Letter 141b

The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Letter 141b
Recipient	Rayner Unwin
Date	19 November 1953
Subject(s)	Pre-release reviews of The Lord of the Rings

Letter 141b is a letter written by J.R.R. Tolkien and published in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Revised and Expanded edition.

Summary

In this letter to Rayner Unwin, Tolkien expresses regret over delays caused by his ill health and discusses efforts to garner preliminary opinions for The Lord of the Rings. He mentions consulting with C.S. Lewis, who is willing to help and might suggest additional names.

Tolkien lists several potential reviewers, including Geoffrey Eley, Gervase Mathew, Richard Hughes, and the Reverend Austin Farrer and his wife, although he expresses uncertainty about approaching them. He notes that the Farrers have read and approved the book but questions if their fame is suitable. Tolkien requests additional proof copies and assures Unwin of his intention to resume work despite recent setbacks.