Father Christmas Letters: 1932 - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Estelyn Telcontar · 12-23-2011, 05:53 PM

Today's discussion involves the longest letter Tolkien wrote (at least as far as I can see). JRRT (in character as Father Christmas) also says that he drew "some specially nice pictures", and the main one is quite beautiful! Here is the top, the most unusual part:

It's a view of Oxford, with FC's sleigh and 7 pair of reindeer plus two white ones in front. He says: "14 is such a nice number" - do you think there's some significance to that particular one? The drawing has a postcard look to it - perhaps a copy of one? We see JRRT's familiar technique of line drawings, with white areas (clouds) shown by omitting the lines.

I wasn't able to locate an image of the rest of the page with its drawings, so can only briefly describe them and hope for those who have the books to join in the discussion. The letter tells the story that is shown: NPB was missing in action, lost in the nearby caves, where he discovered goblins. In rescuing him, Father Christmas finds drawings on the cave walls.

FC says that they were drawn mostly by cave-men, with additions by the goblins. The third page of drawings is a letter from the North Polar Bear, written in an alphabet made of the goblin marks.

There are several new mythological characters in this letter - the old Cave Bear, goblins, and Red Gnomes - considering Tolkien's early name for Elves, I assume that they are Elven in nature. They are said to be at home in Norway!

FC again signs the letter as "Nicholas Christmas", and NPB has another new name for him: "Daddy Noel". Oh, and there is another mention of his green brother, who gave him a pair of green trousers - helpful against the goblins, who are said to dislike green. Any idea why?

12-23-2011, 05:53 PM	#1
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Father Christmas Letters: 1932 Today's discussion involves the longest letter Tolkien wrote (at least as far as I can see). JRRT (in character as Father Christmas) also says that he drew "some specially nice pictures", and the main one is quite beautiful! Here is the top, the most unusual part: It's a view of Oxford, with FC's sleigh and 7 pair of reindeer plus two white ones in front. He says: "14 is such a nice number" - do you think there's some significance to that particular one? The drawing has a postcard look to it - perhaps a copy of one? We see JRRT's familiar technique of line drawings, with white areas (clouds) shown by omitting the lines. I wasn't able to locate an image of the rest of the page with its drawings, so can only briefly describe them and hope for those who have the books to join in the discussion. The letter tells the story that is shown: NPB was missing in action, lost in the nearby caves, where he discovered goblins. In rescuing him, Father Christmas finds drawings on the cave walls. FC says that they were drawn mostly by cave-men, with additions by the goblins. The third page of drawings is a letter from the North Polar Bear, written in an alphabet made of the goblin marks. There are several new mythological characters in this letter - the old Cave Bear, goblins, and Red Gnomes - considering Tolkien's early name for Elves, I assume that they are Elven in nature. They are said to be at home in Norway! FC again signs the letter as "Nicholas Christmas", and NPB has another new name for him: "Daddy Noel". Oh, and there is another mention of his green brother, who gave him a pair of green trousers - helpful against the goblins, who are said to dislike green. Any idea why? __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'