The King of the Green Dozen is the title of an incomplete story written by J.R.R. Tolkien.[1] Humphrey Carpenter explained in a footnote to Letter 33 in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien that the story is set in Wales and is about the King of Iwerddon who, along with the twelve sons of his descendant, has green hair.[2]
Background
On 31 August 1938, Tolkien wrote a letter to Charles A. Furth describing the story as a "pseudo-Celtic fairy-story" with a little satire in a similar genre[3] to Farmer Giles of Ham.[1] On 18 March 1945, Tolkien wrote a letter to Stanley Unwin, offering to send him the story along with other texts, stating that the story "is half-written, and could be finished" if he approved of Farmer Giles of Ham.[3] On 22 June of 2025, Jason Fisher speculated that it is likely that, regardless of whether the story holds "interest for readers", it will likely "end up in print someday".[4]
Inspiration
In a footnote to Letter 33 in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Humphrey Carpenter explained that Tolkien wrote the story to be a parody of "the ‘high’ style of narrative".[2]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Revised and Expanded edition, Letter 33, (dated 31 August 1938), p. 51
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Revised and Expanded edition, Note 2 to Letter 33, (dated 31 August 1938), p. 611
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 98, (undated, written ca. 18 March 1945), pg. 165
- ↑ . "“The Ulsterior Motive” and other unpublished writings of Tolkien", archived from the original on 8 October, 2025. Lingwë - Musings of a Fish. Retrieved 23 June, 2025