New Tolkien Letter discovered

[davem]

Courtesy ofTORN, so I can't claim the discovery rights to the story http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/e...l&siteid=50081

What interests me, though is the comment in the letter:

In the letter Tolkien talks about the core of his tale, but adds: "I could not explain how the story grew in anything less than an autobiography."

[The Saucepan Man]

Nice find, davem.

It seems to me that, by this comment, Tolkien is saying that he could only fully explain how LotR developed in his own autobiography, given that it took up such a large part of his life and that his experiences during that time were integral to its development (I suspect that its the latter point that interests you, davem ).

Only £1,000 to £2,000? Bargain! Although I had understood that most of the letters that have been complied and published were donated. Still, it would be interesting to see it.

Hmm, I must start watching Antiques Roadshow again.

[mark12_30]

I saw that too. I wonder whether it will be published once it is purchased?

(Come on, people. Some things are beyond price.)

[Bêthberry]

Indeed, davem, thanks for that link.

Oh, how quotations tantalise, especially when divorced from context! What disheartens me, though, is this:

Ms Merryis said: "We have a magical letter about Tolkien's feelings on the plot, that a collector would die for. We're talking at least £1,000 possibly £2,000."

Not knowing the Antiques Roadshow, I have little idea what kind of subject and interest that show generates, but the buying and selling of authors' letters and signatures is a sorry story in the history of Belles Lettres. I would have thought that, if the letter has been legitimately validated, it would at least be announced if not advertised through more traditional avenues of the book trade.

If anyone is interested in a story of the shady business of collecting authors' letters, check out A. S. Byatt's romance Possession, which might also interest Tolkien readers for its depiction of a Victorian poet interested in fairies (a hot topic for the Victorians) and a "Christianising of Norse myth." With a hero called Roland, it can't miss. Byatt is a child of the sixties' fervour for Tolkien.

I know, I know. getting sidetracked. But all in all, this reminds us that the Letters we have from Carpenter are incomplete and were subject to principles of selection determined by family members. What I want to read is that diary.

[Mithalwen]

The Antiques Roadshow is a programme where local members of the public take their treasures to show to experts (usually held in a historic building). They aren't automatically going to sell them. It is not "Flog It" where people are encouraged to sell off thier heirlooms to blow on a trip to Las Vegas.

[The Saucepan Man]

They aren't automatically going to sell them.

Well, they always say that they are giving the value for insurance purposes. But you can often see the owner's face light up (or drop, depending on the amount) when they are told the value ...

[davem]

Resurecting this thread because of this:
http://www.leski.com.au/news/20041221/tolkien.htm.

This is another Tolkien letter, up for sale at auction.

The most interesting thing in it are the lines (if I read them right) on side two :http://www.leski.com.au/news/20041221/116912a.jpg

But I hope the ending will not seem unworthy. I have not myself any doubt that things went just so but that does not say that my attempt to record them has been successful.

Tolkien is speaking of LotR here. I wonder how serious he was.....

[Mithalwen]

Doesn't it say in the History of LOTR volumes of HoME that after a certain point Tolkien felt that he was writing down what had happened rather than "controlling" it.... of course this doesn't mean necessarily he seriously regarded it as actual history rather it could be that having got the situation and charaters to a certain stage of development there was an inevitability about how events would unfold...

Thenks for the link Davem

[Finwe-89]

Wow very good find!

Very interesting too