THE LETTERS OF J. R. R. TOLKIEN

First edition, first printing. Original brown cloth lettered in gilt to the spine, in dustwrapper. Top edge brown. A very good copy, the binding square and firm with slight bumping to the head of the spine. There is a neat previous owner's inscription to the front free endpaper, the contents are otherwise clean throughout. The unclipped dustwrapper, lightly rubbed and creased to the edges and lightly faded to the spine is otherwise very good. A very presentable copy.

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973) was a prolific writer of letters: to publishers, family, friends, as well as in reply to the many letters from his readers. In this generous selection, made by the author's biographer, Humphrey Carpenter, assisted and advised by Tolkien's son Christopher, the author appears in many guises: as storyteller, scholar, parent, friend. The letters also, of course, include fresh information about Middle-earth and its inhabitants.