Edited by Trotter on 2023-6-9 10:07:21 PM UTC Edited by Trotter on 2024-2-2 5:22:41 PM UTC Edited by Trotter on 2024-2-3 6:58:39 AM UTC Edited by Trotter on 2024-2-3 7:37:12 AM UTC Edited by Trotter on 2024-6-3 5:10:15 AM UTC Edited by Trotter on 2024-10-25 2:58:30 PM UTC Edited by Trotter on 2025-2-26 7:26:30 PM UTC
2023-6-3 7:39:29 AM UTC
The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien: Revised and Expanded edition Hardcover
UK edition 9th November 2023
The comprehensive collection of letters spanning the adult life of one of the world’s greatest storytellers, now revised and expanded to include more than 150 previously unseen letters, with revealing new insights into The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion.
J.R.R. Tolkien, creator of the languages and history of Middle-earth as recorded in The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, was one of the most prolific letter-writers of this century. Over the years he wrote a mass of letters – to his publishers, to members of his family, to friends, and to 'fans' of his books – which often reveal the inner workings of his mind, and which record the history of composition of his works and his reaction to subsequent events.
A selection from Tolkien's correspondence, collected and edited by Tolkien's official biographer, Humphrey Carpenter, and assisted by Christopher Tolkien, was published in 1981. It presented, in Tolkien's own words, a highly detailed portrait of the man in his many aspects: storyteller, scholar, Catholic, parent, friend, and observer of the world around him.
In this revised and expanded edition of The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, it has been possible to go back to the editors’ original typescripts and notes, restoring more than 150 letters that were excised purely to achieve what was then deemed a ‘publishable length’, and present the book as originally intended.
Enthusiasts for his writings will find much that is new, for the letters not only include fresh information about Middle-earth, such as Tolkien’s own plot summary of the entirety of The Lord of the Rings and a vision for publishing his ‘Tales of the Three Ages’, but also many insights into the man and his world. In addition, this new selection will entertain anyone who appreciates the art of letter-writing, of which J.R.R. Tolkien was a master.
Long overdue and very welcome of course, as some of you know, Tolkien's letters are my Elvis, but overall this will likely prove not enough of an update after so many years of new letters appearing on the market. Carpenter did not have access to many letters that have come onto the market and that we now know of. Some very important, that he surely would have included had he ever read them.
Going back to Carpenter's typescripts to offer what was intended? Will this retain the notes in the back (as Carpenter 'intended') rather than putting the notes where they belong, after each letter or at the end of each page?
Overall this is underwhelming and feels very much like closing the gate after the horse has bolted for "one of the most prolific letter-writers of this century" as HarperCollins call him. A new letters product should have been a ground floor reset bringing in information not known to the editor at the time (information that will now be lost forever to most readers.)
UPDATE: While at the time of the announcement I was clearly underwhelmed, mainly because like many, I wanted a fully 'new' volume of letters, my attitude has changed since reading the new letters and being able to compare the original to the new edition.
Going back to Carpenter's typescripts to offer what was intended? Will this retain the notes in the back (as Carpenter 'intended') rather than putting the notes where they belong, after each letter or at the end of each page?
I really hope they have done this, turning the notes into footnotes, rather than endnotes would be a welcome change for me.
As for the conversation on the why there is no deluxe, I think HarperCollins is looking at the original release back in '81 and how poorly it sold. There might be some bet hedging going on to wait and see how well it sells. If it sells well, we could get a deluxe next year or the year after.
I’m of course excited, but it’s such a shame we won’t get a real attempt to publish most of Tolkien’s letters. I guess we are still too close to his and Christopher’s lifetimes. C.S. Lewis has over 3,000 published letters, and we know Tolkien was just as a prolific (if not more so) letter writer. Yet this new expanded edition will still bring his total to less than 500 published letters. Can’t wait for the new edition though!
I’m of course excited, but it’s such a shame we won’t get a real attempt to publish most of Tolkien’s letters. I guess we are still too close to his and Christopher’s lifetimes. C.S. Lewis has over 3,000 published letters, and we know Tolkien was just as a prolific (if not more so) letter writer. Yet this new expanded edition will still bring his total to less than 500 published letters. Can’t wait for the new edition though!
It is a real shame. This release probably puts an end to any reset, multi-volume publication dedicated to Tolkien's letters, at least for a long time. I am very excited for more published letters but this feels like a cop-out for someone such as Tolkien.
With this in mind, what the community needs is a project that gathers up all of Tolkien's known letters and summarises them (obviously respecting copyright) and giving as much information as possible. Hmmmm....
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