Revised Letters errata
5 Nov, 2023
(edited)
2023-11-5 9:45:49 PM UTC
2023-11-5 9:45:49 PM UTC
Gathering these here as people report them - will point HC editors at this post after the book has been out a while, for eventual consideration if/when reprints (or digital corrections) are made.
Moved to this page that is kept up-to-date: https://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/w ... f+J.+R.+R.+Tolkien+Errata
Breaking this out separately as I don't consider these errata, but corrections that can be made to what Carpenter had available. He was working from a transcript printed in Mythlore, not the original letter. These corrections come from the original letter which has since been seen.
HarperCollins UK 2023 Revised edition 1st print
Moved to this page that is kept up-to-date: https://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/w ... f+J.+R.+R.+Tolkien+Errata
Carpenter's Letter #203 (J.R.R. Tolkien to Herbert Schiro, 17 November 1957)
Breaking this out separately as I don't consider these errata, but corrections that can be made to what Carpenter had available. He was working from a transcript printed in Mythlore, not the original letter. These corrections come from the original letter which has since been seen.
- p. 377 - "There were five wizards and that is just a unique part of history" > "There were five and that is just a unique fact of history" (note: 'wizards' is not in the actual letter here)
- p. 377 - "That there is no allegory does not" > "That there is no 'allegory' does not"
- p. 377 - "pride and [illegible] among Elves" > "pride and escapism among Elves"
- p. 378 - "But I should say, if asked, the tale is not really about" > "But I should say, if asked, that it is not really about"
Renumbering
- Carpenter's Letter #219 (J.R.R. Tolkien to Naomi Mitchison, 15 October 1959) - was #220 in the 1st edition of Carpenter's Letters
- Carpenter's Letter #220 (J.R.R. Tolkien to Allen & Unwin, 16 October 1959) - was #219 in the 1st edition of Carpenter's Letters
Trotter wrote:
onthetrail wrote:
Note that this entry is not errata but a change that should be noted all the same.
Carpenter #219: Letter from J.R.R. Tolkien to Naomi Mitchison • 15 October 1959 (#596) was previously numbered in Letters, 1981 as #220 [moved to #219 in Letters, 2023]
Carpenter #220: Letter from J.R.R. Tolkien to Allen & Unwin • 16 October 1959 (#594) was previously numbered in Letters, 1981 as #219 [moved to #220 in Letters, 2023]
It is listed as a Note to both Letters in the book, along with the reason for the number change. Page 628 of The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Revised and Expanded Edition
Indeed, added to the references for both letters and clearly highlighted in both letter summaries. This is a highlight rather than an error but as the 'Foreword to the Revised and Expanded Edition' says that:
Readers will find that Humphrey’s original numbering system has been retained, and newly included correspondence has been indicated by appending to the number a small letter, e.g. ‘15a’ for the letter of 17 September 1937 to Stanley Unwin, which follows that of 31 August to Allen & Unwin. Since its publication in 1981,
The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien has become an invaluable work ofreference, with its content frequently cited by letter-number; by preserving this system, the value of Letters will continue.
It does render that statement ever so slightly incorrect and some might miss it if they do not read notes. They should!
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