Letter to Terence Tiller

From Tolkien Gateway
Terence Tiller 19 September 1956.jpg

On 19 September 1956, J.R.R. Tolkien wrote a letter to Terence Tiller, a BBC radio producer.[1][2]

  • Contents: Tolkien, answering to a letter from Mr. Tiller written on 17 September 1956,[3] gives his permission 'in principle' to Mr. Tiller to produce a radio adaptation (see The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)) of The Two Towers and The Return of the King.
  • Publication: None. A description of the letter has been provided on the website Tolkien Library. The letter was apparently not kept in the BBC archive.[3]
  • Description: Autographed, (full signature & initialed) 1 page (front only) hand written letter.

Transcription[edit | edit source]

Dear Mr. Tiller,

The Lord of the Rings

I do give my permission 'in principle'. Also you have my sympathy and good wishes in the impossible task! I imagine that to make any narrative or dramatic sense out of the six ‘fits’, you will have to concentrate on the adventures of Frodo, and virtually cut out ‘Book III’. However, the task is yours. I hope that perhaps the series will provide an excuse and opportunity for us to meet again. I shall be away from Monday next Sept. 24 until October 8th; but anything reaching Merton College up to about October 5th will be forwarded.

Yours sincerely, JRR Tolkien.

P.S. I have now made arrangements for forwarding anything sent here to Headington, and they may be prompter than College. JRRT

References