TCG Letter #529 / Carpenter Letter #180

From

J.R.R. Tolkien

Mr. Thompson

Date

14 January 1956

Type

Draft

Transcript

Partial

Tolkien expresses gratitude for a reader's encouraging letter. He writes that his work began during World War I and evolved into the invention of legends. He discusses the process of sub-creation, explaining how certain aspects of his stories seem to write themselves. Tolkien mentions the rejection of The Silmarillion for publication, noting that this setback led to the creation of The Lord of the Rings. The success of The Lord of the Rings has garnered pressure for him to finish The Silmarillion.

Tags

Literature

The Lord of the Rings

The Silmarillion

Languages

Old English

Greek

Middle-earth

References

The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien: Revised and Expanded ed. (HarperCollins, UK), pp. 335-37, p. 626 (Carpenter notes)

The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien (1981), pp. 230-32, p. 446 (Carpenter notes)

The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide - Chronology (2017), pp. 509-10

J.R.R. Tolkien: Life and Legend, p. 66 (see introduction)

Cartas de J.R.R. Tolkien, pp. 346-8, p. 636 (notas de Carpenter)

Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. Sources of Inspiration, p. 45, see note 97

Tolkien and the Great War, p. 85 ('It was just as...'); p. 95 ('early work', etc.)

J.R.R. Tolkien A Descriptive Bibliography, Di1, p. 350

The Story of Kullervo, p. 139, 140

Michael Livingston, "Troy and the Rings:Tolkien and the Medieval Myth of England," Mythlore 32.1 (2013), p. 87 citation from p. 232* ['Letters', 1981], (note on citation) -- Livingston cites p. 251 of the letters, but there's no reference on p. 251. None in Letter 251 either. The only reference matching what Livingston says in his text is to the note at the bottom of the page on page 232. [TCG note: Many thanks to Tom Hillman who is providing many references to the guide.]

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