TCG Letter #441

Tolkien writes to his cousin Dorothy after he and Edith had dined at Hotel Miramar (possibly with Rayner Unwin)^{see Hammond/Scull, Chronology, p. 786[1]} and had been told that Dorothy had inquired about staying at the hotel. Tolkien mentions this fact in his letter.

Mrs Dorothy Grace Wood (née Mountain) and Tolkien were cousins. Her mother was Grace Mountain (née Tolkien) and the sister of J.R.R. Tolkien’s father, Arthur. As a child, J.R.R. Tolkien spent several holidays with his paternal aunt in Northumberland. In later life Tolkien and “Ding” (as she was called by close relatives) renewed their friendship.

Quotes from this and other letters to Dorothy were published in Sotheby's English Literature, History, Children's Books, Illustrations and Photographs 8 July 2004.