1910

28 March 1910

J.R.R. Tolkien to Edith Bratt

#2346

After his long letter of 26 March, Tolkien writes a shorter message and includes a poem, 'Morning'. Tolkien did not post the letter until Apri...

1915

27 March 1915

Geoffrey Bache Smith to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2325

Smith responds to the poems that Tolkien had sent him. Smith likes poems in the classical form, and doesn't understand Tolkien's wayward roman...

31 March 1915

Rob Gilson to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1213

Gilson writing to Tolkien confirms he has received his poems safely, but is yet to read them. He confirms a meeting of the T.C.B.S. for 18 April, mentio...

?3 April 1915

G.B. Smith to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1214

G.B. Smiths writes that he is unwell and says that Tolkien's letters offer him consolation, especially Tolkien's mentions of Smith's Newd...

25 April 1915

Christopher Wiseman to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1228

Wiseman gives Tolkien some feedback on his poetry. He and Gilson had been discussing it and Smith had said previously that he was impressed with it. Wis...

?14 May 1915

G.B. Smith to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1241

Writing to Tolkien, G.B. Smith confirms he is now with the 19th Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers. They are stationed at the grand Hotel, Penmeanmaw...

11 June 1915

G.B. Smith to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1245

Replying to a letter from Tolkien (at this time I have no date for that letter but it is almost certainly to congratulate Tolkien that both of them had ...

25 June 1915

Geofrey Bache Smith to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2326

Smith makes mention of the volume of Georgian Poetry he had asked Tolkien to send him.

c. 10 July 1915

G.B. Smith to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1273

G.B. Smith wrote to Tolkien on or around 10 July 1915, he suggests the notice Tolkien would receive from the War Office would be the 'gazetting&apo...

1917

c. February 1917

J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Wiseman

#1582

Only noted by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull in their entry for '4 and 9 March 1917', Tolkien had replied to Wiseman's letter sugge...

4 and 9 March 1917

Christopher Wiseman to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1583

Wiseman writes to Tolkien in reply to an earlier letter from Tolkien, in which Tolkien had replied about the "epic" Wiseman suggests he start ...

1925

8 August 1925

J.R.R. Tolkien to H.F.B. Brett-Smith

#68

As with Tolkien's ealier letter this handwritten letter finds Tolkien again discussing academia at Leeds University. He promises Brett-Smith that h...

1937

23 November 1937

C.V. Salmon to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2110

Salmon writes to Tolkien and asks if they can meet in Oxford on 29 November, a Monday.

26 November 1937

J.R.R. Tolkien to C.V. Salmon

#2111

Tolkien replies to Salmon. He can meet him any time on Monday 29 November. Hammond/Scull note that C.V. Salmon will visit Tolkien in Oxford on 29 Novemb...

1938

27 July 1938

J.R.R. Tolkien to John Masefield

#36

 Carpenter #32

Tolkien responds to Mr. Masefield regarding the lines provided for a performance. Tolkien expresses no objection to being preceded by the lines and defe...

1943

22 September 1943

J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien

#2397

Writing to Christopher, Tolkien remarks that has heard C.S. Lewis reading from his new translation of Aeneid, in rhymed alexandrines.

C. November 1943

J.R.R. Tolkien to Charles Williams

#961

This three page letter is held at the Wade but no details of it are known. The Charles Williams collection at the Wade states this is "A "Clos...

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...

20 September 1947

J.R.R. Tolkien to Allen & Unwin Ltd.

#256

 Carpenter #110

Tolkien provides information about the origin and authorship of the riddles included in their work. He clarifies that most of the riddles are their orig...

1954

13 October 1954

J.R.R. Tolkien to John Staniforth

#193

Tolkien was delighted to receive a letter from Mr. John Staniforth referring to himself as a "sexagenarian". Tolkien cites his noticing of the...

1955

30 June 1955

J.R.R. Tolkien to Houghton Mifflin Co.

#478

 Carpenter #165

Tolkien discusses some questions from The New York Times. He talks about the name, TOLKIEN, his ancestors, and even though he was born in Africa, he con...

1956

11 November 1956

J.R.R. Tolkien to Mr Britten

#260

Mr Britten asked some questions about the nomenclature of place names, and the map of the Shire. Tolkien discusses the names Pincup, Nobottle, and Oxfor...

1961

4 October 1961

J.R.R. Tolkien to Jane Neave

#606

 Carpenter #231

Tolkien writes to his Aunt Jane about publishing Tom Bombadil.

15 November 1961

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#608

 Carpenter #233

Allen & Unwin agree to publish The Adventures of Tom Bombadil.

22 November 1961

J.R.R. Tolkien to Jane Neave

#609

 Carpenter #234

Tolkien sends some poems that he is considering for The Adventures of Tom Bombadil. A lecture he gave on fairy stories at St Andrews consolidated his vi...

1962

12 April 1962

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#612

 Carpenter #237

Tolkien discusses progress with The Adventures of Tom Bombadil. Chronology contains additional material quoted beyond what appears in Letters. The origi...

1 August 1962

J.R.R. Tolkien to Pauline Baynes

#615

 Carpenter #240

Pauline Baynes, who was illustrating The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, pointed out that the typescript of the title poem described Tom as wearing a peacoc...

1963

7 December 1963

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rosalind Ramage

#514

Tolkien discusses rhyme and a poem sent to the professor by the recipient Roalind Ramage, offers much encouragement and includes a poem of his own for R...

16 December 1963

J.R.R. Tolkien to Baronne A. Baeyens

#516

Tolkien opens this letter by apologising for his delay in replying to a letter from September, and that his secretary had typed up a note but he felt a ...

1965

26 August 1965

J.R.R. Tolkien to Paula Coston (née Iley)

#700

Tolkien wrote to a young family friend, containing a long discussion about composing verse. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings were about to be publis...

1967

29 March 1967

J.R.R. Tolkien to W.H. Auden

#668

 Carpenter #295

Tolkien writes to W.H. Auden and remarks that he was delighted to receive his letter, noting that it "did much to restore my spirits". He was ...

1968

29 January 1968

J.R.R. Tolkien to W. H. Auden

#1925

Writing to W. H. Auden, Tolkien says that he believes he has "lying about" a poem called 'Volsungakvida en nyja'.

24 May 1968

J.R.R. Tolkien to George Burke Johnston

#804

Tolkien replies to a letter from George Burke Johnston thanking him for his gift and discussing the meaning of 'root' in the Troll's song.

1971

25 August 1971

J.R.R. Tolkien to Dr. Robert Boyer

#298

 Carpenter #327

Tolkien replies to Dr. Boyer about W.H. Auden whom he regarded as a "great friend" and supporter. In a handwritten postscript (or separate und...