A Letter from Tolkien to Mr Schiro is once again being auctioned, with the sale taking place on the Wed, 17 Jun 2026 2:00 PM GMT

Description
J.R.R. Tolkien
Headington, Oxford, UK, November 17, 1957
Tolkien ALS Refuting Allegory in His Trilogy: "To ask if the Orcs 'are' Communists is to me as sensible as asking if Communists are Orcs"
ALS

Magnificent, content-rich autograph letter signed, "J.R.R. Tolkien", just two years after the publication of "Return of the King". 2pp, 6.75" x 8.5", Headington, Oxford, November 17, 1957. The already renowned author writes to Herbert Schiro, a medical student at the University of California, providing one of his most direct and comprehensive statements on the meaning and interpretation of “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Tolkien explicitly refutes allegorical readings of his masterwork, declaring, "There is no 'symbolism' or conscious allegory in my story. Allegory of the sort 'five wizards = five senses' is wholly foreign to my way of thinking." He goes on to deliver one of his most memorable lines regarding contemporary political interpretations: "To ask if the Orcs 'are' Communists is to me as sensible as asking if Communists are Orcs." Matted and framed with the original transmittal cover with double-sided glass to an overall size of 12” x 20”. Not examined out of the frame. Letter has flattened folds, otherwise no visible mars. Envelope has toning and light soiling commensurate with use.

While rejecting allegory, Tolkien acknowledges the concept of "applicability," noting the moral complexities he embedded in his characters: "sloth & stupidity among hobbits, pride and escapism among Elves, grudge and greed in Dwarf-hearts, and folly and wickedness among the 'Kings of Men.'" Most significantly, he reveals what he considers the true theme of his work: "it is about Death and the desire for deathlessness. Which is hardly more than to say it is a tale written by a Man!"

In full:

"I was delighted with your letter, which I shall certainly keep. There is nothing much really to say (beyond recording the pleasure that your enjoyment and sympathy give me), as you understand the matter so well. There is no 'symbolism' or conscious allegory in my story. Allegory of the sort 'five wizards = five senses' is wholly foreign to my way of thinking. There were five and that's just a unique fact of history. To ask if the Orcs 'are' Communists is to me as sensible as asking if Communists are Orcs.

That there is no 'allegory' does not, of course, say there is no applicability. There always is. And since I have not made the struggle wholly unequivocal: sloth & stupidity among hobbits, pride and escapism among Elves, grudge and greed in Dwarf-hearts, and folly and wickedness among the 'Kings of Men,' and treachery and power-lust even among the 'Wizards,' there is I suppose applicability in my story to present times. But I should say, if asked, that it is not really about Power and Domination: that only gets the wheels going; it is about Death and the desire for deathlessness. Which is hardly more than to say it is a tale written by a Man!

Thank you again! I may possibly be coming to the States next spring (I have never managed to come before), and in all that vastness it is conceivable that we might contrive a meeting? I have a dear friend: one Meredith Thompson (a Canadian), who lives in Los Angeles, and whom, if time allowed, I shd. try to visit. (He is a professor at the university of S. California).”

By 1957, when this letter was written, “The Lord of the Rings” had been in print for 2-3 years and was gaining significant critical acclaim and a growing readership. The trilogy was already being recognized as a major work of literature, with positive reviews from respected critics and authors. Tolkien's personal response to Schiro demonstrates his profound dedication to ensuring readers understood the deeper truths of his Middle-earth saga.

The letter has been published multiple times, evidence of its importance in understanding Tolkien’s writing as fictional history. It was first published (in part) in an article by Glen GoodKnight, '"Death and the Desire for Deathlessness": The Counsel of Elrond' in Mythlore Issue 10 (1975), p. 19; amended and published (again in part) in Humphrey Carpenter and Christopher Tolkien, The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien (1981), letter 203.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

Estimate USD 30,000-40,000

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/2 ... ts-is-to-me-as-wilton-ct/
Carpenter #203: Letter from J.R.R. Tolkien to Herbert Schiro • 17 November 1957 (#327)

We have documented previous auctions for this letter

2021 - https://www.rrauction.com/auctions/lot ... ommunists-are-orcs/?cat=0 Sold for USD 59,139
2025 - https://historical.ha.com/itm/autograp ... w-ShortDescription-071515 asking USD 52,000 - Not Sold