1937

Tolkien-related events that took place in 1937.

January

• 4 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes Letter 9.
• 7 - At the request of his father, young Rayner Unwin writes a book report on Farmer Giles of Ham. This is the first of many positive critiques.
• 16 - Artist Klaus Ensikat is born.
• 17 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes Letter 10.

February

• 4 - J.R.R. Tolkien's poem "The Dragon's Visit" is published in The Oxford Magazine.
• 5 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes Letter 11.
• 18 - J.R.R. Tolkien's poem "Knocking at the Door" is published in The Oxford Magazine.

March

• 4 - J.R.R. Tolkien's poem "Iúmonna Gold Galdre Bewunden" is republished in the Oxford Magazine.
• 6 - Michael Deacon, who would voice Gríma Wormtongue in The Lord of the Rings (1978 film), is born.

April

• 13 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes letter 12.
• 15 - Charles Furth writes a letter to J.R.R.Tolkien.
• 20 - George Takei, who travelled the world as narrator of Johan de Meij's Symphony No. 1, "The Lord of the Rings", is born.
• 25 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes a letter to Charles Furth.

May

• 13 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes letter 13.
• 28 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes letter 14.

June

• 10 - The Battle of Maldon, edited by E.V. Gordon and with contribution by J.R.R. Tolkien, is published.
• 25 - Author Timothy J. Wheeler is born.

July

• 1 - Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics is published.

August

• 1 - Ian Hogg, who would voice Tom Bombadil in BBC's radio series of Tales from the Perilous Realm, is born.
• 5 - Alan Howard, the voice for the One Ring in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and The Return of the King, is born.
• 31 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes letter 15.

September

• 7 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes a letter to George Allen & Unwin concerning the promotion of The Hobbit and mentioning his friend Wilfred Rowland Childe.
• 21 - The Hobbit is published.
• 21 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes a letter to Simonne d'Ardenne.
• 21 – J.R.R. Tolkien signs copies of The Hobbit and sends them to E.V. Gordon, Elaine Griffiths, Helen Buckhurst, Stella Mills, Hilary Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and Katherine Kilbride.
• 22 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes a letter to Jane Neave.
• 28 - Donald Gee, who would voice Radagast in 1981 radio series, is born.

October

• 2 - C.S. Lewis publishes a review of The Hobbit in The Times Literary Supplement.
• 3 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes letter 16.
• 8 - C.S. Lewis reviews The Hobbit in The Times.
• 9 - Brian Blessed, who would play Farmer Giles in Tales from the Perilous Realm (1992 radio series), is born.
• 15 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes letter 17.
• 23 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes letter 18.

November

• 15 - Tolkien submits to Allen & Unwin a bundle of manuscripts including The Lay of Leithian ("Long Poem"); Quenta Silmarillion, Ainulindalë, Ambarkanta, and The Fall of Númenor (chapter) ("The Gnomes Material"); The Lost Road; and Farmer Giles of Ham and Mr. Bliss. They also discuss Beowulf.
• 28 - G.E. Selby writes a letter to J.R.R.Tolkien.
• 29 - Jared Lobdell is born.

December

• 13 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes a letter to Arthur Ransome.
• 14-15 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes a letter to G.E. Selby.
• 15 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes a letter to Arthur Ransome.
• 15 - Stanley Unwin writes to Tolkien that his "Silmarillion" is not fit for a book by itself, but rather "wonderful material" to inspire more books like The Hobbit.
• 16-19 - Tolkien starts writing the first chapter of the "New Hobbit", which will later become The Lord of the Rings.
• 16 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes letter 19.
• 17 - Charles Furth writes a letter to J.R.R. Tolkien.
• 19 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes a letter to Charles Furth (Letter 20).
• 25 - Father Christmas writes a letter to J.R.R. Tolkien's children.

?

• ? - Tolkien submits The Father Christmas Letters and a draft of The Silmarillion for publication but they are rejected.
• ? - Author Jared Lobdell is born.

References

Years 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940