Father Christmas Letters: 1933 - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Estelyn Telcontar · 12-29-2011, 11:37 AM

The 1933 entry includes two letters, one written at the beginning of December, the other just before Christmas. The first is just a brief acknowledgement of the children's letters, with an amusing note from NPB, calling Priscilla "chaplet" to go with the boys as "chaps"!

The main letter and accompanying picture tell a thrilling story of a battle against goblins. This continues what began the previous year and is quite likely inspired by the tales of The Hobbit. Interesting that some of the goblins rode on bats - an early version of the Fell Beasts?!

The picture story is told from the bottom of the page going up. Tolkien wasn't quite as pleased with it as with his drawings of 1932. Do you see any reason for that?

What do you think of FC's interior decorating? We're shown his bedroom. And why do you think NPB is depicted as being so very large in the top picture?

12-29-2011, 11:37 AM	#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: 1933 The 1933 entry includes two letters, one written at the beginning of December, the other just before Christmas. The first is just a brief acknowledgement of the children's letters, with an amusing note from NPB, calling Priscilla "chaplet" to go with the boys as "chaps"! The main letter and accompanying picture tell a thrilling story of a battle against goblins. This continues what began the previous year and is quite likely inspired by the tales of The Hobbit. Interesting that some of the goblins rode on bats - an early version of the Fell Beasts?! The picture story is told from the bottom of the page going up. Tolkien wasn't quite as pleased with it as with his drawings of 1932. Do you see any reason for that? What do you think of FC's interior decorating? We're shown his bedroom. And why do you think NPB is depicted as being so very large in the top picture? __________________ '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...'