Letter to Doris Elizabeth Sykes (28 January 1956)
From Tolkien Gateway
Doris Elizabeth Sykes 28 January 1956 is a letter from J.R.R. Tolkien to Doris Elizabeth Sykes, written on 28 January 1956.[1][2]
- Subject: Discussion of Syke's illustrations inspired by The Lord of the Rings, which she sent to Tolkien on 5 January 1956.[1]
- Description: Handwritten.[2]
- Publication: Quotations from the letter and a reproduction were included in Christie's Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts 18 June 2013 (p. 12).[1]
Excerpts
- "Tolkien responds in the first letter to the recipient's drawings for the work, which he finds 'extremely good ... Apart from their technical skill ... they not only in many cases correspond closely to my vision, but even enrich it. I was particularly delighted by Treebeard with Merry and Pippin in his arms; but all your hobbits are admirable, and also the orcs, and Gimli. I also thought the scene under "Weathertop" and the Witch-King powerful. It was tackled in the only possible way: making Frodo and the King visible and the other Companions shadowy ... Aragorn alone does not closely correspond to my vision ... I think of him as sterner, keener and in face less "Greek" and straight-nosed, more Roman'; Tolkien adds with regret however that 'the immediate prospects of an illustrated edition are not good'."
- ― [2]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Wayne G. Hammond, Christina Scull, "Addenda and Corrigenda to The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide (2006) Vol. 1: Chronology" dated 16 June 2013, Hammond&Scull.com (accessed 17 October 2013)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "TWO AUTOGRAPH LETTERS SIGNED ('J.R.R. TOLKIEN') TO DORIS SYKES (Sale 8952, Lot 30)" dated 18 June 2013, Christies.com/ (accessed 17 October 2013)
