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(did you mean Carpenter's Letter #34?)
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(did you mean Carpenter's Letter #34?)
TCG Letter #34 / Carpenter Letter #30
From
J.R.R. Tolkien
To
Rütten & Loening Verlag
Date
25 July 1938
Type
Autograph Letter Signed
Transcript
Complete
Rütten & Loening Verlag, the German publisher enquired Letter from Rütten & Loening Verlag, Potsdam to J.R.R. Tolkien • 22 July 1938 (#1981)[1] about publishing a German translation of The Hobbit. As part of their conditions they wanted to know details about Tolkien ancestry, specifically to his Aryan history.
Tolkien sent two drafts to his publisher. This letter is the longer draft that appears in Carpenter's Letters. Tolkien has been asked if he has Aryan blood, and he thinks they are really asking if he is Jewish. He states that he regrets that he is not. If things continue, he will regret having some German heritage.
In the initial paragraph, edited by Carpenter in all editions, Tolkien mentions that he understands why they don't like his proposed translator, but asks to be given an opportunity to comment and make suggestions before publication if they arrange their own translation.
Unwin sent the second, shorter letter to Rütten & Loening Verlag.
Tolkien sent two drafts to his publisher. This letter is the longer draft that appears in Carpenter's Letters. Tolkien has been asked if he has Aryan blood, and he thinks they are really asking if he is Jewish. He states that he regrets that he is not. If things continue, he will regret having some German heritage.
In the initial paragraph, edited by Carpenter in all editions, Tolkien mentions that he understands why they don't like his proposed translator, but asks to be given an opportunity to comment and make suggestions before publication if they arrange their own translation.
Unwin sent the second, shorter letter to Rütten & Loening Verlag.
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