Letters 
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The contents of this letter are not known, but Garth notes this as one of the letters where Gilson refers to his friends with made up names (sobriquets)
Wiseman asks Tolkien if he will be able to set aside a few days to join him in London during the Christmas vacation, noting that Gilson and Smith will b...
A Philologist on Esperanto is the title given to a letter (written in the early part of 1932) from J.R.R. Tolkien to the secretary of the Education Comm...
Tolkien expresses joy that Christopher enjoyed the next three chapters of "The Ring" and provides information about the schedule for sending the remaini...
Tolkien writes an eight page letter to A.W. Riddle, discussing in very deep detail split infinitives and the evolution of written and colloquially spoke...
Katharine Farrer had written to Tolkien, in runes, asking if he would sign her copy of The Hobbit. Tolkien replies to her letter in runes. He says that ...
Farrer replies to Tolkien, again in runes and says that she would welcome a key to the Dwarvish alphabet. This was written on a postcard that accompanie...
Tolkien wrote this letter to Milton Waldman. Tolkien wanted his publisher, George Allen & Unwin, to publish both The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarill...
Tolkien writes about his use of languages in the book and explains the challenges faced in creating maps for The Lord of the Rings. He discusses the dis...
Tolkien remarks on the morality of The Lord of the Rings and thanks the Farrer for paying close attention to such matters. He addresses the connections ...
Tolkien is unable to submit any of the Appendices. The delay is attributed to promises made in Volume I, which are proving very difficult to meet.
Tolkien responds to Mr. Jeffery's letter. Tolkien discusses the command of Elvish script and mentions the upcoming release of Volume III, which will inc...
The letter concerns The Return of the King and Tolkien's invented languages as the source from which his stories originally grew.
The Return of the King was published 20 October 1955. Irritated by the Times Literary Supplement review of 25 November 1955, Mr. Masson, a librarian at ...
This undated letter sent sometime between January 1956 and April 1958 concerns an Elvish passage as noted by Anders Stenström. He noted an Elvish passa...
Writing to a fan, Tolkien says that he has no time to explain things concerning his writing at this time, noting that it is the beginning of term. But t...
Tolkien congratulates Christopher on a paper that he gave at St Anne's College.
Tolkien responds to questions, explaining the inspiration and meaning behind various elements in The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien concludes by emphasizing...
Tolkien describes the creation of the World and then of the Dwarves by Aulë in draft that was never sent to Beare.
Of this letter, a large portion was published as Letter #227 in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien. In the opening portion of this letter to Madam Ossendrijv...
Answering various questions about The Lord of the Rings. A photocopy of original letter with a complete transcript is held at the Marquette archives.
Tolkien corrects a mistake in Mr. Ridley's Elvish and congratulates him on his use of the language. This letter, with others, was made available for auc...
Answers to the following questions: (1) In the ‘English runes’ used for Anglo-Saxon inscriptions, the rune does not stand for G as it does in The Lo...
Tolkien replied to a letter from Jonathan thanking for his letter - "and especially for the (horrible) view of Mordor and the destruction of Orodruin. I...
Tolkien discusses Black Speech stating that it "was not intentionally modelled on any style, but was meant to be self-consistent, very different from El...
A one-page response to a couple of questions that Plotz had asked. Tolkien translates the poem "A Elbereth Gilthoniel", tells how to pronounce Meriadoc,...
This letter, known as the Plotz Letter, or Plotz Declension was a letter written by Tolkien that contained manuscript notes regarding Quenya grammar. Th...
Tolkien writes to Gene Wolf about the origin of "Orc" and "Warg".
Tolkien sends background material for The Road Goes Ever On. He includes Galadriel's Lament and Chant written out "in a fair Elvish book-hand, rubricate...
Tolkien writes to Donald Swann offering transcripts of the Lament and Chant in Elvish script. This letter is held at the Wade.
Tolkien does not like the calligraphy being made by Samuel Hanks Bryant as filler for blank pages in The Road Goes Ever On. Tolkien objects to Swann usi...
At the top, Tolkien has written: ‘Some reflections in preparing an answer to a letter from one Mr Rang about investigations into my nomenclature. In t...
Mr. Joukes had written to Tolkien suggesting that he would like to name his daughter Ioreth, to which replies that it means 'old woman' and includes som...
Leslie Megahey of the BBC writes to Tolkien to thank him for his time over the previous week when he was filmed for the BBC's 'Tolkien in Oxford' film. ...
Tolkien writes about his languages and talks about Westron or the Common Speech.
Tolkien replies to a letter from Amy Ronald. He explains his names and the different ways that family and friends address him.
In this partial letter Tolkien discusses the Elvish spelling of Rivendell. Only the first page is available.
Tolkien writes about Cynewulf and Glanduin.
Tolkien wishes he had an 'elven' grammar and vocabulary.
Tolkien writes about about the use of the name ‘Gamgee’ in The Lord of the Rings, and whether the name ‘Gondor’ had been suggested by Gondar in ...
Tolkien writes about Aman and what happens to mortals, such as Frodo, when they go there. In a portion published in the C.S. Lewis Biography by Green To...
Tolkien discusses the sources of The Lord of the Rings.
Tolkien is asked about Elvish names for bulls and herds of cattle.
Tolkien talks about numerals in The Lord of the Rings. A photocopy with a complete transcript is held at the Marquette archives.
A continuation of #Letter342, where Tolkien continues to discuss naming animals.
A reply to the following questions: (1) Does ‘Speak, friend, and enter’ (the inscription over Moria Gate) mean ‘Speak as a friend’, i.e. in a fr...
Tolkien responds an enquiry about Galadriel.
Tolkien sends a postcard accepting a request to sign a copy of The Lord of the Rings even though he has told everyone that he will not do this.
Letter Tags
Stats
Guide to Tolkien's Letters
Invented languages
(49 letters match)1913
21 March 1913
Rob Gilson to J.R.R. Tolkien
#2305
The contents of this letter are not known, but Garth notes this as one of the letters where Gilson refers to his friends with made up names (sobriquets)
1914
10 November 1914
Christopher Wiseman to J.R.R. Tolkien
#1196
Wiseman asks Tolkien if he will be able to set aside a few days to join him in London during the Christmas vacation, noting that Gilson and Smith will b...
1932
May 1932* (see note)
J.R.R. Tolkien to Secretary of the Education Committee of the British Esperanto Association
#73
A Philologist on Esperanto is the title given to a letter (written in the early part of 1932) from J.R.R. Tolkien to the secretary of the Education Comm...
1944
24 December 1944
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#218
Carpenter #93
Tolkien expresses joy that Christopher enjoyed the next three chapters of "The Ring" and provides information about the schedule for sending the remaini...
1947
10 January 1947
J.R.R. Tolkien to A.W. Riddle
#127
Tolkien writes an eight page letter to A.W. Riddle, discussing in very deep detail split infinitives and the evolution of written and colloquially spoke...
30 November 1947
J.R.R. Tolkien to Katharine Farrer
#140
Carpenter #112
Katharine Farrer had written to Tolkien, in runes, asking if he would sign her copy of The Hobbit. Tolkien replies to her letter in runes. He says that ...
15 December 1947
Katherine Farrer to J.R.R. Tolkien
#2048
Farrer replies to Tolkien, again in runes and says that she would welcome a key to the Dwarvish alphabet. This was written on a postcard that accompanie...
1951
1951 (late)
J.R.R. Tolkien to Milton Waldman
#152
Carpenter #131
Tolkien wrote this letter to Milton Waldman. Tolkien wanted his publisher, George Allen & Unwin, to publish both The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarill...
1954
25 April 1954
J.R.R. Tolkien to Naomi Mitchison
#372
Carpenter #144
Tolkien writes about his use of languages in the book and explains the challenges faced in creating maps for The Lord of the Rings. He discusses the dis...
18 August 1954
J.R.R. Tolkien to Katharine Farrer
#1443
Carpenter #148a
Tolkien remarks on the morality of The Lord of the Rings and thanks the Farrer for paying close attention to such matters. He addresses the connections ...
18 September 1954
J.R.R. Tolkien to Allen & Unwin Ltd.
#395
Carpenter #150
Tolkien is unable to submit any of the Appendices. The delay is attributed to promises made in Volume I, which are proving very difficult to meet.
1955
7 September 1955
J.R.R. Tolkien to Richard Jeffery
#481
Carpenter #168
Tolkien responds to Mr. Jeffery's letter. Tolkien discusses the command of Elvish script and mentions the upcoming release of Volume III, which will inc...
22 October 1955
J.R.R. Tolkien to Miss Judson
#1059
The letter concerns The Return of the King and Tolkien's invented languages as the source from which his stories originally grew.
12 December 1955
J.R.R. Tolkien to David Masson
#211
The Return of the King was published 20 October 1955. Irritated by the Times Literary Supplement review of 25 November 1955, Mr. Masson, a librarian at ...
1956
Undated (1956-1958)
J.R.R. Tolkien to Peter Alford
#285
This undated letter sent sometime between January 1956 and April 1958 concerns an Elvish passage as noted by Anders Stenström. He noted an Elvish passa...
20 April 1956
J.R.R. Tolkien to [Rev.] Paul Spilsbury
#1692
Writing to a fan, Tolkien says that he has no time to explain things concerning his writing at this time, noting that it is the beginning of term. But t...
1958
21 February 1958
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#579
Carpenter #205
Tolkien congratulates Christopher on a paper that he gave at St Anne's College.
14 October 1958
J.R.R. Tolkien to Rhona Beare
#400
Carpenter #211
Tolkien responds to questions, explaining the inspiration and meaning behind various elements in The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien concludes by emphasizing...
14 October 1958
J.R.R. Tolkien to Rhona Beare
#585
Carpenter #212
Tolkien describes the creation of the World and then of the Dwarves by Aulë in draft that was never sent to Beare.
1961
5 January 1961
J.R.R. Tolkien to Mrs E. C. Ossendrijver
#465
Carpenter #227
Of this letter, a large portion was published as Letter #227 in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien. In the opening portion of this letter to Madam Ossendrijv...
8 June 1961
J.R.R. Tolkien to Rhona Beare
#605
Carpenter #230
Answering various questions about The Lord of the Rings. A photocopy of original letter with a complete transcript is held at the Marquette archives.
27 September 1961
J.R.R. Tolkien to M.R. Ridley
#695
Tolkien corrects a mistake in Mr. Ridley's Elvish and congratulates him on his use of the language. This letter, with others, was made available for auc...
1963
25 June 1963
J.R.R. Tolkien to Rhona Beare
#620
Carpenter #245
Answers to the following questions: (1) In the ‘English runes’ used for Anglo-Saxon inscriptions, the rune does not stand for G as it does in The Lo...
18 December 1963
J.R.R. Tolkien to Jonathan Hepworth
#519
Tolkien replied to a letter from Jonathan thanking for his letter - "and especially for the (horrible) view of Mordor and the destruction of Orodruin. I...
1964
13-15 June 1964
J.R.R. Tolkien to W.R. Matthews
#550
Tolkien discusses Black Speech stating that it "was not intentionally modelled on any style, but was meant to be self-consistent, very different from El...
1965
26 October 1965
J.R.R. Tolkien to Dick Plotz
#1026
A one-page response to a couple of questions that Plotz had asked. Tolkien translates the poem "A Elbereth Gilthoniel", tells how to pronounce Meriadoc,...
1966
Late 1966 - early 1967
J.R.R. Tolkien to Dick Plotz
#784
Carpenter #293a
This letter, known as the Plotz Letter, or Plotz Declension was a letter written by Tolkien that contained manuscript notes regarding Quenya grammar. Th...
7 November 1966
J.R.R. Tolkien to Gene Wolfe
#485
Carpenter #290a
Tolkien writes to Gene Wolf about the origin of "Orc" and "Warg".
1967
21 March 1967
J.R.R. Tolkien to Donald Swann
#975
Tolkien sends background material for The Road Goes Ever On. He includes Galadriel's Lament and Chant written out "in a fair Elvish book-hand, rubricate...
22 March 1967
J.R.R. Tolkien to Donald Swann
#976
Tolkien writes to Donald Swann offering transcripts of the Lament and Chant in Elvish script. This letter is held at the Wade.
12-13 July 1967
J.R.R. Tolkien to Donald Swann
#979
Carpenter #295b
Tolkien does not like the calligraphy being made by Samuel Hanks Bryant as filler for blank pages in The Road Goes Ever On. Tolkien objects to Swann usi...
August 1967
J.R.R. Tolkien to Mr Rang
#670
Carpenter #297
At the top, Tolkien has written: ‘Some reflections in preparing an answer to a letter from one Mr Rang about investigations into my nomenclature. In t...
28 August 1967
J.R.R. Tolkien to Mr. S.E.O. Joukes
#801
Mr. Joukes had written to Tolkien suggesting that he would like to name his daughter Ioreth, to which replies that it means 'old woman' and includes som...
1968
14 February 1968
Leslie Megahey to J.R.R. Tolkien
#1718
Leslie Megahey of the BBC writes to Tolkien to thank him for his time over the previous week when he was filmed for the BBC's 'Tolkien in Oxford' film. ...
16 October 1968
J.R.R. Tolkien to Niall Hoskin
#738
Tolkien writes about his languages and talks about Westron or the Common Speech.
1969
2 January 1969
J.R.R. Tolkien to Amy Ronald
#682
Carpenter #309
Tolkien replies to a letter from Amy Ronald. He explains his names and the different ways that family and friends address him.
28 May 1969
J.R.R. Tolkien to Mr Anthony D. Howlett
#728
In this partial letter Tolkien discusses the Elvish spelling of Rivendell. Only the first page is available.
30 June 1969
J.R.R. Tolkien to Paul Bibire
#811
Tolkien writes about Cynewulf and Glanduin.
25 November 1969
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael Tolkien
#686
Carpenter #313
Tolkien wishes he had an 'elven' grammar and vocabulary.
1971
4-5 June 1971
J.R.R. Tolkien to Graham Tayar
#419
Carpenter #324
Tolkien writes about about the use of the name ‘Gamgee’ in The Lord of the Rings, and whether the name ‘Gondor’ had been suggested by Gondar in ...
17 July 1971
J.R.R. Tolkien to Roger Lancelyn Green
#420
Carpenter #325
Tolkien writes about Aman and what happens to mortals, such as Frodo, when they go there. In a portion published in the C.S. Lewis Biography by Green To...
1972
25 May 1972
J.R.R. Tolkien to Mr Wrigley
#431
Carpenter #337
Tolkien discusses the sources of The Lord of the Rings.
9 November 1972
J.R.R. Tolkien to Mrs Meriel Thurston
#435
Carpenter #342
Tolkien is asked about Elvish names for bulls and herds of cattle.
23 November 1972
J.R.R. Tolkien to Edmund Meskys
#437
Carpenter #344
Tolkien talks about numerals in The Lord of the Rings. A photocopy with a complete transcript is held at the Marquette archives.
30 November 1972
J.R.R. Tolkien to Mrs Meriel Thurston
#438
Carpenter #345
A continuation of #Letter342, where Tolkien continues to discuss naming animals.
17 December 1972
J.R.R. Tolkien to Richard Jeffery
#384
Carpenter #347
A reply to the following questions: (1) Does ‘Speak, friend, and enter’ (the inscription over Moria Gate) mean ‘Speak as a friend’, i.e. in a fr...
1973
6 March 1973
J.R.R. Tolkien to Mrs Catharine Findlay
#385
Carpenter #348
Tolkien responds an enquiry about Galadriel.
30 May 1973
J.R.R. Tolkien to Brown
#376
Tolkien sends a postcard accepting a request to sign a copy of The Lord of the Rings even though he has told everyone that he will not do this.
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