The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien cover art

The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien

Revised and Expanded edition

Preview

Try for $0.00
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien

Written by: J. R. R. Tolkien, Humphrey Carpenter - editor, Christopher Tolkien - editor
Narrated by: Samuel West, Mike Grady, Chris Smith
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $55.03

Buy Now for $55.03

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

The comprehensive collection of letters spanning the adult life of one of the world’s greatest storytellers, now revised and expanded to include more than 150 previously unseen letters, with revealing new insights into The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion.

J.R.R. Tolkien, creator of the languages and history of Middle-earth as recorded in The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, was one of the most prolific letter-writers of this century. Over the years he wrote a mass of letters – to his publishers, to members of his family, to friends, and to 'fans' of his books – which often reveal the inner workings of his mind, and which record the history of composition of his works and his reaction to subsequent events.

A selection from Tolkien's correspondence, collected and edited by Tolkien's official biographer, Humphrey Carpenter, and assisted by Christopher Tolkien, was published in 1981. It presented, in Tolkien's own words, a highly detailed portrait of the man in his many aspects: storyteller, scholar, Catholic, parent, friend, and observer of the world around him.

In this revised and expanded edition of The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, it has been possible to go back to the editors’ original typescripts and notes, restoring more than 150 letters that were excised purely to achieve what was then deemed a ‘publishable length’, and present the book as originally intended.

Enthusiasts for his writings will find much that is new, for the letters not only include fresh information about Middle-earth, such as Tolkien’s own plot summary of the entirety of The Lord of the Rings and a vision for publishing his ‘Tales of the Three Ages’, but also many insights into the man and his world. In addition, this new selection will entertain anyone who appreciates the art of letter-writing, of which J.R.R. Tolkien was a master.

©2024 J. R. R. Tolkien, Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien, Chris Smith (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers
Art & Literature Memoirs, Diaries & Correspondence

What the critics say

‘The closest we can get to an actual autobiography … reveals new insights into the mind of one of England’s greatest storytellers’ Telegraph

‘These revised and amplified letters are an absolute treat’ Sunday Times

‘This is a terrific book … the letters simply glow with warmth, interest and enthusiasm’ Private Eye

‘These letters provide an intriguing new glimpse into Tolkien’s life and work, allowing us to hear from one of the world’s best-loved authors in his own voice’ The National Archives

What listeners say about The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A Glimpse Inside a Great Mind

Reading, and especially listening, to these letters provides an incredible glimpse into the mind of Tolkien throughout his life, and throughout the painstaking creation of his legendary work. At times the letters are deeply personal and express his beliefs and fears and his love for his family. Other letters display his exhaustive consideration of every detail of his created worlds, illuminating background information that doesn't appear in even the appendices of The Lord of the Rings or The Silmarillion.

It's not exactly a riveting page turner, and my wife quietly chuckled and rolled her eyes every time I mentioned some esoteric tidbit from my reading, but any Tolkien fan will feel a deeper understanding of the author and (if possible) a greater appreciation of the literary masterpiece he produced.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!