TOLKIEN, John Ronald Reuel (1892-1978). One autograph letter signed and one typewritten letter signed ('J.R.R. Tolkien') to Mr. Cotton Minchin, the first, n.p. [Oxford], n.d. [April 1956], in reply to his 'many interesting suggestions' [about The Lords of the Ring], saying 'My professional and philological colleagues and critics are scandalised by my disgraceful excursion into literature ... One of them said to me recently: "Isn't it time you did some work"'; discussing the problems of completing the last volume and particularly the maps; comparing his own philological interests with the demands of different readers, admitting that its success has astonished him, explaining that 'The "books" are the only intentional divisions, and originally had titles ... but the publishers for practical purposes quite rightly, insisted on the division into three parts'; continuing on other matters with two postscripts, 5 pages, 4to (water stains affecting approximately 20 words on 2nd page); the second (typewritten) letter, Oxford, 14 November 1962, dismissing a review by Philip Toynbee, 'So many people rose up to slay him that the noise was nearly as good as a new book', one page, 4to (paper clip mark in upper margin).The Lords of the Ring was published in 1954/55. Its success brought it cult status, and its author was besieged by demands from its readers. 'Most people want more (and better) maps; some wish more for geological indications than place-names; many want more specimens of Elvish, with structural and grammatical sketches; others ask for metrics and prosodies, not only of the Elvish, but of the "translations" that are in unfamiliar modes - such as those composed in the strictest forms of Anglo-Saxon verse ... Musicians want tunes and musical notations. Archaeologists enquire about ceramics, metallurgy, tools and architecture. Botanists desire more accurate descriptions of the mallorn, of elanor, niphredil, alfirin, and mallos, and of symbelmynë. Historians require more details about the social and political structure of Gondor, and the contemporary monetary system, and the generally inquisitive wish to be told more about Dniadan, the Wainriders, the Dead Men, Harad, Khand, Dwarvish origins, the Beornings, and especially the missing two wizards (out of five)'.J.H. Cotton Minchin was the editor of The Legion Book (1929). 'I note Cotton with pleasure and approval. Down Cotton Lane I used to walk as a child to my grandmother's house. What of Minchin which was also a Shire-like sound? ... My own name comes ultimately and long ago from German Tollkühn, and perhaps a trace of the remote ancestral 'rashness' has been inherited'.

TOLKIEN, John Ronald Reuel (1892-1978). One autograph letter signed and one typewritten letter signed ('J.R.R. Tolkien') to Mr. Cotton Minchin, the first, n.p. [Oxford], n.d. [April 1956], in reply to his 'many interesting suggestions' [about The Lords of the Ring], saying 'My professional and philological colleagues and critics are scandalised by my disgraceful excursion into literature ... One of them said to me recently: "Isn't it time you did some work"'; discussing the problems of completing the last volume and particularly the maps; comparing his own philological interests with the demands of different readers, admitting that its success has astonished him, explaining that 'The "books" are the only intentional divisions, and originally had titles ... but the publishers for practical purposes quite rightly, insisted on the division into three parts'; continuing on other matters with two postscripts, 5 pages, 4to (water stains affecting approximately 20 words on 2nd page); the second (typewritten) letter, Oxford, 14 November 1962, dismissing a review by Philip Toynbee, 'So many people rose up to slay him that the noise was nearly as good as a new book', one page, 4to (paper clip mark in upper margin). The Lords of the Ring was published in 1954/55. Its success brought it cult status, and its author was besieged by demands from its readers. 'Most people want more (and better) maps; some wish more for geological indications than place-names; many want more specimens of Elvish, with structural and grammatical sketches; others ask for metrics and prosodies, not only of the Elvish, but of the "translations" that are in unfamiliar modes - such as those composed in the strictest forms of Anglo-Saxon verse ... Musicians want tunes and musical notations. Archaeologists enquire about ceramics, metallurgy, tools and architecture. Botanists desire more accurate descriptions of the mallorn, of elanor, niphredil, alfirin, and mallos, and of symbelmynë. Historians require more details about the social and political structure of Gondor, and the contemporary monetary system, and the generally inquisitive wish to be told more about Dniadan, the Wainriders, the Dead Men, Harad, Khand, Dwarvish origins, the Beornings, and especially the missing two wizards (out of five)'. J.H. Cotton Minchin was the editor of The Legion Book (1929). 'I note Cotton with pleasure and approval. Down Cotton Lane I used to walk as a child to my grandmother's house. What of Minchin which was also a Shire-like sound? ... My own name comes ultimately and long ago from German Tollkühn, and perhaps a trace of the remote ancestral 'rashness' has been inherited'.

Details

TOLKIEN, John Ronald Reuel (1892-1978). One autograph letter signed and one typewritten letter signed ('J.R.R. Tolkien') to Mr. Cotton Minchin, the first, n.p. [Oxford], n.d. [April 1956], in reply to his 'many interesting suggestions' [about The Lords of the Ring], saying 'My professional and philological colleagues and critics are scandalised by my disgraceful excursion into literature ... One of them said to me recently: "Isn't it time you did some work"'; discussing the problems of completing the last volume and particularly the maps; comparing his own philological interests with the demands of different readers, admitting that its success has astonished him, explaining that 'The "books" are the only intentional divisions, and originally had titles ... but the publishers for practical purposes quite rightly, insisted on the division into three parts'; continuing on other matters with two postscripts, 5 pages, 4to (water stains affecting approximately 20 words on 2nd page); the second (typewritten) letter, Oxford, 14 November 1962, dismissing a review by Philip Toynbee, 'So many people rose up to slay him that the noise was nearly as good as a new book', one page, 4to (paper clip mark in upper margin).

The Lords of the Ring was published in 1954/55. Its success brought it cult status, and its author was besieged by demands from its readers. 'Most people want more (and better) maps; some wish more for geological indications than place-names; many want more specimens of Elvish, with structural and grammatical sketches; others ask for metrics and prosodies, not only of the Elvish, but of the "translations" that are in unfamiliar modes - such as those composed in the strictest forms of Anglo-Saxon verse ... Musicians want tunes and musical notations. Archaeologists enquire about ceramics, metallurgy, tools and architecture. Botanists desire more accurate descriptions of the mallorn, of elanor, niphredil, alfirin, and mallos, and of symbelmynë. Historians require more details about the social and political structure of Gondor, and the contemporary monetary system, and the generally inquisitive wish to be told more about Dniadan, the Wainriders, the Dead Men, Harad, Khand, Dwarvish origins, the Beornings, and especially the missing two wizards (out of five)'.

J.H. Cotton Minchin was the editor of The Legion Book (1929). 'I note Cotton with pleasure and approval. Down Cotton Lane I used to walk as a child to my grandmother's house. What of Minchin which was also a Shire-like sound? ... My own name comes ultimately and long ago from German Tollkühn, and perhaps a trace of the remote ancestral 'rashness' has been inherited'.

More from Books

View All