1937

16 December 1937

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J.R.R. Tolkien to Stanley Unwin

#22

 Carpenter #19

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 reader...

1942

15 March 1942

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J.R.R. Tolkien to John Kettle

#116

Tolkien notes his pleasure at receiveing letters from readers. He mentions his mythology and remarks that he has nearly finished a second book on hobbit...

7 December 1942

J.R.R. Tolkien to Stanley Unwin

#62

 Carpenter #47

Tolkien expresses gratitude for the note from Stanley Unwin and discusses the progress of the sequel to The Hobbit that he has been working on since 193...

1944

29 November 1944

J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien

#216

 Carpenter #91

Tolkien sends a small consignment of "The Ring," consisting of the last two chapters that have been written and the end of the Fourth Book. The hero is ...

1945

9 January 1945

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J.R.R. Tolkien to Leila Keane and Patricia Kirke

#572

Tolkien writes to Leila Keane and Patricia Kirke, he discusses his progress with The Lord of the Rings, and the fortunes of his family. The letter was a...

1946

30 September 1946

J.R.R. Tolkien to Stanley Unwin

#252

 Carpenter #106

Tolkien expresses delight at the prospect of publishing "Farmer Giles of Ham" but cites academic commitments as a hindrance to providing more material p...

1949

27 October 1949

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C.S. Lewis to J.R.R. Tolkien

#908

Lewis writes to Tolkien after reading The Lord of the Rings giving Tolkien high praise and feedback. The entire letter is published in volume two of Lew...

1951

9 May 1951

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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...

1954

25 April 1954

J.R.R. Tolkien to Naomi Mitchison

#372

 Carpenter #144

Tolkien writes about his use of languages in the book and explains the challenges faced in creating maps for The Lord of the Rings. He discusses the dis...

21 August 1954

J.R.R. Tolkien to Neville Coghill

#190

Christina Scull and Wayne Hammond in a blogpost posted an extract of a letter to Nevill Coghill which can be read at

27-30 September 1954

J.R.R. Tolkien to Peter Hastings

#401

 Carpenter #153

Tolkien responds to a reader's extensive analysis and questions about The Lord of the Rings. Amongst many topics, Tolkien discusses the unique fate of H...

1955

7 June 1955

J.R.R. Tolkien to W. H. Auden

#476

 Carpenter #163

Tolkien shares insights into the origins and inspirations behind his writing, particularly focusing on The Lord of the Rings. He discusses the evolution...

30 November 1955

J.R.R. Tolkien to Molly Waldron

#524

 Carpenter #175

Tolkien writes about the radio adaption of The Lord of the Rings. He specifically criticizes the portrayal of events around Tom Bombadil and Goldberry.

1958

8 April 1958

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#581

 Carpenter #207

Tolkien expresses his intent to review the "Story-Line" provided by Zimmerman for the animated film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien indicat...

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...

1961

1961

J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Fettes

#464

Christopher Fettes had written to Tolkien asking why he referred to both Tom Bombadil and Treebeard as the "oldest beings in Middle-earth". In Tolkien's...

23 February 1961

J.R.R. Tolkien to Allen & Unwin

#604

 Carpenter #229

Tolkien’s commentary on Åke Ohlmarks’ introduction to the Swedish translation of The Lord of the Rings.

4 October 1961

J.R.R. Tolkien to Jane Neave

#606

 Carpenter #231

Tolkien writes to his Aunt Jane about publishing Tom Bombadil.

11 October 1961

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#1070

Tolkien suggests a book about Tom Bombadil as "an interim amusement" that wouldn't cost too much. He suggests Pauline Baynes as illustrator.

2 November 1961

Rayner Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1071

Rayner suggests that Tolkien include additional poems with 'Tom Bombadil' not just from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

15 November 1961

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J.R.R. Tolkien to Jane Neave

#487

Tolkien has been asked to provide more poems to go with 'Tom Bombadil' as the book is too small according to GA&U. He notes that he believed a small vol...

15 November 1961

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#608

 Carpenter #233

Allen & Unwin agree to publish The Adventures of Tom Bombadil.

18 November 1961

Rayner Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1073

Rayner tells Tolkien that he has sent the 'Tom Bombadil' poems to Pauline Baynes to get her thoughts.

22 November 1961

J.R.R. Tolkien to Jane Neave

#609

 Carpenter #234

Tolkien sends some poems that he is considering for The Adventures of Tom Bombadil. A lecture he gave on fairy stories at St Andrews consolidated his vi...

23 November 1961

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J.R.R. Tolkien to Pauline Baynes

#489

Tolkien notes the evolution of the The Adventure's of Tom Bombadil,

6 December 1961

J.R.R. Tolkien to Pauline Baynes

#610

 Carpenter #235

Pauline Baynes, who had illustrated Farmer Giles of Ham, had expressed herself willing to provide pictures for The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, and had b...

1962

12 January 1962

Rayner Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1075

Rayner Unwin sends Tolkien a specimen page for The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, and estimates the book would be a total of 64 pages.

5 February 1962

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#1076

Tolkien submits additional poems for possible inclusion in the 'Tom Bombadil' book - 'Firiel', 'The Trees of Kortirion', 'Shadow-Bride' and 'Knocking at...

12 April 1962

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#612

 Carpenter #237

Tolkien discusses progress with The Adventures of Tom Bombadil. Chronology contains additional material quoted beyond what appears in Letters. The origi...

18 July 1962

J.R.R. Tolkien to Jane Neave

#613

 Carpenter #238

Writing to his aunt, Jane Neave, and in a newly published From the original Letters, 1981. Tolkien had sent Jane a cheque, but she returned it suggestin...

1 August 1962

J.R.R. Tolkien to Pauline Baynes

#615

 Carpenter #240

Pauline Baynes, who was illustrating The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, pointed out that the typescript of the title poem described Tom as wearing a peacoc...

2 November 1962

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#1478

 Carpenter #241a

Tolkien says that as Rayner knows, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil began, with his Aunt Jane. he asks that a complimentary copy be sent to her and charge...

14 November 1962

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J.R.R. Tolkien to H [Humphrey]. Cotton Minchin

#500

Tolkien expresses gratitude for Philip Toynbee's famous assault on his work in The Observer in 1961: Minchin was editor of The Legion Book (1929) and, l...

28 November 1962

J.R.R. Tolkien to Sir Stanley Unwin

#617

 Carpenter #242

The Adventures of Tom Bombadil was published on 22 November. Additional quotes and context appear in Chronology than what is in Letters. The original le...

1963

12 February 1963

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J.R.R. Tolkien to Mr. Elliot-Howard

#501

Mr. Elliot-Howard had written to Tolkien telling him of his adventures travelling around the world with his copy of The Lord of the Rings.

16 December 1963

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J.R.R. Tolkien to Baronne A. Baeyens

#516

Tolkien opens this letter by apologising for his delay in replying to a letter from September, and that his secretary had typed up a note but he felt a ...

1964

20-26 January 1964

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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...

5 March 1964

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J.R.R. Tolkien to Eileen Elgar

#164

 Carpenter #255

Eileen Elgar wrote to Tolkien asking for information about The Silmarillion. Included in his reply was a nine page manuscript, with genealogical tree il...

1967

12 May 1967

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J.R.R. Tolkien to David Best

#996

This letter was featured on the BBC's Repair Shop broadcast on 25th January 2023 (see reference). In this letter Tolkien replies that he has received Da...

1969

15 January 1969

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Joy Hill to Brian Sibley

#727

Tolkien's secretary, Joy Hill, returns Brian Sibley's copy of The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, which Tolkien has signed and hand-corrected one of the poems.

1971

December 1971

J.R.R. Tolkien to Patient in Broadmoor Hospital

#1509

 Carpenter #331a

Tolkien discusses Hobbits and mentions that he will be in an upcoming edition of The Sunday Times. Broadmoor Hospital is a high-security psychiatric hos...