Letter 225

The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
← Letter 225 →
Recipient	Rayner Unwin
Date	10 December 1960
Subject(s)	Uncertainty regarding Puffin Books publishing The Hobbit

Letter 225 is a letter written by J.R.R. Tolkien and published in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien.

Summary

Tolkien thanked Rayner Unwin for the news that Puffin Books had offered to publish a paperback edition of The Hobbit and left the decision to his own wisdom. Tolkien had mixed feelings: He was not able to ignore cash-profit, even to the odd £100, but shared Unwin's reluctance to cheapen the old Hobbit. Unless advantage was clear he would rather let him amble along. Tolkien said he was not fond of Puffins or Penguins for they ate other birds' eggs.