Letters 
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Tolkien thanks Michael for keeping an eye of Christopher. He says that "Chris" will make a mess of things to start, but he will settle in and be of no f...
Tolkien mentions receiving letters from Horus Engels regarding a German translation, and while Engels doesn't explicitly propose himself as a translator...
Tolkien writes about his Italian holiday. Tolkien and Priscilla visited Assisi and Venice.
Tolkien congratulates Christopher on a paper that he gave at St Anne's College.
Tolkien describes in great detail his trip to Rotterdam.
Tolkien discusses his retirement.
Tolkien writes to D. M. Hawke (First Assistant Registrar, Oxford University) on the Board of the Faculty of English about his retirement.
Tolkien talks about his pre-WWI trip to the Alps.
Writing to his aunt, Jane Neave, and in a newly published portion of this letter Tolkien says that fan mail keeps arriving, some of it is interesting an...
Tolkien describes his visit to the Hotel Miramar in Bournemouth. Chronology contains a few additional quotes from the letter that do not appear in Carpe...
Tolkien thanks Michael for his letter. He gives him some fatherly advice and talks about his Christian faith. He was interested in how Michael George wa...
Tolkien writes about the death of C.S. Lewis.
Tolkien discusses the death of C.S. Lewis.
Tyndall, an old boy of King Edward’s, Birmingham, had written to Tolkien recalling their schooldays together.
In this letter from Tolkien to his grandson, who was studying at St. Andrew's University, Tolkien apologizes that his translations of Sir Gawain and the...
Auden had invited Tolkien to contribute to a festschrift marking the retirement of Nevill Coghill. He also asked if Tolkien knew that a ‘New York Tolk...
Tolkien discusses money worries. Other parts of the letter are detailed in The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: Chronology.
Professor Kilby, of Wheaton College, Illinois, had met Tolkien while visiting Oxford in 1964. He now offered to return to England and help Tolkien in an...
Auden told Tolkien that he had agreed to write a short book about him, in collaboration with Peter H. Salus, for a seres entitled Christian Perspectives...
Tolkien writes about his reaction to Auden's comments on his house.
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's grandson is studying at Oxford. Tolkien writes about his views on 'research' and reading Smith of Wootton Major the previous week instead of g...
Tolkien writes about Sarehole Mill.
On 17 June, while preparing to move house, Tolkien fell downstairs and injured his leg. This letter was written from hospital in Oxford.
Tolkien writes to Michael about his trip to Switzerland and writes about his own trip in 1911. He also talks about 'trends' in the Catholic Church and h...
Amy sent Tolkien some Port and Sherry.
Tolkien wishes Christopher a happy 1969.
Tolkien replies to a letter from Amy Ronald. He explains his names and the different ways that family and friends address him.
Tolkien and Edith are not well and feeling cut-off.
Tolkien writes about teaching.
Tolkien discusses his problems with progressing with the Silmarillion. An additional portion of the letter has been quoted on Michael Tolkien's website.
Tolkien writes to Amy about his house and plans for Christmas.
Tolkien describes the Caverns of Helm's Deep as being influenced by Cheddar Gorge.
Tolkien describes his visit to Sidmouth.
Tolkien shares his views on author's biographies.
Tolkien writes to William Cater about the death of his wife, "Edith Tolkien" and his utter bereavement. In the 2023 revised edition of Letters, a brief ...
Tolkien writes to his son about the very generous accommodation offered to him by Merton College in Oxford.
Tolkien invites Rayner and his wife to visit him in his new flat at Merton.
Letter Tags
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Guide to Tolkien's Letters
Private life
(39 letters match)1937
3 October 1937
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael Tolkien
#16
Carpenter #16
Tolkien thanks Michael for keeping an eye of Christopher. He says that "Chris" will make a mess of things to start, but he will settle in and be of no f...
1946
7 December 1946
J.R.R. Tolkien to Stanley Unwin
#253
Carpenter #107
Tolkien mentions receiving letters from Horus Engels regarding a German translation, and while Engels doesn't explicitly propose himself as a translator...
1955
15 August 1955
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher & Faith Tolkien
#480
Carpenter #167
Tolkien writes about his Italian holiday. Tolkien and Priscilla visited Assisi and Venice.
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.
8 April 1958
J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin
#580
Carpenter #206
Tolkien describes in great detail his trip to Rotterdam.
1959
15 October 1959
J.R.R. Tolkien to Naomi Mitchison
#596
Carpenter #219
Tolkien discusses his retirement.
24 November 1959
J.R.R. Tolkien to D. M. Hawke, First Assistant Registrar, Oxford University
#597
Carpenter #221
Tolkien writes to D. M. Hawke (First Assistant Registrar, Oxford University) on the Board of the Faculty of English about his retirement.
1961
4 November 1961
J.R.R. Tolkien to Joyce Reeves
#607
Carpenter #232
Tolkien talks about his pre-WWI trip to the Alps.
1962
18 July 1962
J.R.R. Tolkien to Jane Neave
#613
Carpenter #238
Writing to his aunt, Jane Neave, and in a newly published portion of this letter Tolkien says that fan mail keeps arriving, some of it is interesting an...
1963
16 October 1963
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael George Tolkien
#624
Carpenter #249
Tolkien describes his visit to the Hotel Miramar in Bournemouth. Chronology contains a few additional quotes from the letter that do not appear in Carpe...
1 November 1963
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael Tolkien
#625
Carpenter #250
Tolkien thanks Michael for his letter. He gives him some fatherly advice and talks about his Christian faith. He was interested in how Michael George wa...
?Late November -?early December 1963
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael Tolkien
#627
Carpenter #252
Tolkien writes about the death of C.S. Lewis.
26 November 1963
J.R.R. Tolkien to Priscilla Tolkien
#626
Carpenter #251
Tolkien discusses the death of C.S. Lewis.
1964
9 January 1964
J.R.R. Tolkien to Rev. Denis Tyndall
#629
Carpenter #254
Tyndall, an old boy of King Edward’s, Birmingham, had written to Tolkien recalling their schooldays together.
1965
6 January 1965
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael George Tolkien
#571
Carpenter #266
In this letter from Tolkien to his grandson, who was studying at St. Andrew's University, Tolkien apologizes that his translations of Sir Gawain and the...
4 August 1965
J.R.R. Tolkien to W.H. Auden
#649
Carpenter #275
Auden had invited Tolkien to contribute to a festschrift marking the retirement of Nevill Coghill. He also asked if Tolkien knew that a ‘New York Tolk...
30 October 1965
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael George Tolkien
#653
Carpenter #279
Tolkien discusses money worries. Other parts of the letter are detailed in The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: Chronology.
18 December 1965
J.R.R. Tolkien to Clyde S. Kilby
#655
Carpenter #282
Professor Kilby, of Wheaton College, Illinois, had met Tolkien while visiting Oxford in 1964. He now offered to return to England and help Tolkien in an...
1966
23 February 1966
J.R.R. Tolkien to W.H. Auden
#657
Carpenter #284
Auden told Tolkien that he had agreed to write a short book about him, in collaboration with Peter H. Salus, for a seres entitled Christian Perspectives...
8 April 1966
J.R.R. Tolkien to W.H. Auden
#658
Carpenter #285
Tolkien writes about his reaction to Auden's comments on his house.
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...
28 October 1966
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael George Tolkien
#663
Carpenter #290
Tolkien's grandson is studying at Oxford. Tolkien writes about his views on 'research' and reading Smith of Wootton Major the previous week instead of g...
1968
6 May 1968
J.R.R. Tolkien to Nicholas Thomas
#676
Carpenter #303
Tolkien writes about Sarehole Mill.
26 June 1968
J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin
#678
Carpenter #305
On 17 June, while preparing to move house, Tolkien fell downstairs and injured his leg. This letter was written from hospital in Oxford.
11 October 1968
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael Tolkien
#679
Carpenter #306
Tolkien writes to Michael about his trip to Switzerland and writes about his own trip in 1911. He also talks about 'trends' in the Catholic Church and h...
14 November 1968
J.R.R. Tolkien to Amy Ronald
#680
Carpenter #307
Amy sent Tolkien some Port and Sherry.
1969
2 January 1969
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#681
Carpenter #308
Tolkien wishes Christopher a happy 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.
31 July 1969
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#684
Carpenter #311
Tolkien and Edith are not well and feeling cut-off.
15 December 1969
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#687
Carpenter #314
Tolkien writes about teaching.
1970
1 January 1970
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael George Tolkien
#387
Carpenter #315
Tolkien discusses his problems with progressing with the Silmarillion. An additional portion of the letter has been quoted on Michael Tolkien's website.
1 November 1970
J.R.R. Tolkien to Amy Ronald
#412
Carpenter #317
Tolkien writes to Amy about his house and plans for Christmas.
1971
4 February 1971
J.R.R. Tolkien to P. Rorke, S.J.
#416
Carpenter #321
Tolkien describes the Caverns of Helm's Deep as being influenced by Cheddar Gorge.
about 2 June 1971
J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien
#418
Carpenter #323
Tolkien describes his visit to Sidmouth.
October 1971
J.R.R. Tolkien to Peter Szabó Szentmihályi
#423
Carpenter #329
Tolkien shares his views on author's biographies.
29 November 1971
J.R.R. Tolkien to William Cater
#425
Carpenter #331
Tolkien writes to William Cater about the death of his wife, "Edith Tolkien" and his utter bereavement. In the 2023 revised edition of Letters, a brief ...
1972
24 January 1972
J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael Tolkien
#426
Carpenter #332
Tolkien writes to his son about the very generous accommodation offered to him by Merton College in Oxford.
16 March 1972
J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin
#427
Carpenter #333
Tolkien invites Rayner and his wife to visit him in his new flat at Merton.
110
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