Books for Keeps

Notes
The Hobbit 50th Anniversary, an article by Rayner Unwin, includes several short quotes from letters written by J.R.R. Tolkien to George Allen & Unwin. See pp.8-9.

1) Quotes from a letter to ?Charles Furth dated 17 January 1937 looking forward finding out how A&U would reproduce the moon-letters on Thror’s Map. Excerpt not included in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter No. 10.

2) Quotes from a letter to Allen & Unwin dated 5 February 1937 stating that the production department should produce the runes ”as it will”. Excerpt not included in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter No. 11.

3) Quotes from a letter to Charles Furth dated 25 April 1937 regarding the jacket design for The Hobbit.

4) Quotes from an unidentified letter apologising for the delays that had hampered the jacket.

5) Quotes from a letter to Charles Furth dated ?9 July 1937 regarding the design for the binding case.

6) Quotes from a letter to Allen & Unwin dated 28 May 1937 on his colleagues belief that The Hobbit would become another one of his never-to-be-completed projects. A more complete version of this letter can be found in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter No. 14.

7) Quotes from a letter to Stanley Unwin dated 15 October 1937 on reception of The Hobbit in Oxford. A more complete version of this letter can be found in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter No. 17.

8) Quotes from a letter to Charles Furth dated 13 May 1937 insisting that he would not approved illustrations for The Hobbit if the were from or influenced by the Disney studios. A more complete version of this letter can be found in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter No. 13.

9) Quotes from a letter to Allen & Unwin dated 31 August 1937 hoping that The Hobbit would bring him some financial reward. A more complete version of this letter can be found in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter No. 15.

10) Quotes from a letter to Charles Furth (not Stanley Unwin as stated) dated 19 December 1937 informing him that he had ”written the first chapter of a new story about Hobbits – ‘A long expected party’.” A more complete version of this letter can be found in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter No. 20.