review the...
19 November 1953
J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin
#1432
Carpenter #141b
Tolkien writes to Rayner, he has been struggling with ill-health through the term and only recently has he been able to deal with "many strands&quo...
1954
17 May 1954
J.R.R. Tolkien to Henry Willink
#188
Tolkien discusses C.S. Lewis and his invitation to Cambridge. Lewis had initially refused the offer citing family obligations, namely his brother's...
17 May 1954
J.R.R. Tolkien to H.S. Bennett
#920
Tolkien writes to H.S. Bennett who had written to Tolkien the previous day. He discusses the proposed move by C.S. Lewis to Cambridge. C.S. Lewis would ...
1955
2 June 1955
J.R.R. Tolkien to Nathan C. Starr
#203
Tolkien writes that he has been involved with administrative duties as well as other distractions. He hopes that Nathan Starr has The Two Towers and is ...
1956
6 December 1956
C.S. Lewis to C.A. Brady
#2356
Lewis thanks Brady for a review in the America magazine of his Narnia stories. Lewis remarks that he expected young readers to unconsciously get the the...
1957
5 January 1957
C.S. Lewis to C.A. Brady
#2357
C.S. Lewis writes to C.A. Brady and talks about Dorothy Sayers, Charles Williams and J.R.R. Tolkien and his influence on them. "And as for anyone i...
21 March 1957
J.R.R. Tolkien to Katharine Farrer
#558
Carpenter #196
Tolkien mentions C.S. (Jack) Lewis and acknowledges having limited knowledge of Lewis's troubles and commiserates with Farrer about her health.
24 June 1957
J.R.R. Tolkien to Caroline Everett
#561
Carpenter #199
Tolkien was not inclined to offer any biographical details, as he doubted their relevance. Though he does go on to give some biographical facts. This le...
10 August 1957
J.R.R. Tolkien to Mary Newall
#2776
Tolkien replies to Mary Newall, (d.1998), and discusses his health, thanks her for her kind words and his plans for The Silmarillion. He writes "To...
1958
9 June 1958
J.R.R. Tolkien to Forrest J. Ackerman
#584
Carpenter #210
After receiving the script sent from Morton Grady Zimmerman Tolkien replies with (in parts) stinging criticism. He opens by apologising for sounding irr...
1960
12 September 1960
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#600
Carpenter #224
Tolkien comments on the C.S. Lewis book Studies in Words.
1961
5 January 1961
J.R.R. Tolkien to Mrs E. C. Ossendrijver
#465
Carpenter #227
In the unpublished part of the letter Tolkien discusses the translation of The Lord of the Rings into Dutch, and in the published part Númenor, C.S. Le...
4 August 1961
C.S. Lewis to Father Dominic
#779
C.S. Lewis is surprised that Father Dominic thinks The Lord of the Rings "has not caught on".
1962
20 November 1962
C.S. Lewis to J.R.R. Tolkien
#2505
Lewis, writing to Tolkien, remarks on his health. He does not drink beer very much nowadays and has been fitted with a catheter, which means he cannot m...
24 December 1962
C.S. Lewis to J.R.R. Tolkien
#2506
Lewis writing to Tolkien says that "one can at best only wound, not kill, the dragon. All my philosophy of history hangs upon a sentence of your ow...
1963
18 August 1963
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael George Tolkien
#2668
Tolkien books a room for Michael George at Shidley Priory, and mentions C.S. Lewis resigning his chair at Cambridge.
?Late November -?early December 1963
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael Tolkien
#627
Carpenter #252
Tolkien writes about the death of C.S. Lewis.
26 November 1963
J.R.R. Tolkien to Priscilla Tolkien
#626
Carpenter #251
Tolkien discusses the death of C.S. Lewis.
28 November 1963
J.R.R. Tolkien to George Sayer
#509
Tolkien writes a letter to George Sayer after the death and funeral of his friend and Narnia creator C.S. Lewis. Years before Lewis had requested Tolkie...
December 1963
J.R.R. Tolkien to Jared C. Lobdell
#510
Tolkien in this brief excerpt says that Lewis "was a voracious and retentive reader".
23 December 1963
J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin
#628
Carpenter #253
It had been agreed that the new paperback (see no. 248) should be given the title Tree and Leaf. Rayner Unwin asked if Tolkien could suggest a suitable ...
1964
17 January 1964
J.R.R. Tolkien to The Royal Society of Literature
#539
Tolkien was asked to write an obituary for the Royal Society's journal. He suggests Owen Barfield may be willing. Tolkien writes, saying that "...
20-26 January 1964
J.R.R. Tolkien to Przemyslaw Mroczkowski
#543
A reply to a sympathetic letter of Professor Przemyslaw Mroczkowski in Kraków. Tolkien hopes that his friend has recovered from an operation, though To...
8 July 1964
J.R.R. Tolkien to James Heaf
#545
In an earlier letter Tolkien had suggested that James Heaf read his forthcoming book The Silmarillion. He now regrets that The Silmarillion might not be...
16 July 1964
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Bretherton
#631
Carpenter #257
Tolkien wrote that he usually typed letters because of his handwriting (which can be very difficult to read at times). He talks about the invention of h...
30 August 1964
J.R.R. Tolkien to Anne Barrett (Houghton Mifflin)
#635
Carpenter #261
A comment on an article about C. S. Lewis by one of his former pupils, George Bailey, in The Reporter, 23 April 1964.
7 September 1964
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael di Capua
#636
Carpenter #262
Tolkien responds to a query from Pantheon Books about writing a preface to George MacDonald's The Golden Key. It never got past the draft stage, bu...
11 November 1964
J.R.R. Tolkien to David Kolb, S.J.
#639
Carpenter #265
Tolkien was asked about his views on the works of C.S. Lewis.
1965
12 September 1965
J.R.R. Tolkien to Dick Plotz
#650
Carpenter #276
Tolkien writes about The Silmarillion, the Númenórean legends, and his friendship with C.S. Lewis. He discusses the formation of the Tolkien Society o...
20 October 1965
J.R.R. Tolkien to Clyde S. Kilby
#652
Carpenter #278
In the portion of this letter published in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien he writes to Kilby about the book Light on C.S. Lewis. Tolkien thanks Kilby for...
15 December 1965
J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin
#654
Carpenter #281
Tolkien writes about a new UK paperback edition of The Hobbit. He comments on replacing the note explaining Bilbo's changed story and the two Thrai...
18 December 1965
J.R.R. Tolkien to Clyde S. Kilby
#655
Carpenter #282
Professor Kilby, of Wheaton College, Illinois, had met Tolkien while visiting Oxford in 1964. He now offered to return to England and help Tolkien in an...
1966
9 March 1966
J.R.R. Tolkien to Roger Verhulst
#724
Tolkien writes about the publication of a proposed book about him by W.H. Auden.
12 April 1966
J.R.R. Tolkien to Mother Mary Anthony
#747
Writing to Mother Anthony, Tolkien says that the "young man 'Williams'" at Oxford working at the University Press was almost certain...
14 October 1966
J.R.R. Tolkien to Donald Swann
#1014
Carpenter #289c
Donald Swann had written to Tolkien expressing interest in his poem 'Errantry'. Tolkien replied that was interested in his suggestion but wond...
22 November 1966
J.R.R. Tolkien to Walter Hooper
#664
Carpenter #291
Hooper had sent Tolkien a new volume of Lewis's writings, which he had edited.
1967
8 February 1967
J.R.R. Tolkien to Charlotte and Denis Plimmer
#667
Carpenter #294
The Plimmers had recently interviewed Tolkien for the Daily Telegraph Magazine, and had now sent him a draft of their article, the finished version of w...
11 September 1967
J.R.R. Tolkien to William Luther White
#671
Carpenter #298
White had written to Tolkien asking for information regarding the Inklings. Tolkien replies with some brief information "from memory". He says...
4 December 1967
J.R.R. Tolkien to Roger Verhulst
#746
Tolkien writes to Verhulst appreciatively about C.S. Lewis's Letters to an American Lady, a copy of which Verhulst had sent him.
1968
20 February 1968
J.R.R. Tolkien to Walter Hooper
#673
Carpenter #300
With reference to C. S. Lewis's verse 'We were talking of dragons, Tolkien and I / In a Berkshire bar. . . .' This short poem, first p...
1969
25 January 1969
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael Bell
#1174
Tolkien was delighted that his letter arrived safely and "so quickly", and Tolkien returns a poem, but retains the one from Bell's wife, ...
1 April 1969
Christopher Tolkien to J.C. Lobdell
#1017
Christopher writes to Mr Lobdell about his questions concerning his father. Did Christopher influence the Lord of the Rings? Is the dwarves' langua...
4 June 1969
Christopher Tolkien to J.C. Lobdell
#1018
Christopher answers questions about the Inklings.
1971
25 January 1971
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael Bell
#1173
Tolkien writes a short reply to Michael Bell thanking Bell for remembering him, assumed for his birthday? He congratulates Bell on "managing the me...
17 July 1971
J.R.R. Tolkien to Roger Lancelyn Green
#420
Carpenter #325
Tolkien writes about Aman and what happens to mortals, such as Frodo, when they go there. In a portion published in the C.S. Lewis Biography by Green To...
6