Letters 
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Tolkien writes to Edith, commenting that he wants to return England to Roman Catholicism.
This letter concerns R.W. Chambers biography of Thomas More. Quotes from the letter were published in Moreana 94 (June 1987) and Moreana 105 (April 1991).
Reverend Adrian Morey writes to Tolkien, informing him that he has found an Anglo-Saxon version of the Lord's Prayer while at the British Museum. He ask...
Re. Adrian Morey writes to Tolkien. Tolkien had advised him to write an article on the 'Our Father' prayer in Anglo-Saxon, but Morey says that he has de...
Writing to his friend and colleague E.V. Gordon, Tolkien says of Gordon that he has been treated badly. He says that he cannot help enough on the Pearl ...
Tolkien replies to a letter from his son Michael where he had evidently spoken about his feelings about events of the world, studies, etc. Tolkien is re...
In a letter to his son Michael, Tolkien expresses his struggles with writing due to constant rain and increased responsibilities. He sympathizes with go...
Writing to C.S. Lewis, Tolkien critiques views on Christian marriage and divorce, pointing out what he sees as a confusion in the argument presented in ...
Tolkien offers Christopher advice on prayer and to remember his guardian angel. He reminds him to use "praises", and says of them "if you have these by ...
Tolkien apologizes to Christopher for the delay in writing and shares details of recent activities, including giving lectures, discussing Cardiff with G...
Tolkien had received an airletter from Christopher that morning and he read it while enjoying breakfast in bed. He describes the events of St. George's ...
Tolkien writes of his longing and concern for Christopher in the midst of war, reflecting on human suffering and the senselessness of conflict. Despite ...
In a newly published portion of this letter Tolkien remarks on what a wonderful week it has been for letters from Christopher. He hopes that letters fro...
In this letter to the Evening Despatch of Birmingham, Michael specifies that he does not belong to any particular political party and that his is an int...
Tolkien has just seen a "skywide armada" fly overhead, but thinks he can mention it in his letter because it will be long gone before any risk of the ne...
In regards to Christopher's mentioning of his guardian angel where a particular beam of light had illuminated a dust mote and sparked a deep moment of e...
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 earlier le...
Tolkien says he is struggling with letters, many of which he should have written at Christmas. He complains that the weather is bitterly cold and he can...
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 the qua...
Tolkien says that he is still “under the influence” of the movie he and Edith saw a week ago and continues to talk about religion, God, and other as...
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 describes a letter he has written to the Catholic Herald, in rebuttal to someone who thinks Coventry is derived from Convent.
Tolkien expresses sympathy to Ms. Williams and her son, and his grief over the loss of her husband Charles Williams. The transcript in Carpenter's Lette...
This letter was co-signed by Tolkien, and members of the Newman Society to the Times was in support of Cardinal Mindszenty who had been arrested in Hung...
Tolkien wrote this letter to Milton Waldman. Tolkien wanted his publisher, George Allen & Unwin, to publish both The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarill...
Robert Murray had offered Tolkien some thought on The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien replied that The Lord of the Rings is a Catholic work, describing it as...
Tolkien responds to Mrs. Mitchison's kind letter and her generous and perceptive review of The Lord of the Rings. He discusses the complexity of the wor...
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...
Tolkien addresses several topics related to The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien discusses the characters Smeagol and Gandalf (including the nature of the Ist...
Tolkien writes about his Italian holiday. Tolkien and Priscilla visited Assisi and Venice.
Tolkien responds to a reviewer's questions about The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien discusses that the story is meant to be enjoyed as a fairy tale. He ment...
Tolkien writes to his eldest son, Father John Tolkien, saying that he will miss him at Christmas time but knows that he will see him soon. He says he is...
Tolkien reflects on Frodo's role in the destruction of the Ring and discusses the theological implications of his actions. Tolkien rejects the notion of...
Writing to son Michael, Tolkien muses on his faith and how it brings him solace in times of trouble, he details how it helps, how it sometimes is a burd...
Tolkien discusses Frodo's attitude towards weapons and clarifies that Frodo was not a modern "pacifist."
Tolkien discusses various matters including academic news, Hebrew, work with The Jerusalem Bible, the Book of Jonah. Excerpts from this letter were publ...
Tolkien provides an explanation of Sauron's nature and his role in the world.
Tolkien describes the 'message' in The Lord of the Rings.
Tolkien apologises for the cost of The Lord of the Rings. He notes that he did not research his tale but that any tale cannot exist in a void and one ca...
Tolkien gives thanks for a gift of a booklet on the Rosary and says that he has benefited from it tremendously. He gives his reasoning for coming to the...
Tolkien answers questions about The Lord of the Rings, especially regarding the failure of Frodo. Marquette archives have a partial transcript along wit...
Tolkien thanks Michael for his letter. He gives him some fatherly advice and talks about his Christian faith. He was interested in how Michael George wa...
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 writes to Christopher. He reflects on the unwillingness of contemporary society to discuss complicated issues in the public square, and alludes ...
Tolkien talks about the death of Dr C.T. Onions and his memories of Fr. Francis.
Auden had asked Tolkien if the notion of the Orcs, an entire race that was irredeemably wicked, was not heretical.
Tolkien writes to Rigby acknowledging the theological aspects of The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien says that there is a lot of theology in the work. A desc...
Tolkien thanks Kilby for his visit and apologizes for being busy. On a seperate page, Tolkien includes a three paragraph fragment from the review of an ...
Tolkien sends his congratulations to Rose, who has become a nun. He mentions that his son Father John has said a Mass for Rose's father.
Writing to Father Jones, Tolkien thanks him for including his name in the list of contributors of the New Jerusalem Bible, even though Tolkien feels lik...
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...
Writing to son Michael, Tolkien remarks on the current state of the Church and says that these need to be resolved in private, not with public comments....
Tolkien writes to Michael about his trip to Switzerland and writes about his own trip in 1911. He also talks about 'trends' in the Catholic Church and h...
Tolkien replies to a letter from Amy Ronald. He explains his names and the different ways that family and friends address him.
Tolkien was delighted that his letter arrived safely and "so quickly", see #TCGLetter1172. This reply followed one from Joy Hill (#TCGLetter1175) where ...
Rayner Unwin’s daughter Camilla was told, as part of a school ‘project’, to write and ask: ‘What is the purpose of life?’
Tolkien discusses his problems with progressing with the Silmarillion. An additional portion of the letter has been quoted on Michael Tolkien's website.
Letter Tags
Stats
Guide to Tolkien's Letters
Religion
(61 letters match)1916
12 February 1916
J.R.R. Tolkien to Edith Bratt
#1318
Tolkien writes to Edith, commenting that he wants to return England to Roman Catholicism.
1935
9 August 1935
J.R.R. Tolkien to R.W. Chambers
#547
This letter concerns R.W. Chambers biography of Thomas More. Quotes from the letter were published in Moreana 94 (June 1987) and Moreana 105 (April 1991).
1936
April or May 1936
Rev. Adrian Morey to J.R.R. Tolkien
#1818
Reverend Adrian Morey writes to Tolkien, informing him that he has found an Anglo-Saxon version of the Lord's Prayer while at the British Museum. He ask...
13 September 1936
Rev. Adrian Morey to J.R.R. Tolkien
#1828
Re. Adrian Morey writes to Tolkien. Tolkien had advised him to write an article on the 'Our Father' prayer in Anglo-Saxon, but Morey says that he has de...
1937
22 November 1937
J.R.R. Tolkien to E.V. Gordon
#1374
Carpenter #18a
Writing to his friend and colleague E.V. Gordon, Tolkien says of Gordon that he has been treated badly. He says that he cannot help enough on the Pearl ...
1940
12 July 1940
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael Tolkien
#1377
Carpenter #38a
Tolkien replies to a letter from his son Michael where he had evidently spoken about his feelings about events of the world, studies, etc. Tolkien is re...
1941
9 June 1941
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael Tolkien
#60
Carpenter #45
In a letter to his son Michael, Tolkien expresses his struggles with writing due to constant rain and increased responsibilities. He sympathizes with go...
1943
April 1943*
J.R.R. Tolkien to C.S. Lewis
#64
Carpenter #49
Writing to C.S. Lewis, Tolkien critiques views on Christian marriage and divorce, pointing out what he sees as a confusion in the argument presented in ...
1944
8 January 1944
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#88
Carpenter #54
Tolkien offers Christopher advice on prayer and to remember his guardian angel. He reminds him to use "praises", and says of them "if you have these by ...
18 January 1944
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#89
Carpenter #55
Tolkien apologizes to Christopher for the delay in writing and shares details of recent activities, including giving lectures, discussing Cardiff with G...
24 April 1944 (continued 26 April)
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#97
Carpenter #63
Tolkien had received an airletter from Christopher that morning and he read it while enjoying breakfast in bed. He describes the events of St. George's ...
30 April 1944
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#98
Carpenter #64
Tolkien writes of his longing and concern for Christopher in the midst of war, reflecting on human suffering and the senselessness of conflict. Despite ...
6 October 1944
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#172
Carpenter #83
In a newly published portion of this letter Tolkien remarks on what a wonderful week it has been for letters from Christopher. He hopes that letters fro...
14 October 1944
Michael H.R. Tolkien to The Evening Despatch
#122
In this letter to the Evening Despatch of Birmingham, Michael specifies that he does not belong to any particular political party and that his is an int...
23 October 1944
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#175
Carpenter #86
Tolkien has just seen a "skywide armada" fly overhead, but thinks he can mention it in his letter because it will be long gone before any risk of the ne...
7-8 November 1944
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#178
Carpenter #89
In regards to Christopher's mentioning of his guardian angel where a particular beam of light had illuminated a dust mote and sparked a deep moment of e...
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 earlier le...
1945
7 January 1945
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#1404
Carpenter #94a
Tolkien says he is struggling with letters, many of which he should have written at Christmas. He complains that the weather is bitterly cold and he can...
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 the qua...
15 January 1945
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#1406
Carpenter #94c
Tolkien says that he is still “under the influence” of the movie he and Edith saw a week ago and continues to talk about religion, God, and other as...
30 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...
11 February 1945
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#222
Carpenter #97
Tolkien describes a letter he has written to the Catholic Herald, in rebuttal to someone who thinks Coventry is derived from Convent.
15 May 1945
J.R.R. Tolkien to Florence (Michal) Williams
#224
Carpenter #99
Tolkien expresses sympathy to Ms. Williams and her son, and his grief over the loss of her husband Charles Williams. The transcript in Carpenter's Lette...
1949
28 January 1949
🖼
🖼
J.R.R. Tolkien to The Times
#984
This letter was co-signed by Tolkien, and members of the Newman Society to the Times was in support of Cardinal Mindszenty who had been arrested in Hung...
1951
1951 (late)
🖼
🖼
J.R.R. Tolkien to Milton Waldman
#152
Carpenter #131
Tolkien wrote this letter to Milton Waldman. Tolkien wanted his publisher, George Allen & Unwin, to publish both The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarill...
1953
2 December 1953
🖼
🖼
J.R.R. Tolkien to Father Robert Murray
#370
Carpenter #142
Robert Murray had offered Tolkien some thought on The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien replied that The Lord of the Rings is a Catholic work, describing it as...
1954
25 September 1954
🖼
🖼
J.R.R. Tolkien to Naomi Mitchison
#402
Carpenter #154
Tolkien responds to Mrs. Mitchison's kind letter and her generous and perceptive review of The Lord of the Rings. He discusses the complexity of the wor...
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...
4 November 1954
J.R.R. Tolkien to Father Robert Murray
#404
Carpenter #156
Tolkien addresses several topics related to The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien discusses the characters Smeagol and Gandalf (including the nature of the Ist...
1955
15 August 1955
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher & Faith Tolkien
#480
Carpenter #167
Tolkien writes about his Italian holiday. Tolkien and Priscilla visited Assisi and Venice.
?December 1955
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael Straight
#530
Carpenter #181
Tolkien responds to a reviewer's questions about The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien discusses that the story is meant to be enjoyed as a fairy tale. He ment...
20 December 1955
J.R.R. Tolkien to John Tolkien
#1451
Carpenter #179a
Tolkien writes to his eldest son, Father John Tolkien, saying that he will miss him at Christmas time but knows that he will see him soon. He says he is...
1956
26 July 1956
J.R.R. Tolkien to Miss J. Burn
#553
Carpenter #191
Tolkien reflects on Frodo's role in the destruction of the Ring and discusses the theological implications of his actions. Tolkien rejects the notion of...
6 November 1956
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael Tolkien
#1455
Carpenter #194a
Writing to son Michael, Tolkien muses on his faith and how it brings him solace in times of trouble, he details how it helps, how it sometimes is a burd...
15 December 1956
J.R.R. Tolkien to Amy Ronald
#557
Carpenter #195
Tolkien discusses Frodo's attitude towards weapons and clarifies that Frodo was not a modern "pacifist."
1957
24 April 1957
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael George Tolkien
#287
Carpenter #196a
Tolkien discusses various matters including academic news, Hebrew, work with The Jerusalem Bible, the Book of Jonah. Excerpts from this letter were publ...
25 June 1957
J.R.R. Tolkien to Major Bowen
#562
Carpenter #200
Tolkien provides an explanation of Sauron's nature and his role in the world.
1958
10 April 1958
J.R.R. Tolkien to C. Ouboter
#582
Carpenter #208
Tolkien describes the 'message' in The Lord of the Rings.
26 October 1958
🖼
🖼
J.R.R. Tolkien to L.M. Cutts
#341
Tolkien apologises for the cost of The Lord of the Rings. He notes that he did not research his tale but that any tale cannot exist in a void and one ca...
1962
16 December 1962
J.R.R. Tolkien to Austin and Katharine Farrer
#1480
Carpenter #242a
Tolkien gives thanks for a gift of a booklet on the Rosary and says that he has benefited from it tremendously. He gives his reasoning for coming to the...
1963
22 September 1963
🖼
🖼
J.R.R. Tolkien to Eileen Elgar
#507
Carpenter #246
Tolkien answers questions about The Lord of the Rings, especially regarding the failure of Frodo. Marquette archives have a partial transcript along wit...
1 November 1963
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael Tolkien
#625
Carpenter #250
Tolkien thanks Michael for his letter. He gives him some fatherly advice and talks about his Christian faith. He was interested in how Michael George wa...
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...
1964
8 February 1964 (not sent)
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#1482
Carpenter #254a
Tolkien writes to Christopher. He reflects on the unwillingness of contemporary society to discuss complicated issues in the public square, and alludes ...
1965
9-10 January 1965
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael Tolkien
#640
Carpenter #267
Tolkien talks about the death of Dr C.T. Onions and his memories of Fr. Francis.
12 May 1965
J.R.R. Tolkien to W.H. Auden
#642
Carpenter #269
Auden had asked Tolkien if the notion of the Orcs, an entire race that was irredeemably wicked, was not heretical.
6 December 1965
🖼
🖼
J.R.R. Tolkien to G.S. Rigby Jr
#711
Tolkien writes to Rigby acknowledging the theological aspects of The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien says that there is a lot of theology in the work. A desc...
1966
ca. July 1966
🖼
🖼
J.R.R. Tolkien to Clyde S. Kilby
#818
Tolkien thanks Kilby for his visit and apologizes for being busy. On a seperate page, Tolkien includes a three paragraph fragment from the review of an ...
12 September 1966
🖼
🖼
J.R.R. Tolkien to Rose MacNamara
#768
Tolkien sends his congratulations to Rose, who has become a nun. He mentions that his son Father John has said a Mass for Rose's father.
18 October 1966
J.R.R. Tolkien to [Father] Alex Jones
#1491
Carpenter #289d
Writing to Father Jones, Tolkien thanks him for including his name in the list of contributors of the New Jerusalem Bible, even though Tolkien feels lik...
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...
5 March 1967
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael Tolkien
#1495
Carpenter #294a
Writing to son Michael, Tolkien remarks on the current state of the Church and says that these need to be resolved in private, not with public comments....
1968
11 October 1968
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael Tolkien
#679
Carpenter #306
Tolkien writes to Michael about his trip to Switzerland and writes about his own trip in 1911. He also talks about 'trends' in the Catholic Church and h...
1969
2 January 1969
J.R.R. Tolkien to Amy Ronald
#682
Carpenter #309
Tolkien replies to a letter from Amy Ronald. He explains his names and the different ways that family and friends address him.
25 January 1969
🖼
🖼
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael Bell
#1174
Tolkien was delighted that his letter arrived safely and "so quickly", see #TCGLetter1172. This reply followed one from Joy Hill (#TCGLetter1175) where ...
20 May 1969
J.R.R. Tolkien to Camilla Unwin
#683
Carpenter #310
Rayner Unwin’s daughter Camilla was told, as part of a school ‘project’, to write and ask: ‘What is the purpose of life?’
1970
1 January 1970
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael George Tolkien
#387
Carpenter #315
Tolkien discusses his problems with progressing with the Silmarillion. An additional portion of the letter has been quoted on Michael Tolkien's website.
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