The J. R. R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: Volume 1: Chronology

14 December 1936 Members of Convocation meet in the Sheldonian Theatre at 12.00 noon to hear the proclamation of George VI, and then process, led by the Vice-Chancellor and the Proctors, to St Mary’s Church to witness the proclamation there by the City authorities. Lectures which would interfere with attendance at the ceremony are cancelled.

Christmas 1936 Tolkien, as ‘Father Christmas’, writes a letter dated 23 December, addressed only to Christopher and Priscilla. He apologizes for not being able to send a long letter, but hopes that his picture will explain why. In fact the letter from Father Christmas is accompanied by another letter in a different script, as from the elf Ilbereth: this tells how the North Polar Bear worked hard to give each child an individual number to help in packing and record keeping, then fell asleep in the bath with the taps running, so that water poured into the English Delivery Room below. A picture, drawn in tiers, shows the North Pole and the Northern Lights; Polar Bear in the bath; water pouring through the ceiling; and Polar Bear explaining his numbering system to the elves. Also enclosed with the letters and picture are a copy of a goblin alphabet as by Polar Bear. – During the holidays members of the Tolkien family one by one are laid low with influenza, brought back from school by one of the boys. – Tolkien redraws some of his pictures for The Hobbit.

31 December 1936 Tolkien himself contracts influenza.

1937 (#ulink_50f5fdb2-39a1-530d-a86f-e624eb266de6)

Late 1930s Tolkien writes the first version of an essay, *The Feanorian Alphabet. He will revise this in the early to mid-1940s.

c. 1937–41 Tolkien writes a sentence in Quenya, with an English translation, related to his mythology, telling of Oromë and the Waters of Awakening (*‘The Koivienéni Manuscript’).

1937 Tolkien revises his poem Kortirion among the Trees (first composed in November 1915).

4 January 1937 Tolkien writes to Susan Dagnall, enclosing six pictures. He has redrawn Thror’s Map and Wilderland and has decided that the other three maps are not necessary. He has also redrawn ‘one or two of the amateur illustrations of the “home manuscript” [of The Hobbit, presumably the master typescript], conceiving that they might serve as endpapers, frontispiece or what not’ (Tolkien–George Allen & Unwin archive, HarperCollins). These are Mirkwood, The Elvenking’s Gate, Lake Town, and The Front Gate (Artist and Illustrator, figs. 88, 121, 127, 130; Art of The Hobbit, figs. 47, 58, 66, 68). He intends Mirkwood to be used as the front endpaper. The final Elvenking’s Gate has evolved through a series of drawings made from various perspectives, and has inspired (probably at the same time) a similar view of Nargothrond (Artist and Illustrator, fig. 57; Art of The Hobbit, fig. 55). Lake Town is based on an earlier drawing, Esgaroth (Artist and Illustrator, fig. 126; Art of The Hobbit, fig. 65).

7 January 1937 Tolkien returns a ‘slip’ to Allen & Unwin, probably a proof of the publicity paragraph he has written about The Hobbit. He has made some corrections. – C.A. Furth of the Allen & Unwin production department writes to Tolkien. The publishers think that his line drawings for The Hobbit are admirable, and are having reproduction blocks made. Mirkwood, shaded with ink wash, ‘will present a little difficulty in reproduction – unless it were to be printed separately on glossy paper, which we think would be disturbing’, and since (except for The Front Gate) the drawings are horizontal, they will have to be turned parallel with the spine of the book (Tolkien–George Allen & Unwin archive, HarperCollins). Allen & Unwin will try a cunning method to deal with the ‘moon-letters’ on Thror’s Map (probably they mean to print the runes in a grey tone). Furth asks Tolkien where the interior illustrations should be placed in the book. In regard to Mr. Bliss, the manuscript of which Furth is returning, Allen & Unwin would like to publish it but are concerned about the cost of printing. Furth asks Tolkien to redraw his lavishly coloured pictures in only three colours and black, to make them easier and cheaper to reproduce. He is willing to call on Tolkien in Oxford to explain better what is needed. He also discusses the calligraphy or type that might be used in place of Tolkien’s original lettering. – Rayner Unwin enthusiastically reports on Farmer Giles of Ham and Roverandom. He thinks that both books need illustrations, and suggests that they might be published together.

14 January 1937 Tolkien visits the British Museum in London, perhaps to do research in its manuscript or book collections. He also calls on George Allen & Unwin in nearby Museum Street, hoping to discuss The Hobbit, but C.A. Furth and Susan Dagnall are not in the office due to illness.

17 January 1937 Hilary Full Term begins. Tolkien’s scheduled lectures and classes for this term are: The Elder Edda on Tuesdays at 12.00 noon in the Examination Schools, beginning 19 January; The Vespasian Hymns: Grammar and Phonology on Thursdays at 11.00 a.m. in the Examination Schools, beginning 21 January; Fundamental Problems of Old English Phonology on Thursdays at 12.00 noon in the Examination Schools, beginning 21 January; and Old English Verse Texts (Class), at an hour and place to be arranged. Tolkien is also listed as one of a series of lecturers (with Nevill Coghill, H.V.D. Dyson, C.S. Lewis, and C.L. Wrenn) on Hamlet, Fridays at 5.00 p.m. in the Examination Schools, beginning 22 January. – Tolkien writes to C.A. Furth. He is endeavouring to earn a grant for ‘research’ in addition to his ordinary duties, but might find odd moments to redraw Mr. Bliss, especially as he is free from the burden of examining for two years. He would welcome Furth’s advice. He did not imagine that Mr. Bliss was worth so much trouble. ‘The pictures seem to me mostly only to prove that the author cannot draw’ (Tolkien–George Allen & Unwin archive, HarperCollins). Regarding The Hobbit, he had not intended Thror’s Map to be used as an endpaper. He discusses the placement of Wilderland and of the four drawings (other than maps) he sent on 4 January. He now sends six more, probably drawn after his earlier drawings were accepted: The Hill: Hobbiton across the Water, The Trolls, The Mountain-path, The Misty Mountains Looking West from the Eyrie towards Goblin Gate, Beorn’s Hall, and The Hall at Bag-End, Residence of B. Baggins Esquire (Artist and Illustrator, figs. 97, 102, 109, 111, 116, 139; Art of The Hobbit, figs. 10, 16, 34, 38, 44, 90). The final pen and ink version of The Hill has evolved through several sketches and drawings. For The Trolls Tolkien has abandoned an earlier drawing, Trolls’ Hill (Artist and Illustrator, fig. 99; Art of The Hobbit, fig. 13) and an intermediate illustration, The Three Trolls Are Turned to Stone (Artist and Illustrator, fig. 100; Art of The Hobbit, fig. 15), instead adapting a picture by Jennie Harbour for a retelling of ‘Hansel and Gretel’. The Misty Mountains Looking West has been redrawn from a similar version (Artist and Illustrator, fig. 110; Art of The Hobbit, fig. 37). Beorn’s Hall is adapted from an earlier picture by Tolkien, Firelight in Beorn’s House, which had been inspired by a drawing of a Norse hall in a book by E.V. Gordon (Artist and Illustrator, figs. 115, 114; Art of The Hobbit, figs. 44, 41).

22 January 1937 In the evening, Tolkien attends a dinner of The Society hosted by Michael Holroyd in the new Common Rooms at Brasenose College, Oxford. Twelve members are present. Holroyd speaks about careers for undergraduates, referring to the declining birth rate and the experience of foreign universities.

23 January 1937 Susan Dagnall asks Tolkien if he could see her and C.A. Furth in Oxford on either Saturday or Sunday, 13 or 14 February, to discuss the problem of illustrations for Mr. Bliss. Allen & Unwin can include at least four of the six additional Hobbit drawings without increasing the price of the book, and perhaps will use a fifth on the dust-jacket. (In the event, all will be printed in the book.) She asks Tolkien to send them again the original drawing of Thror’s Map, as the blockmaker omitted the ‘moon-letters’. Fresh blocks will have to be made, but the map will be folded and tipped in at the point Tolkien wants. – Tolkien replies to Susan Dagnall that he will keep 13 and 14 February open, but the afternoons or evenings are best for him to receive visitors. He sends Allen & Unwin the original of Thror’s Map, hoping that they can print the runes on the back as intended. He has drawn a copy of the runes in mirror-reverse, so that if viewed through the sheet when held up to the light, they will read the right way around. He returns proofs of the earlier illustrations he has been sent and notes defects in the reproductions of Mirkwood and Wilderland. Elaine Griffiths has been appointed to a position in the Society of Oxford Home-Students from next term, but Tolkien hopes that they will both finish their work on the Clark Hall Beowulf before the present term ends.

1 February 1937 Susan Dagnall writes to Tolkien, to correct a misstatement in her letter of 23 January. Thror’s Map will have to be printed as an endpaper in The Hobbit after all for reasons of cost, but the runes will be printed so that they do not appear ‘so blatantly on the front’ (Tolkien–George Allen & Unwin archive, HarperCollins). The defects Tolkien noted on the proofs of Mirkwood and Wilderland will be corrected. Dagnall sends rough proofs of the four drawings to be included in the book from the second group; Allen & Unwin still hope to squeeze in the remaining two at the ends of chapters.

2 February 1937 R.W. Chambers writes to Tolkien, urging him not to delete a single word from Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics when it is prepared for publication.

4 February 1937 Tolkien’s poem The Dragon’s Visit, one of the ‘Tales and Songs of Bimble Bay’, written probably c. 1928, is published in the Oxford Magazine for 4 February 1937.

5 February 1937 Tolkien attends an English Faculty Board meeting. The minutes will record:

A Standing Order was made that no application for admission as a Probationer B.Litt. Student or Advanced Student should be considered by the Applications Committee unless the applicant had previously been in communication with a person or persons appointed by the Board to interview such candidates. The Board appointed Professor Nichol Smith and Professor Tolkien for this purpose. [Oxford University Archives FA 4/5/1/1]

– Tolkien writes to Susan Dagnall, confirming their appointment for 13 February. In regard to Thror’s Map, he relents: ‘Let the Production Dept. do as it will’. He approves the rough proofs of the four drawings, but marks two defects in the block for The Trolls. He comments that he should not have put in a wash shadow by the door in The Hall at Bag-End, which in the line-block has come out black, obscuring detail. He would have written sooner, but has had ‘three desperately crowded days’ (Tolkien–George Allen & Unwin archive, HarperCollins).

8 February 1937 Tolkien writes to R.W. Chambers. He sends information about A.L. Rowse which Chambers had requested, and tells him about the forthcoming publication of The Hobbit.

13 February 1937 Susan Dagnall visits Tolkien in Oxford at 3.00 p.m. See note.

18 February 1937 A revised version of Tolkien’s poem Knocking at the Door: Lines Induced by Sensations when Waiting for an Answer at the Door of an Exalted Academic Person (first composed in 1927) is published in the Oxford Magazine for 18 February 1937 as by ‘Oxymore’.

19 February 1937 Tolkien attends a Pembroke College meeting.

20 February 1937 Tolkien attends a Pembroke College meeting. – He receives from Allen & Unwin proofs of signatures A–H of The Hobbit.

21 February 1937 Tolkien writes to Allen & Unwin. He has corrected the first proofs of The Hobbit but would like to keep them until he has the complete set, since he has noticed some minor discrepancies in the text, and between the text and the illustrations, though few printers’ errors. He wishes to learn when the rest of the proofs will arrive, and notes that he will deal with them quickly as he can correct a batch of about eight signatures within twenty-four hours of receipt. He notes that the defects he had pointed out in The Trolls still appear in proof, and supposes that it has not been possible to correct them.

24 February 1937 C.A. Furth writes to Tolkien. The fine lines in The Trolls have broken when reduced, but there is no room to enlarge the illustration. They plan to meet on Saturday, 27 February, and can discuss the point further at that time. – Tolkien receives the rest of the Hobbit proofs. He is asked to replace unavoidable alterations and deletions with words taking up as nearly as possible the same amount of space. With these, or soon afterward, he is sent rough proofs of the remaining two drawings, which are to be included in The Hobbit.

27 February 1937 C.A. Furth visits Tolkien in Oxford. Tolkien will remark in his letter of ?10 March that he was a poor host, too concerned with his own troubles. Probably at this meeting Furth asks Tolkien to produce a design for the dust-jacket of The Hobbit.

March 1937 In the preface to his edition of The Battle of Maldon (1937) E.V. Gordon thanks Tolkien for reading proof and making ‘many corrections and contributions…. Professor Tolkien, with characteristic generosity, gave me the solution to many of the textual and philological problems discussed in the following pages’ (p. vi).

2 March 1937 The typescripts of Farmer Giles of Ham and Roverandom are returned to Tolkien by Allen & Unwin.

4 March 1937 Tolkien attends an English Faculty Library Committee meeting. – A revised version of Tolkien’s poem Iumonna Gold Galdre Bewunden (first composed perhaps at the end of 1922) is published in the Oxford Magazine for 4 March 1937.

?10 March 1937 Tolkien returns to Allen & Unwin corrected proofs of The Hobbit with the two additional illustrations in position, as well as marked proofs of the two endpapers and the original drawing of Thror’s Map. He suggests that the endpapers would be best printed in black and red. In a letter to C.A. Furth he apologizes for sending them a week later than expected, but other matters suddenly became urgent, and also for the many alterations he has made. He realizes that he should have re-read The Hobbit before it went for typesetting. While proofreading he found considerable confusions of narrative and geography. He has had to alter about sixteen pages considerably, though he has tried as far as possible to ensure that the revisions occupy the same space as the text that was set. He thinks it advisable to see revised proofs of the most heavily altered sections. He asks if Allen & Unwin have decided when The Hobbit will be published; if at an early date, he will try to produce a dust-jacket design at once.

12 March 1937 Tolkien chairs a meeting of the English Faculty Board. C.S. Lewis asks that four representatives of the Board meet the joint committee of the English and Classical Associations to consider Greek and English studies. He, Tolkien, M.R. Ridley, and possibly C.T. Onions are willing to do so.

13 March 1937 Hilary Full Term ends.

23 March 1937 C.A. Furth writes to Tolkien, confirming that he certainly will be sent proofs of the most heavily corrected sections of The Hobbit, though the printers might prefer to reset the entire book. Tolkien’s corrections may exceed an author’s usual allowance. It is unfortunate that Allen & Unwin had not realized that the typescript ‘which Miss Dagnall persuaded you to send us was never really intended for printing without further revision’ (Tolkien–George Allen & Unwin archive, HarperCollins). The same colours must be used on both endpapers (Tolkien would prefer Wilderland to appear in black and blue); he agrees with Tolkien that black and red would be best. The runes, indistinct in the proof (in a failed attempt to suggest ‘moonletters’), will be replaced with the more carefully drawn version Tolkien has returned to them, and will be printed in black rather than red and without a halftone effect. The book will be published when it is ready. Allen & Unwin hope that Tolkien will be able to design a dust-jacket for The Hobbit, but this is not urgent as he still has to see revised proofs.

30 March 1937 Tolkien writes to C.A. Furth. He hopes that revised proofs of The Hobbit will come to him during vacation, which ends on 24 April. He will try to produce a dust-jacket design for the book.

31 March 1937 C.A. Furth writes to Tolkien, belatedly returning a Hobbit drawing. The printers are revising the typesetting of the whole book. They hope to send Tolkien some of the revised proofs the weekend of 3–4 April, and all of the proofs by about 7 April.

7 April 1937 Oxford University Press sends Tolkien proofs of his essay Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics.

13 April 1937 Revised proofs for The Hobbit apparently having arrived as promised, Tolkien now returns them together with proofs of the endpapers. He writes to Allen & Unwin, pointing out that he has altered eight words to correct narrative errors he missed before, and he has marked a few other corrections, some of errors made in the revised typesetting. He takes note of the cost of excess correction, and ‘must pay what is just, if required; though I shall naturally be grateful for clemency’ (Letters, p. 16). He passes the endpapers but regrets that Wilderland is not being printed in black and blue as he had wished. He wonders if both endpapers would not be better in black and blue, which would mean changing ‘red’ to ‘blue’ on p. 30 of the text; but on second thought he decides to accept red. He is sorry that it has proved impossible (as it seems) to substitute better drawn runes he has supplied for Thror’s Map. He thinks some of the illustrations badly placed, but is unable to judge how they will fall on the finished page. He sends a draft design for the dust-jacket, but foresees objections: it has too many colours (blue, green, red, black); it needs simplifying; the lettering could be improved. He explains the runic inscription in the border. He would be glad to hear as soon as possible if the design is of any use, as he has little time left before the beginning of term in which to make a new drawing.

15 April 1937 C.A. Furth writes to Tolkien. The margins around the Hobbit illustrations will be adjusted before printing. He apologizes for not including Tolkien’s more careful drawing of the ‘moon-letters’ for Thror’s Map, and cannot understand how this happened. He thinks the dust-jacket design ‘admirable’, but suggests that the red colouring be omitted, which would improve the clarity of the title and remove a ‘flush on the central mountain, which makes it look to our eyes just a trifle like a cake’ (Tolkien–George Allen & Unwin archive, HarperCollins). He suggests that the runes in the border should be against a green background. He returns Tolkien’s original art for redrawing, and to ensure a jacket of correct proportions he will send Tolkien a dummy of the book.

15–?17 April 1937 Tolkien takes a walking holiday in the *Quantock Hills in Somerset with C.S. Lewis and Owen Barfield. He finds it hard going to walk more than twenty miles a day in rough country while carrying a pack.

25 April 1937 Trinity Full Term begins. Tolkien’s scheduled lectures and classes for this term are: Outlines of Old English Phonology and Grammar on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12.00 noon in the Examination Schools, beginning 27 April; and Old English Verse Texts (Class), at an hour and place to be arranged. – Tolkien writes to C.A. Furth. He has redrawn the Hobbit dust-jacket, but does not think it much improved. It is now the exact size of the book. Tolkien has omitted the ‘offending pink icing on the mountainous cake’ (which his children like) but has left the sun and dragon red; if effect alone is considered rather than cost, he thinks red ‘very desirable’ and suggests other places on the jacket where it might be applied. The rest of the design is now in blue, black, and green; but it would be improved also by using a second, dark shade of green here and there. He leaves such questions, however, for Furth to decide. ‘The design is probably too complicated already.’ He is returning separately the dummy, with the (now tattered) paper model of the jacket, and a brown paper model of the same size as the enclosed design. He worries in a long postscript that he has drawn the jacket too wide, with too much space allowed for the back and hinges. If it is wrong ‘I cannot do anything more about it, as term is now in full blast’ (Tolkien–George Allen & Unwin archive, HarperCollins).

28 April 1937 C.A. Furth writes to Tolkien. The red colour on the dust-jacket will have to be omitted. The sun on the upper jacket will be distinguished by an outline. ‘Otherwise everything seems straightforward and we are proceeding with the reproduction’ (Tolkien–George Allen & Unwin archive, HarperCollins).

30 April 1937 Tolkien attends a Pembroke College meeting. – In the evening, Tolkien attends a dinner of The Society hosted by G.F. Hudson in the hall of All Souls College, Oxford. Seventeen members are present. Hudson speaks about the entertainment of foreign visitors.

6 May 1937 Tolkien attends an English Faculty Library Committee meeting.

11 May 1937 C.A. Furth writes to Tolkien. An American publisher is interested in The Hobbit, wants to add four colour illustrations to the book, and have suggested employing a good American artist. ‘It occurred to us, however, that it would be better if all the illustrations were from your hand’, and Furth recalls (presumably from his visit of 27 February) having seen some pictures that Tolkien has tucked away in a drawer (Tolkien–George Allen & Unwin archive, HarperCollins). He asks if Tolkien could send five or six of them, which Allen & Unwin will forward to the American publisher.

12 May 1937 Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. There are no lectures or classes at Oxford. The Vice-Chancellor, Proctors, and graduates, in academic dress, assemble at 9.40 a.m. in the Divinity School and process to a special service in the Church of St Mary the Virgin.

13 May 1937 Tolkien writes to C.A. Furth. He asks the name of the American publisher interested in The Hobbit. ‘As for the illustrations: I am divided between knowledge of my own inability and fear of what American artists (doubtless of admirable skill) might produce. In any case I agree that all the illustrations ought to be by the same hand: four professional pictures would make my own amateurish productions look rather silly.’ He does have some pictures, but they illustrate ‘The Silmarillion’. He would have to draw new ones for the American Hobbit. He will try to do so, but does not have much time in the middle of term, and it might be some time before he can produce anything. ‘Perhaps the matter does not allow of much delay? It might be advisable, rather than lose the American interest, to let the Americans do what seems good to them – as long as it was possible (I should like to add) to veto anything from or influenced by the *Disney studios (for all whose works I have a heartfelt loathing). I have seen American illustrations that suggest that excellent things might be produced – only too excellent for their companions’ (Letters, p. 17). He asks how much time he would have to produce samples for the Americans; and again, when the English edition of The Hobbit is to be published.

14 May 1937 Tolkien attends an English Faculty Board meeting. – C.A. Furth writes to Tolkien. The American publisher interested in The Hobbit is the Houghton Mifflin Company. Allen & Unwin will probably publish the book themselves in October 1937. They have no information yet as to when the American edition will be published, so there might be time for Tolkien to make coloured drawings to submit to them. Furth thinks that it would be best to forward Tolkien’s letter to Houghton Mifflin, so that they will know his mind, and that he might be able to send them some (finished) drawings by the end of June. He will ask them to cable if they cannot wait so long. Allen & Unwin have already suggested that if Houghton Mifflin decide to use an American artist, Tolkien should be allowed to see specimens of his work.

22 May 1937 Allen & Unwin send Tolkien for his approval a proof of the Hobbit dust-jacket.

26 May 1937 Allen & Unwin send Tolkien for his approval sample binding cases for The Hobbit.