The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

EllethValatari · 11-20-2010, 02:37 PM

Letter 6

This letter is addressed to Mrs. E.M. Wright, whose husband studied philology with Tolkien at Oxford. He had sent her his edition of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight to edit.

T thanks her for the editing, and describes his "disastrous" Christmas. His wife, the maid, John and Michael all got the measles over Christmas, their vacation was ruined and T was the only one well enough to take care of them. In his own words, "[he] escaped." Tolkien ends the letter with greetings from his wife, but notes after his signature:

"Philology is making headway here. The proportion of 'language' students is very high. JRRT."

It's interesting how indifferent he seems in this last comment. We all know he was overjoyed by the increase in philologists.

11-20-2010, 02:37 PM	#1
EllethValatari Elven Warrior Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: United States Posts: 401	Letter 6 This letter is addressed to Mrs. E.M. Wright, whose husband studied philology with Tolkien at Oxford. He had sent her his edition of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight to edit. T thanks her for the editing, and describes his "disastrous" Christmas. His wife, the maid, John and Michael all got the measles over Christmas, their vacation was ruined and T was the only one well enough to take care of them. In his own words, "[he] escaped." Tolkien ends the letter with greetings from his wife, but notes after his signature: "Philology is making headway here. The proportion of 'language' students is very high. JRRT." It's interesting how indifferent he seems in this last comment. We all know he was overjoyed by the increase in philologists. __________________ Elleth Valatari "We have come from God, and inevitably the myths woven by us, though they contain error, will also reflect a splintered fragment of the true light, the eternal truth that is with God. Our myths may be misguided, but they steer however shakily towards the true harbour, while materialistic 'progress' leads only to a yawning abyss and the Iron Crown of the power of evil." — J.R.R. Tolkien

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