Tolkien's books and letters: what's the standard?

[Beleglas]

A lot of information people on this forum use are from Tolkien's letters right?
The ideas Tolkien wrote down in his letters often vary from those in The Silmarillion, the Hobbit and LOTR.
I thought however that Tolkien was ever changing things in his books so they would be "perfect" after his death.
But how do you explain then that the books still differ from his letters?
Didn't he find those changes good enough to change them in his books? So what's the standard and where was Tolkien more happy with, details from his letters or his books?

[Morquesse]

I think you'll have more luck of getting a good answer if you post this in the books section. smilies/smile.gif
~M

[Beleglas]

im actually trying to change my status! so im kinda replying to everything......
So you're actually spamming?
http://www.spamtownusa.com/spamjam/spam.jpg
OK, back to my post:
I meant, in a discussion, should I refer to the books or Tolkien's letters?

If this is not the appropriate forum, will a moderator please move this to a better place?

[rintintinuviel]

Well, I'm not sure why there diffrent from each other. I guess its something Tolkien wanted to leave for us to figure out ourselves.

[Meela]

ew, spam.

i see tolkien as a perfectionist. he keeps on changing, and changing, even after the publication of the books, but its not worth changing the entire books for a few little edits.

[lathspell]

Greetings and good question, Beleglas.

I think in this case the answer is not that difficult.
Tolkien indeed was a perfectionist and kept changing his ideas and stories about Arda until his death. LotR and the Hobbit were published before he died and his son, Christopher Tolkien, published the Silmarillion later in it's latest and most compleet form. The Letters were published even later and were ideas and comments that Tolkien had about Arda, but never could work out because he died.
So, in many ways the Letters are different than the other (earlier published) books, because the ideas in them were newer or described in another way.
Maybe, if lived for another century, he might think his work perfect smilies/wink.gif

hope this helps,
greetings,
lathspell