Letter to unknown recipient (1956)

In 1956, J.R.R. Tolkien wrote a letter to an unknown fan (the aunt of the finder of the letter) in North East England.

• Description: Hand-written letter, explaining some of the thinking behind The Lord of the Rings.
• Contents: The letter from the unknown woman was likely written as The Lord of the Rings was published, asking why there could not have been a different ending. Tolkien wrote in reply, talking about the core of his tale, but added: "I could not explain how the story grew in anything less than an autobiography."
• Authenticity: Medium.
• Publication: None.