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J. R. R. Tolkien

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The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien Paperback – June 6, 2000

by J.R.R. Tolkien (Author), Humphrey Carpenter (Editor)

4.8 906 ratings

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This collection will entertain all who appreciate the art of masterful letter writing. The Letters of J.R.R Tolkien sheds much light on Tolkien's creative genius and grand design for the creation of a whole new world: Middle-earth. Featuring a radically expanded index, this volume provides a valuable research tool for all fans wishing to trace the evolution of THE HOBBIT and THE LORD OF THE RINGS.

Reading age

1 year and up
Print length

512 pages
Language

English
Dimensions

5.5 x 0.5 x 8.25 inches
Publisher

Mariner Books
Publication date

June 6, 2000
ISBN-10

0618056998
ISBN-13

978-0618056996
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From the Publisher


	The Great Tales of Middle-earth	The History of Middle-earth Boxed Set	The History of Middle-earth, Part One	The History of Middle-earth, Part Two	The History of Middle-earth, Part Three	The Silmarillion

Customer Reviews	1,906	1,187	116	55	114	21,707
Price	$49.98	$131.32	$47.08	$49.81	$51.32	$11.49
	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓


	Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth	The Silmarillion	The Atlas of Middle-earth	A Middle-earth Traveler	The Nature of Middle-earth	The Languages of Tolkien's Middleearth

Customer Reviews	2,213	21,707	2,679	1,825	1,758	484
Price	$10.89	$23.38	$14.99	$17.99	$16.79	$10.82
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Scholars and fans of the great mythologist will find a rich vein of information in Humphrey Carpenter's The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien. Tolkien was a prodigious letter writer all his life; the sheer mass of his correspondence would give pause to even the most stalwart archivist (one shudders to think what he would have done with e-mail). But with the able assistance of Tolkien's son Christopher and a healthy dose of determination, Carpenter manages find the cream of the crop--the letters that shed light on Tolkien's thoughts about his academic and literary work, as well as those that show his more private side, revealing a loving husband, a playful friend, and a doting father. The most fascinating letters are, of course, those in which he discusses Middle-Earth, and Carpenter offers plenty of those to choose from. Tolkien discussed the minutia of his legend--sometimes at great length--with friends, publishers, and even fans who wrote to him with questions. These letters offer significant insights into how he went about creating the peoples and languages of Middle-Earth.

I have long ceased to invent (though even patronizing or sneering critics on the side praise my 'inventions'): I wait till I seem to know what really happened. Or till it writes itself. Thus, though I knew for years that Frodo would run into a tree-adventure somewhere far down the Great River, I had no recollection of inventing Ents. I came at last to the point, and wrote the 'Treebeard' chapter without any recollection of any previous thought: just as it is now. And then I saw that, of course, it had not happened to Frodo at all.

This new edition of letters has an extensive index, and Carpenter has included a brief blurb at the beginning of each letter to explain who the correspondent was and what was being discussed. Still, we strongly recommend buying the companion volume, J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography, in order to better understand the place these correspondents had in Tolkien's life and get a better context for the letters. --Perry M. Atterberry

From Library Journal

The old fellow's letters to friends, family, and fans offer insight into his life and writings. Fun but not essential.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mariner Books; Tenth Impression edition (June 6, 2000)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 512 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0618056998
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0618056996
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 1 year and up
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #343,167 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #95 in Science Fiction & Fantasy Literary Criticism (Books)
- #169 in Science Fiction History & Criticism
- #1,555 in Author Biographies

Customer Reviews:
4.8 906 ratings

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J. R. R. Tolkien

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J.R.R. Tolkien was born on 3rd January 1892. After serving in the First World War, he became best known for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, selling 150 million copies in more than 40 languages worldwide. Awarded the CBE and an honorary Doctorate of Letters from Oxford University, he died in 1973 at the age of 81.

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906 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story incredible, thought-provoking, sad, and sweet. They also say the content captures the character of a man and his genius. Readers appreciate the interesting style and index that helps them quickly find letters that deal with certain topics.

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Story Content Reading experience

41 customers mention "Story"41 positive0 negative

Customers find the story incredible, intriguing, and worthwhile. They also say the letters are wonderfully written and thought-provoking.

"...An incredible read, really...." Read more

"...These letters are riveting and include everything from war-time advice to his son to a snarky, passive-aggressive response to an anti-semitic..." Read more

"...'s thinking and is by turns funny, moving, thought-provoking, sad and sweet. I especially like the way it ends (and no, I won't spoil the ending ...)" Read more

"...which I thought was interesting, but this is way better and more worthwhile. Because here you get to experience Tolkien's own writing...." Read more

39 customers mention "Content"39 positive0 negative

Customers find the book gives great insight into the man behind the world's best fantasy. They say it's full of surprises, explains the adventure of publishing fantasy fiction in the mid-20th century, and provides an in-depth look at the author. Customers also mention that it captures the character of a man and his genius.

"...It's just plain fascinating to follow the development of Tolkien's writings in his own words and thoughts, trials and setbacks, set amid all the..." Read more

"This book holds a lot of insights to the background of JRR Tolkien his thought process and his beliefs, it played a role in our familys decision not..." Read more

"If you are a writer this is a not-to-be-missed book. Gives such great insight to the man behind the worlds best fantasy." Read more

"...These I found to be filled with an immense wisdom as uncommon today as it was in Tolkein's time.Highly recommended...." Read more

8 customers mention "Reading experience"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting, fun, and humorous. They also say it's deep and moving.

"...It takes you further into JRRT's thinking and is by turns funny, moving, thought-provoking, sad and sweet...." Read more

"...It's easy and enjoyable reading and I think every fan of Tolkien's writing will enjoy this book." Read more

"...Carpenter’s editing is also superb, giving the reader plenty to enjoy and nothing to regret." Read more

"...His letters are thoughtful, intelligent and often amusing as he converses with the publishers Allen and Unwin, his sons Michael and Christopher,..." Read more

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Ed

5 stars for content... 1 star for proof-reading...

Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2014

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I've never been interested to read an author's personal correspondence. It's always seemed invasive and "prying," and of questionable value in locating and understanding the real sources of an author's muse. In this case though, and on the strength of other reviews, I bought the book, and am delighted to have taken the risk. It's just plain fascinating to follow the development of Tolkien's writings in his own words and thoughts, trials and setbacks, set amid all the same criteria of his larger life. An incredible read, really. Humphrey Carpenter, Tolkien's biographer, compiled this collection of personal correspondence with tact and great sensitivity and respect for J.R.R.T., and also a bulls-eye sensibility for what possible readers might find of interest.

On the Kindle version, though, 1 star at best. Typos or scan errors, whichever they are, are everywhere, and egregious. It's obvious that this Kindle text was never proofed by a human editor. To find the word "orc" misspelled as "ore" four times on one page is proof enough that the publishers put very little care into preparing the text. There are many, many other errors just in the first twenty percent of the book. I am very tempted to return this Kindle version for refund and go for the hardcopy, instead.

Especially at this time, when publishers and authors are clamoring for higher prices and consideration for their electronic books, I find myself more than ever inclined to just go back to hard-copy reading. It may be that the paper version of "The Letters..." contains the same quantity of really inexcusable errors, but that doesn't justify the glaring lack of editorial care in this Kindle version. These firms are obviously paying much, much less to produce the books, and yet still demanding to be paid even more, unfortunately actualizing Tolkien's own vision of the "machine" and where it was headed in his day.

74 people found this helpful

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NativeWarrioress

Great read

Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2023

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The first package I received was empty but the seller was great about resending and it got here just in time for my husband's bday! He loves it! Completed his collection

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Honest But Fair

This is very interesting and insightful 🤔

Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2024

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This book holds a lot of insights to the background of JRR Tolkien his thought process and his beliefs, it played a role in our familys decision not to read any of his LOTR books in honor of Jesus, and we are happy that it was the right one for us.

One person found this helpful

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David Marshall

A sad and happy form of oddity.

Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2012

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This book confirms some ideas I had about Tolkien, and disconfirms others. I always knew he was enormously protective of "his" country: but if this is a fair selection of his letters, "obsessed" would seem to be the word. One gets the feeling Tolkien would have left this world and gone to that, with maybe a look back, but less sorrow at the leaving, that Bilbo or Frodo. This is entirely unlike his friend C. S. Lewis, a writer who created when the passion was on, then went on to enjoy other activities -- walking or drinking with friends or lecturing -- seemingly every bit as much. (Which is why his letters are much more varied.) Tolkien wrote comparatively fewer books, but remained as passionate about Middle Earth and as ready to defend it as he had the mundane England in the 1st World War.

On the other hand, I've often thought that he would never have allowed the Peter Jackson films to be made, if he were alive, but now realize this was wrong. Tolkien seems to have appreciated money even more than I realized, and was in fact prepared to compromise to obtain it.

It's interesting to read Tolkien's "take" on other people. His friendship with Lewis was rich and rewarding, but he always felt what they shared was measured and incomplete. His take on Charles Williams, whom he liked personally but whose writings he seemed to despise, was interesting -- affirming William's deep influence on Lewis' That Hideous Strength, which is indeed bad, though in ways that I have made peace with. He also seems to have been as impressed as Lewis at Eddison's invention, with the same qualifications. Several of his interesting and low-key dramatic letters to Auden are also included.

Bottom line: you have to be a big fan of Middle Earth to enjoy this book, and even then, no guarantees. I did learn about how Tolkien's religious beliefs related to Middle Earth, which for me as a scholar of religions with an interest in "High Gods," was one of the most fascinating aspects of the book. I didn't learn that much about Tolkien's personal life. He seems, somehow, sad, though he was popular, famous, and intellectually razor sharp to the end of his long life. But I guess you picked up on that, in his sketch of Bilbo in Rivendell, or Frodo after his return to the Shire.

Tolkien was, indeed, an odd duck, living so long in a world of his own "sub-creation." (Do read On Fairy Stories, for a more thorough understanding of what he saw himself as doing.) Even if such a life seems a little sad, his devotion to that world was a happy reality for the millions of us whose lives have been enriched by his great invention.

26 people found this helpful

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Liverslapper

Hardbook 1st Edition - Highly Recommend

Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2024

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If you want a hardcover edition of this book, this is it. I will take this edition over the lastest paperback edition any day of the week.

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Dustin Gardy

You Will Not Be Disappointed

Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2017

Verified Purchase

If you are a fan of Tolkien, and completed The Hobbit, LOTR and The Silmarillion, but are unsure of where to go next, this ought to be it (but don't ever neglect Roverandom, The Father Christmas Letters, or the myriad of other shorter works, as well as everything put out by his son Christopher). These letters are riveting and include everything from war-time advice to his son to a snarky, passive-aggressive response to an anti-semitic publisher.

They are organized chronologically, and the editor's guiding factors for curation were 1) to include only letters that lent insight about his writing process, and 2) to exclude personal family insights as much as possible. So if you're looking for a tell-all reveal into his family life, you aren't getting that. But if you want to a crash-course on "the humanities, embodied" then you've come to the right place. Tolkien lives what he loves, and he loves culture and words and language and history and art and philosophy and faith. All of that is on display here, revealed in the context of his letters to friends and family and fans and publishers.

They're readable. Read one a day. They're short. You'll learn a lot of LOTR trivia, and you'll love it. Don't wait, read it now.

28 people found this helpful

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NicktheRed

From the Professor's Mouth

Reviewed in Canada on October 23, 2022

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I became a fan of Professor Tolkien when I was seven thanks to my mother reading to me her hardcover copy of The Hobbit from the 80s. It took me many years before I could buy The Lord of the Rings, both the books and the extended blu-rays, but upon doing so, I became a fan for life. Since then, I now own deluxe editions of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion, and the paperback editions of Unfinished Tales, The Children of Húrin, and Tolkien's biography by Humphrey Carpenter. I had heard of the letters for years, but only recently did I consider getting my hands on them and hear his thoughts.

And then I heard that Amazon would be making a show based on Tolkien's world.

I assumed that it would be The Silmarillion, so I bought that deluxe edition, and made sure that I was well read on the subject. Then we learned Amazon only had the rights to the Appendices of Return of the King, and were using Professor Tolkien's letters to justify the changes they were making.

Let us not bury the lead here. I bought this book to hear what this incredible man thought and how he came to create the greatest story ever told. Here, I could see for myself the full context of the letters Amazon was using to validate their absurd changes to his work. Not only did I find it, but I also found many passages that directly counter what Amazon and their shills have said, are saying, and will say. One of which is this quote from Letter 210, written sometime in June 1958:

"The canons of narrative art in any medium cannot be wholly different; and the failure of poor films is often precisely in exaggeration, and in the intrusion of unwarranted matter owing to not perceiving where the core of the original lies."—J.R.R. Tolkien.

He would know, as these were his words about the people who were trying to adapt his work, and even to those who wanted to translate his work into other languages.

I know for certain that I am not the only one who bought this book to counter and fact-check, and given how things have gone since the end of the first season of RoP, you have all shown your quality. Even the smallest person can change the course of the future, so if all of us join together, we can make that change.

If you are a true fan of Professor Tolkien's work, you will enjoy this book, as here you can understand him better. His thoughts about life, his frustrations with publishing his books, his faith, his dealing with the world around him, his thoughtful replies to passionate fans, and his mocking of critics that could not understand his work, who continued to see allegory that was never there. How little has changed since then.

3 people found this helpful

Gerardo

La Tierra Media a profundidad

Reviewed in Mexico on August 10, 2021

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Si eres estudioso de la obra de Tolkien es imprescindible leer la cartas para profundizar y llenar huecos en el legendario.

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Laura Salvi

Recensione

Reviewed in Italy on March 4, 2024

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Libro utile per gli appassionati di J.R.R. Tolkien

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Amazon Customer

very informative book

Reviewed in the Netherlands on December 9, 2020

Verified Purchase

Great collection of Tolkien's letters informing the constructive process of the creation of Middle-Earth.

Palmer

Excelente

Reviewed in Spain on July 29, 2018

Verified Purchase

Un libro fantástico. Para los fanáticos de la obra de Tolkien, porque cuenta en primera persona cómo se gestaron y desarrollaron sus obras, sus entresijos, curiosidades y procesos de creación. Y para los amantes de la literatura en general, porque la vida de Tolkien contada a través de sus cartas es... ¿cómo decirlo? Divertida, intelectual, acogedora... El genio de vida normal rodeado siempre de familia y de grandes e importantes amigos. Un libro ameno, apasionante y lleno de cultura literaria y lingüística para saborear en un pub con una buena cerveza.

3 people found this helpful

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