The letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

Name: The letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
ISBN: 0618056998

a selection

by J.R.R. Tolkien, Humphrey Carpenter · first published 1981

9mentions

0recommended by

9HN commenters

2015–2026first – last mentioned

100% neutral

Fantasy Fiction & Literature

Selected letters discuss his books, their meanings, his interests and also reveal his view of the world.

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View on Open Library ISBN 0618056998

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What Hacker News says

jfmercer · Jul 31, 2015 · Mentions

…and in terms of Tom's literary purpose. Tolkien deliberately made Tom an enigma: "And even in a mythical Age there must be some enigmas, as there always are. Tom Bombadil is one (intentionally)" (The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, No 144, dated 1954). The following are three suggested articles that are far more intelligent, subtle, well-researched, and balanced in comparison to km-515's rant. Mark Fischer, The Riddle of Tom…
on “Oldest and Fatherless: The Terrible Secret of Tom Bombadil” ↗
Jach · Jan 26, 2026 · Mentions

It's good of you to beware immature judgment lest you so be judged. I didn't have a particular letter in mind but the topic comes up at various places in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, especially in his remarks about sub-creation. I decided to ctrl-f my digital copy and I'll point you to Letter 213 for a direct remark. It's 3 paragraphs, here's the first: > I do not like giving 'facts'…
on “First, Make Me Care” ↗
eric_cc · Jul 28, 2022 · Mentions

…and wrongs of power and control might become utterly meaningless to you, and the means of power quite valueless. It is a natural pacifist view, which always arises in the mind when there is a war. The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien 144: To Naomi Mitchison. April 1954
on “Oldest and Fatherless: The Terrible Secret of Tom Bombadil (2011)” ↗
Jun8 · Jul 31, 2015 · Mentions

…just is. From http://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/1586/who-or-what-wa...: "And even in a mythical Age there must be some enigmas, as there always are. Tom Bombadil is one (intentionally)." The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, No 144, dated 1954
on “Oldest and Fatherless: The Terrible Secret of Tom Bombadil” ↗
sumnuyungi · Apr 17, 2021 · Mentions

"The Lord of the Rings is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work, unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision." The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien #142
on “Amazon’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ series will cost at least $465M for first season” ↗
amoruso · Jul 30, 2015 · Mentions

…dynamating factories and power-stations; I hope that, encouraged now as ‘patriotism’, may remain a habit! But it won’t do any good, if it is not universal.” – J.R.R. Tolkien, letter to his son, 1943 (from The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien). Not exactly what I would call fascist. source: http://rodbenson.com/2011/08/20/tolkien-on-anarchism/
on “Interview with Michael Moorcock” ↗
mavhc · Aug 21, 2023 · Mentions

"Of course my story is not an allegory of Atomic power, but of Power." The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien #186
on “Why Fantasy Avoids Gunpowder” ↗
p3rls · Dec 25, 2023 · Mentions

…the Fifth Age, if the Ages were of about the same length as S.A. and T.A. But they have, I think, quickened; and I imagine we are actually at the end of the Sixth Age, or in the Seventh. Source - The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 211
on “Constellations are younger than continents” ↗
stevekemp · May 13, 2024 · Mentions

From "The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien" we see what he agreed with his publishers: "Stanley & I have agreed on our policy : Art or Cash. Either very profitable terms indeed; or absolute author's veto on objectionable features or alterations."…
on “Peter Jackson on how Tolkien stopped a Beatles LOTR film (2021)” ↗