The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien Read Online Free PDF Page B

Dodgson’s maths. So the real parallel (ifone exists: I feel very much that it breaks down if examined) fn1 lies in the fact that both these technical subjects in any overt form are absent. The only philological remark (I think) in
The Hobbit
is on p. 221 (lines 6–7 from end): 2 an odd mythological way of referring to linguistic philosophy, and a point that will (happily) be missed by any who have not read Barfield 3 (few have), and probably by those who have. I am afraid this stuff of mine is really more comparable to Dodgson’s amateur photography, and his song of Hiawatha’s failure than to
Alice
.
    Professor
: a professor at play rather suggests an elephant in its bath – as Sir Walter Raleigh 4 said of Professor Jo Wright in a sportive mood at a
viva
. 5 Strictly (I believe) Dodgson was not a ‘professor’, but a college lecturer – though he was kind to my kind in making the ‘professor’ the best character (unless you prefer the mad gardener) in
Sylvie & Bruno
. Why not ‘student’? The word has the added advantage that Dodgson’s official status was Student of Christ Church. If you think it good, and fair (the compliment to
The Hobbit
is rather high) to maintain the comparison –
Looking-glass
ought to be mentioned. It is much closer in every way. . . . .
    J. R. R. Tolkien.
16 To Michael Tolkien.
    [Tolkien’s second son Michael, now aged sixteen, was a pupil at the Oratory School in Berkshire, together with his younger brother Christopher. He was hoping to get into the school rugby football team.]
    3 October 1937
    20 Northmoor Road, Oxford
    Dearest Mick,
    It was nice to have a letter from you. I hope all is going well. I thought the new flats 1 looked as if they would be presentable when furnished. It is good of you to keep a kindly eye on Chris, as far as you can. I expect he will make a mess of things to begin with, but he ought soon to find his bearings and be no more trouble to you or himself.
    I am sorry and surprised you are not (yet) in the team. But many a man ends up in it and even with colours, who is rejected at first. It was so with me – and for same reason: too light. But one day I decided to make up for weight by (legitimate) ferocity, and I ended up a house-captain at end of that season, & got my colours the next. But I got rather damaged – among things having my tongue nearly cut out – and as I am on the whole rather luckier than you, I should really be quite happy if you remain uninjured though not in the team! But God bless you & keepyou anyway. There is no very special news. Mummy seems to have taken to car-riding. We have been two since you left, and I have now got to take her, P. and J.B. 2 out this afternoon instead of writing. So this must be all for the moment. With v. much love indeed.
    Your own
    Father
17 To Stanley Unwin, Chairman of Allen & Unwin
    [Unwin had sent Tolkien a letter from the author Richard Hughes, who had been given a copy of
The Hobbit
by Allen & Unwin. Hughes wrote to Unwin: ‘I agree with you that it is one of the best stories for children I have come across for a very long time. . . . . The only snag I can see is that many parents. . . . may be afraid that certain parts of it would be too terrifying for bedside reading.’ Unwin also mentioned that his own eleven-year-old son Rayner, who had written the report on the manuscript of
The Hobbit
which had led to its publication (see
Biography
pp. 180–81), had been re-reading the book now that it was in print. Unwin concluded by warning Tolkien that ‘a large public’ would be ‘clamouring next year to hear more from you about Hobbits!’]
    15 October 1937
    20 Northmoor Road, Oxford
    Dear Mr Unwin,
    Thank you very much for your kind letter of October 11th, and now for the copy of Richard Hughes’ letter. I was particularly interested in this, since we are quite unknown to one another. The reviews in The Times and