Forthcoming Hilary Tolkien book

Interesting, I actually heard about that somewhere, but I thought it was a joke then!

I had a small involvement with this book - helping transcribe the text and checking facts, so I can give you a few more details.

The main text comes from notes made by Hilary Tolkien in a small notebook. When the notes were made is uncertain - definitely after WW2, but possibly as late as the 1970s. Personally I think that they date from when Humphrey Carpenter was researching the JRRT biography in 1974-5. Hilary's grandson Chris Tolkien has consented to the notebook being published in an illustrated form.

The notes are a series of reminiscences covering various times from the 1890s in Sarehole to life during the second world war. I won't spill all the beans here, but the first tale is about the ogres mentioned in Carpenter's biography. There are plenty of little nuggets in there that should delight the JRRT fan, as I was reading I was constantly thinking 'that must be so-and-so...' and 'that must be when JRRT was at...'. It should be a fascinating book.

The book also includes a brief biography of Hilary which contains some interesting letters and photographs. I'll ask the publisher if it is ok to publish a few scans here, of the cover, etc. Jef's artwork is wonderful.

Anyone who is intending to make the launch on the 30th January can get tickets - £1.00 each ( all proceeds to a Diabetes charity) by reserving them via [email protected]. The room only seats 60, so tickets need to be pre-booked. Fire regs will not allow us to let more in on the night.

There will be first editions for sale and a presentation on how the book came about; it's contents; discussion of the artwork, and an introduction to the main Biography coming out later in the year.

Another date for your diary is:

ADC TOLKIEN ART EXHIBITION 2009
Friday 3rd April 2009 (preview party 7.30pm) to Monday 6th April 2009.
Ted Nasmith, Ruth Lacon & Peter Pracownik attending with all their art on display, also Jef Murray (illustrator) and Chris Tolkien to sign copies of a new Tolkien book being released at the exhibition.

details at www. adcbooks.co.uk

Thnxs Angie for posting it here... hope Neil gets permission to get some stuff published here, having worked on the material myself as well... I know what quality it is.

I can assure you all it is a small children book to look forward to!

Wow, wish I could be there for the CT book signing. Unfortunately, I live in the US. :(

This is CT son of Gabriel son of Hilary, not the "other" one you are probably thinking of.

Oh, I see. The book sounds interesting, nonetheless, though that makes the event a bit less appealing if it is Chris Tolkien rather than Christopher Tolkien. :)

I wish could attend as well. I wondered when more info would become available on Hilary.
I signed copy by Chris would be fantastic. I anyone attending can pick up a spare copy I would love to buy one.



Dior

Here are a few images from the book.
The cover, an ogre and an dog - the dog illustrates one of those moments in the book when something Hilary has written clicks in with something already published. I won't spoil it for you, I'll let you wrack your brain for Tolkien-related dogs!

A review of the book should be in the next Amon Hen.
It should be available on Amazon, but orders can be placed with ADC Books.