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Letter 286

The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
← Letter 286 →
RecipientA.E Couchman
Date27 April 1966
Subject(s)A brief note about the Valar

Letter 286 is a letter written by J.R.R. Tolkien and published in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien.

[edit] Summary

There were no "Gods" in his mythology, stated Tolkien. Instead there were the Valar or Powers: angelic created beings appointed to govern the world. The Elves naturally believed in them since they had lived with them. Explaining all this would hinder Tolkien's work to publish it in proper form.

[edit] Note

Christopher Tolkien pointed out that this was an example of the short replies that Tolkien made to readers in this period of his life. In the years immediately after the publication of The Lord of the Rings the replies had been much longer.

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