Letters 
Letter Tags
Stats
Joy Hill writes to a H. Coomer enclosing the address for J.R.R. Tolkien along with a signed thank-you card from Tolkien himself. She says that they do n...
Joy Hill sends to Tolkien his notes on the story-line which have been returned by Forrest J. Ackerman.
Tolkien writes that he likes the Puffin Hobbit cover illustration made by Pauline Baynes very much.
Following Rayner Unwin's letter to Pauline Baynes, Joy Hill writes to Tolkien confirming their offer to Baynes to illustrate The Adventures of Tom Bomba...
Rayner Unwin writes offering Pauline Baynes the job of illustrating The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and Other Verses from the Red Book. This will include...
Tolkien replies to Joy Hill and includes the signed contract sent on 9 May. He says he will deal with the other matters over the weekend.
Following Tolkien's letter of 11 May he sends Joy Hill a corrected introduction to The Adventures of Tom Bombadil along with corrections for some of the...
Tolkien writes to his secretary about the American deluxe Hobbit proposal, which had sent him a specimen of artwork from Virgil Finlay. He has some issu...
Tolkien apologizes for not responding sooner, and declines to provide an article for a student newspaper. The typed letter is signed by his secretary, n...
Tolkien discusses the serialisation of The Hobbit in The Princess. Tolkien notes that dwarves is used throughout in his book, but it would be ok for thi...
Tolkien really does not like the design of HMCo's Tree and Leaf. He comments negatively on Carole Ward's proposal for a serialization of The Lord of the...
Joy Hill replies to a letter in which she is described as "his chief scribe". The Silmarillion is not yet ready for publication and no date is known. To...
Rayner Unwin replies to a letter from Ed Meskys saying the Silmarillion will not be published for many years but that Sir Gawain and Pearl could be publ...
Tolkien’s telephone number was still in the Oxford directory, and he was sometimes bothered by calls from ‘fans’. A harsh critique of a particular...
Tolkien thanks Joy Hill for sending various packets including fan mail. He would like to attend a Donald Swann concert and asks for seats. He says, rega...
Joy Hill writes to Pamela Chandler. She mentions that if Chandler should sell any photographs of Tolkien she should perhaps mention it to him. She then ...
Joy Hill writes to Professor Johnson who is planning a lecture on Tolkien. She gives him some details on Tolkien's parents and also thanks him for respe...
Joy Hill writes to Pamela Chandler. She is delighted by the photos taken of Tolkien and could not take them all in given the amount. She mentions that t...
Edith Tolkien sends a short note to Pamela Chandler saying that they are anxious to see the photos before they go away at the end of the week. Reports a...
Joy Hill writes to Pamela Chandler saying that Tolkien is pleased with the photographs and that if the letter reaches her before she sees Tolkien again,...
Tolkien had been sent details of a proposed ‘sequel’ to The Lord of the Rings that a ‘fan’ was going to write himself.
Joy has sent Tolkien a copy of The Children's Treasury of Literature, which includes a chapter from The Hobbit.
A short note from Tolkien to his secretary on a few outstanding items. Miss Jenkinson (who will be sending stock replies to letters that Tolkien does no...
In the Revised edition of Letters, there is brief extract where Tolkien talks about his serious health issues and complains about Joy Hill saying it was...
On June 5th, Colin Smythe had replied to Tolkien, saying that he would be delighted to have a poem on Westernesse. This response sent back to Smythe was...
Tolkien writes to Joy Hill during an enforced break in Bournmouth where he is resting with a broken leg.
Smythe had written back to Tolkien on July 1 saying that he was sorry to hear about Tolkien's accident, and sending along a copy of his latest publicati...
Tolkien writes to his secretary Joy Hill, addressing her as "Joy" for the first time here, previously using "Miss Hill". He is injured and staying at th...
Writing to Joy Hill Tolkien says he has "lots of things" to send her, but he is having to deal with his books, currently in "48 crates". He has not foun...
On October 22, Smythe sent a note to Tolkien's secretary asking to remind Tolkien. In this response, Tolkien's secretary says that she has reminded Tolk...
Tolkien writes to Joy Hill, confirming he has booked a room for her at the Miramar Hotel for Saturday, November 23rd.
Tolkien's secretary, Joy Hill, returns Brian Sibley's copy of The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, which Tolkien has signed and hand-corrected one of the poems.
Joy Hill writes to Michael Bell on behalf of Tolkien. She thanks him for his letter. She says that Tolkien is currently very busy and asks Mr. Bell's fo...
Tolkien was delighted that his letter arrived safely and "so quickly", see #TCGLetter1172. This reply followed one from Joy Hill (#TCGLetter1175) where ...
Tolkien's secretary writes to Smythe that Tolkien has apologised for not being able to help at the moment, because he is engrossed in days before Middle...
On March 1st, Smythe wrote a full summary of the events so far to Joy Hill. In this response, Joy Hill says that Tolkien could not find any complete mat...
On March 7, Smythe wrote that he understands Tolkien's inability to contribute a poem, but Smythe would rather see The Silmarillion be published in any ...
Tolkien writes to an unknown recipient, offering opinions on an adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. He thinks nothing could satisfy an attentive reader...
On September 30, Smythe wrote to Joy Hill one final time, sending one of his publications and regretting that the poem idea could not get off the ground...
GA&U Press Release: "George Allen & Unwin Ltd are pleased to announce the sale of the film and certain allied rights in J.R.R. Tolkien's famous book THE...
Tolkien was unable to attend a Tolkien conference at the Midlands Art Centre on the 30th November 1969. Joy Hill from George Allen & Unwin and Tom Shipp...
Joy Hill writes to Pauline Baynes, she says that one day last week she produced 44 letters for Tolkien. Rayner Unwin will see her poster A Map of Middle...
This letter was published in the letter column of the January 1970 issue (Volume Two, Number One) of Carandaith, the journal of the Australian Tolkien S...
Joy Hill from George Allen & Unwin had attended a Tolkien conference that Tom Shippey spoke at, and took a copy of his presentation to show to Tolkien. ...
Joy Hill writes to filmmaker John Boorman at Tolkien's request. Tolkien is sorry that Boorman has been ill, and hopes that Boorman will be able to visit...
John Boorman writes to Tolkien's secretary, apologizing for not being able to meet in person with Professor Tolkien and their mutual friend Father Magui...
Joy Hill has read Boorman's letter to Tolkien over the phone, and Tolkien hopes Boorman is now feeling better and looks forward to meeting him. He will ...
Boorman thanks Joy Hill for writing , and offers to come visit her in the George Allen & Unwin offices on the 13th of July. He would love to talk to her...
Boorman apologizes for not being able to meet with Joy Hill during his visit to London. He was too busy dealing with United Artists and the launch of hi...
Joy Hill writes to confirm scheduling just discussed in a phone call. Boorman will meet with Rayner Unwin on Monday 17th August, and Tolkien in Bournemo...
Boorman writes to Tolkien's secretary (in her role as Press Officer for George Allen & Unwin), saying that he had hoped United Artists would have greenl...
Joy Hill thanks Boorman for letting her know that United Artists haven't greenlit the film yet. She looks forward to hearing when the project is ready, ...
Tolkien signs a card to Eileen Elgar and encloses a copy of A Map of Middle-earth poster by Pauline Baynes. It is assumed he signed a typed note as he h...
Writing to joy Hill Tolkien asks her to send a copy of A Map of Middle-earth (Pauline Baynes) to Mrs. Eileen Elgar but asks that his location not be dis...
Joy Hill thanks Austin Olney for presents sent to Tolkien by Houghton Mifflin.
Joy Hill writes to filmmaker John Boorman, saying she had tried to call him on the phone but he had evidently already left the country. She is hoping to...
Joy Hill has recently heard from an American publisher (either Ballantine or Houghton Mifflin) that the film is moving forward, and asks for an update f...
Boorman is about to begin filming of "Deliverance", and hopes to be able to have news about The Lord of the Rings film in late July. It still isn't fina...
Joy Hill thanks Boorman for writing , and looks forward to hearing from him again when he returns near the end of July.
Joy Hill tries to dissuade a student from writing his thesis about The Lord of the Rings due to the immense amount of unpublished material he doesn't ha...
Tolkien thanks Mr Mackay for a chart and information that he sent him about Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Rayner Unwin has sent via Joy Hill blowups from the The Lord of the Rings of area the There and Back Again map would need to cover. It has much some det...
Tolkien assigns the copyright of the poem Bilbo's Last Song to Joy Hill and sends her the text of the poem and notes an error in the text of the poem.
Tolkien mentions in his letter that he wore a gift from Joy on Christmas Day. Signing the letter "J.R.R.T" he notes that his contemporaries used to writ...
Tolkien was sent a small gift but was smashed to bits during the delivery.
Tolkien writes to Joy Hill, informing her that he empowers her to act on his behalf in regard to correspondence to reject politely any "requests for int...
Joy Hill responds to a fan query about The Silmarillion, saying that for death duty (tax) reasons, it cannot be published while he is alive.
Joy Hill informs Mr Abetts of Tolkien's death but states that he was able to read the letter that Mr Abetts had sent.
Letter Tags
Stats
Guide to Tolkien's Letters
Joy Hill
(68 letters match)1958
3 June 1958
Joy Hill to Hal Coomer
#820
Joy Hill writes to a H. Coomer enclosing the address for J.R.R. Tolkien along with a signed thank-you card from Tolkien himself. She says that they do n...
1959
22 April 1959
Joy Hill to J.R.R. Tolkien
#1687
Joy Hill sends to Tolkien his notes on the story-line which have been returned by Forrest J. Ackerman.
1961
March 13, 1961
J.R.R. Tolkien to Joy Hill
#1856
Tolkien writes that he likes the Puffin Hobbit cover illustration made by Pauline Baynes very much.
1962
9 May 1962
Joy Hill (GA&U) to J.R.R. Tolkien
#1230
Following Rayner Unwin's letter to Pauline Baynes, Joy Hill writes to Tolkien confirming their offer to Baynes to illustrate The Adventures of Tom Bomba...
9 May 1962
Rayner Unwin (George Allen & Unwin) to Pauline Baynes
#1229
Rayner Unwin writes offering Pauline Baynes the job of illustrating The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and Other Verses from the Red Book. This will include...
11 May 1962
J.R.R. Tolkien to Joy Hill
#1231
Tolkien replies to Joy Hill and includes the signed contract sent on 9 May. He says he will deal with the other matters over the weekend.
14 May 1962
J.R.R. Tolkien to Joy Hill
#1232
Following Tolkien's letter of 11 May he sends Joy Hill a corrected introduction to The Adventures of Tom Bombadil along with corrections for some of the...
1963
11 October 1963
J.R.R. Tolkien to Joy Hill
#1862
Tolkien writes to his secretary about the American deluxe Hobbit proposal, which had sent him a specimen of artwork from Virgil Finlay. He has some issu...
1964
July 1964
Joy Hill to Colin Smythe
#357
Tolkien apologizes for not responding sooner, and declines to provide an article for a student newspaper. The typed letter is signed by his secretary, n...
14 August 1964
J.R.R. Tolkien to Joy Hill
#565
Tolkien discusses the serialisation of The Hobbit in The Princess. Tolkien notes that dwarves is used throughout in his book, but it would be ok for thi...
11 September 1964
J.R.R. Tolkien to Joy Hill
#638
Carpenter #264
Tolkien really does not like the design of HMCo's Tree and Leaf. He comments negatively on Carole Ward's proposal for a serialization of The Lord of the...
1965
Mid to late 1960s
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael Blashka
#815
Joy Hill replies to a letter in which she is described as "his chief scribe". The Silmarillion is not yet ready for publication and no date is known. To...
22 February 1965
Rayner Unwin's Secretary to Ed Meskys
#782
Rayner Unwin replies to a letter from Ed Meskys saying the Silmarillion will not be published for many years but that Sir Gawain and Pearl could be publ...
1966
10 May 1966
J.R.R. Tolkien to Joy Hill
#660
Carpenter #287
Tolkien’s telephone number was still in the Oxford directory, and he was sometimes bothered by calls from ‘fans’. A harsh critique of a particular...
13 May 1966
J.R.R. Tolkien to Joy Hill
#786
Tolkien thanks Joy Hill for sending various packets including fan mail. He would like to attend a Donald Swann concert and asks for seats. He says, rega...
2 June 1966
Joy Hill to Pamela Chandler
#848
Joy Hill writes to Pamela Chandler. She mentions that if Chandler should sell any photographs of Tolkien she should perhaps mention it to him. She then ...
26 July 1966
Joy Hill to G.B. Johnson
#939
Joy Hill writes to Professor Johnson who is planning a lecture on Tolkien. She gives him some details on Tolkien's parents and also thanks him for respe...
11 August 1966
Joy Hill to Pamela Chandler
#850
Joy Hill writes to Pamela Chandler. She is delighted by the photos taken of Tolkien and could not take them all in given the amount. She mentions that t...
28 August 1966
Edith Tolkien to Pamela Chandler
#851
Edith Tolkien sends a short note to Pamela Chandler saying that they are anxious to see the photos before they go away at the end of the week. Reports a...
13 September 1966
Joy Hill to Pamela Chandler
#852
Joy Hill writes to Pamela Chandler saying that Tolkien is pleased with the photographs and that if the letter reaches her before she sees Tolkien again,...
12 December 1966
J.R.R. Tolkien to Joy Hill
#665
Carpenter #292
Tolkien had been sent details of a proposed ‘sequel’ to The Lord of the Rings that a ‘fan’ was going to write himself.
1967
5 January 1967
J.R.R. Tolkien to Joy Hill
#740
Joy has sent Tolkien a copy of The Children's Treasury of Literature, which includes a chapter from The Hobbit.
9th August, 1967
J.R.R. Tolkien to Joy Hill
#2005
A short note from Tolkien to his secretary on a few outstanding items. Miss Jenkinson (who will be sending stock replies to letters that Tolkien does no...
ca. 3 December 1967
J.R.R. Tolkien to Clyde S. Kilby
#903
Carpenter #298a
In the Revised edition of Letters, there is brief extract where Tolkien talks about his serious health issues and complains about Joy Hill saying it was...
1968
June 26, 1968
Joy Hill to Colin Smythe
#362
On June 5th, Colin Smythe had replied to Tolkien, saying that he would be delighted to have a poem on Westernesse. This response sent back to Smythe was...
3 August 1968
J.R.R. Tolkien to Joy Hill
#1024
Tolkien writes to Joy Hill during an enforced break in Bournmouth where he is resting with a broken leg.
August 12, 1968
Joy Hill to Colin Smythe
#363
Smythe had written back to Tolkien on July 1 saying that he was sorry to hear about Tolkien's accident, and sending along a copy of his latest publicati...
August 12, 1968
J.R.R. Tolkien to Joy Hill
#2000
Tolkien writes to his secretary Joy Hill, addressing her as "Joy" for the first time here, previously using "Miss Hill". He is injured and staying at th...
28 August 1968
J.R.R. Tolkien to Joy Hill
#2279
Writing to Joy Hill Tolkien says he has "lots of things" to send her, but he is having to deal with his books, currently in "48 crates". He has not foun...
October 25, 1968
Joy Hill to Colin Smythe
#364
On October 22, Smythe sent a note to Tolkien's secretary asking to remind Tolkien. In this response, Tolkien's secretary says that she has reminded Tolk...
14 November 1968
J.R.R. Tolkien to Joy Hill
#2281
Tolkien writes to Joy Hill, confirming he has booked a room for her at the Miramar Hotel for Saturday, November 23rd.
1969
15 January 1969
Joy Hill to Brian Sibley
#727
Tolkien's secretary, Joy Hill, returns Brian Sibley's copy of The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, which Tolkien has signed and hand-corrected one of the poems.
23 January 1969
Allen & Unwin (Joy Hill) to Michael Bell
#1175
Joy Hill writes to Michael Bell on behalf of Tolkien. She thanks him for his letter. She says that Tolkien is currently very busy and asks Mr. Bell's fo...
25 January 1969
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael Bell
#1174
Tolkien was delighted that his letter arrived safely and "so quickly", see #TCGLetter1172. This reply followed one from Joy Hill (#TCGLetter1175) where ...
25 February 1969
Joy Hill to Colin Smythe
#365
Tolkien's secretary writes to Smythe that Tolkien has apologised for not being able to help at the moment, because he is engrossed in days before Middle...
6 March 1969
Joy Hill to Colin Smythe
#366
On March 1st, Smythe wrote a full summary of the events so far to Joy Hill. In this response, Joy Hill says that Tolkien could not find any complete mat...
10 March 1969
Joy Hill to Colin Smythe
#367
On March 7, Smythe wrote that he understands Tolkien's inability to contribute a poem, but Smythe would rather see The Silmarillion be published in any ...
June 1969
J.R.R. Tolkien to Unknown
#810
Tolkien writes to an unknown recipient, offering opinions on an adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. He thinks nothing could satisfy an attentive reader...
October? 1969
Joy Hill to Colin Smythe
#368
On September 30, Smythe wrote to Joy Hill one final time, sending one of his publications and regretting that the poem idea could not get off the ground...
16 October 1969
Miss Joy Hill to The Press
#985
GA&U Press Release: "George Allen & Unwin Ltd are pleased to announce the sale of the film and certain allied rights in J.R.R. Tolkien's famous book THE...
November 1969
J.R.R. Tolkien to Leslie Holloway
#813
Tolkien was unable to attend a Tolkien conference at the Midlands Art Centre on the 30th November 1969. Joy Hill from George Allen & Unwin and Tom Shipp...
17 November 1969
Joy Hill to Pauline Baynes
#1255
Joy Hill writes to Pauline Baynes, she says that one day last week she produced 44 letters for Tolkien. Rayner Unwin will see her poster A Map of Middle...
Late 1969 or January 1970
Joy Hill to Mike O'Brien
#2027
This letter was published in the letter column of the January 1970 issue (Volume Two, Number One) of Carandaith, the journal of the Australian Tolkien S...
1970
April 13 1970
J.R.R. Tolkien to Tom Shippey
#817
Joy Hill from George Allen & Unwin had attended a Tolkien conference that Tom Shippey spoke at, and took a copy of his presentation to show to Tolkien. ...
8 June 1970
Joy Hill to John Boorman
#2079
Joy Hill writes to filmmaker John Boorman at Tolkien's request. Tolkien is sorry that Boorman has been ill, and hopes that Boorman will be able to visit...
15 June 1970
John Boorman to Joy Hill
#2074
John Boorman writes to Tolkien's secretary, apologizing for not being able to meet in person with Professor Tolkien and their mutual friend Father Magui...
19 June 1970
Joy Hill to John Boorman
#2084
Joy Hill has read Boorman's letter to Tolkien over the phone, and Tolkien hopes Boorman is now feeling better and looks forward to meeting him. He will ...
25 June 1970
John Boorman to Joy Hill
#2075
Boorman thanks Joy Hill for writing , and offers to come visit her in the George Allen & Unwin offices on the 13th of July. He would love to talk to her...
28 July 1970
John Boorman to Joy Hill
#2076
Boorman apologizes for not being able to meet with Joy Hill during his visit to London. He was too busy dealing with United Artists and the launch of hi...
31 July 1970
Joy Hill to John Boorman
#2085
Joy Hill writes to confirm scheduling just discussed in a phone call. Boorman will meet with Rayner Unwin on Monday 17th August, and Tolkien in Bournemo...
14 August 1970
John Boorman to Joy Hill
#2073
Boorman writes to Tolkien's secretary (in her role as Press Officer for George Allen & Unwin), saying that he had hoped United Artists would have greenl...
17 August 1970
Joy Hill to John Boorman
#2080
Joy Hill thanks Boorman for letting her know that United Artists haven't greenlit the film yet. She looks forward to hearing when the project is ready, ...
Christmas 1970
J.R.R. Tolkien (Joy Hill) to Eileen Elgar
#1157
Tolkien signs a card to Eileen Elgar and encloses a copy of A Map of Middle-earth poster by Pauline Baynes. It is assumed he signed a typed note as he h...
18 December 1970
J.R.R. Tolkien to Joy Hill
#1156
Writing to joy Hill Tolkien asks her to send a copy of A Map of Middle-earth (Pauline Baynes) to Mrs. Eileen Elgar but asks that his location not be dis...
18 December 1970
Joy Hill to Austin Olney
#1158
Joy Hill thanks Austin Olney for presents sent to Tolkien by Houghton Mifflin.
1971
8 February 1971
Joy Hill to John Boorman
#2078
Joy Hill writes to filmmaker John Boorman, saying she had tried to call him on the phone but he had evidently already left the country. She is hoping to...
29 March 1971
Joy Hill to John Boorman
#2086
Joy Hill has recently heard from an American publisher (either Ballantine or Houghton Mifflin) that the film is moving forward, and asks for an update f...
23 April 1971
John Boorman to Joy Hill
#2077
Boorman is about to begin filming of "Deliverance", and hopes to be able to have news about The Lord of the Rings film in late July. It still isn't fina...
17 May 1971
Joy Hill to John Boorman
#2081
Joy Hill thanks Boorman for writing , and looks forward to hearing from him again when he returns near the end of July.
1st July 1971
Joy Hill to Jan Bosmans
#1051
Joy Hill tries to dissuade a student from writing his thesis about The Lord of the Rings due to the immense amount of unpublished material he doesn't ha...
17 July 1971
J.R.R. Tolkien to A.I. Mackay
#1081
Tolkien thanks Mr Mackay for a chart and information that he sent him about Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
9 August 1971
Rayner Unwin to Pauline Baynes
#1260
Rayner Unwin has sent via Joy Hill blowups from the The Lord of the Rings of area the There and Back Again map would need to cover. It has much some det...
28 October 1971
J.R.R. Tolkien to Joy Hill
#299
Tolkien assigns the copyright of the poem Bilbo's Last Song to Joy Hill and sends her the text of the poem and notes an error in the text of the poem.
26 December 1971
J.R.R. Tolkien to Joy Hill
#827
Tolkien mentions in his letter that he wore a gift from Joy on Christmas Day. Signing the letter "J.R.R.T" he notes that his contemporaries used to writ...
1972
4 April 1972
Tolkien's secretary to Mr. Toth
#304
Tolkien was sent a small gift but was smashed to bits during the delivery.
31 July 1972
J.R.R. Tolkien to Joy Hill
#2278
Tolkien writes to Joy Hill, informing her that he empowers her to act on his behalf in regard to correspondence to reject politely any "requests for int...
1973
Jan 4, 1973
Joy Hill to Phil Rose
#1042
Joy Hill responds to a fan query about The Silmarillion, saying that for death duty (tax) reasons, it cannot be published while he is alive.
2nd October 1973
Joy Hill to Mr Abetts
#306
Joy Hill informs Mr Abetts of Tolkien's death but states that he was able to read the letter that Mr Abetts had sent.
109
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