Tolkien's Literary Executor - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

davem · 09-20-2006, 04:25 AM

At least CT has in the forefront of his mind his father's own wishes & hopes for the work. I wonder if those who follow him in the role will feel the same need or desire. How far one takes 'respect' for the author's wishes is a vexed question. For instance, Tolkien himself repeatedly attacked the breaking down of literary works in search of 'sources'. He first condemned this approach in the 'Tower' allegory in The Monsters & the Critics essay, & towards the end of his life attacked it in terms of approaching his own work - comparing it to a man who, after eating a meal, uses an emetic & sends the result to a chemist for analysis. Tolkien clearly found such an approach to his work wrongheaded & insulting, & requested it not to be done.

However, he's dead now...

Mithalwen · 09-20-2006, 04:48 AM

I think that anyone can get a copy of any will for a small fee so I wouldn't bother with E-Bay.

Having just aquired the letters, it is made clear by Carpenter that he made the selection and CT "commented" and that the restrictions were mainly space related - he does seem to have had free access .. and not all the letters show Tolkien as a "plaster saint" .

I doubt that CT as a scholar would destroy much - certainly if it had bearing on the work. However I wouldn't blame him if he chose to destroy personal letters.

I have just found a clump of letter my parents wrote me when I was a student/abroad, while they are precious as tangible evidence of affection they contain little of interest, and I can't help thinking in an age before cheap telephone calls and email that even Tolkien's letters are going to contain a lot of mundane trivia .... we may be missing on quantity not quality!

Tolkien did write diaries ... I think Carpenter drew on them or at least referred.

I do wonder about what will happen when CT dies. His younger son, Adam, has translated some of HoME into French so he may pick up the baton but I imagine the trust will prevent any individual family member having quite the same influence. In some ways Hammond and Scull seem to be the anointed heirs...

09-20-2006, 04:25 AM	#1
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	At least CT has in the forefront of his mind his father's own wishes & hopes for the work. I wonder if those who follow him in the role will feel the same need or desire. How far one takes 'respect' for the author's wishes is a vexed question. For instance, Tolkien himself repeatedly attacked the breaking down of literary works in search of 'sources'. He first condemned this approach in the 'Tower' allegory in The Monsters & the Critics essay, & towards the end of his life attacked it in terms of approaching his own work - comparing it to a man who, after eating a meal, uses an emetic & sends the result to a chemist for analysis. Tolkien clearly found such an approach to his work wrongheaded & insulting, & requested it not to be done. However, he's dead now... __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."

09-20-2006, 04:48 AM	#2
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,460	I think that anyone can get a copy of any will for a small fee so I wouldn't bother with E-Bay. Having just aquired the letters, it is made clear by Carpenter that he made the selection and CT "commented" and that the restrictions were mainly space related - he does seem to have had free access .. and not all the letters show Tolkien as a "plaster saint" . I doubt that CT as a scholar would destroy much - certainly if it had bearing on the work. However I wouldn't blame him if he chose to destroy personal letters. I have just found a clump of letter my parents wrote me when I was a student/abroad, while they are precious as tangible evidence of affection they contain little of interest, and I can't help thinking in an age before cheap telephone calls and email that even Tolkien's letters are going to contain a lot of mundane trivia .... we may be missing on quantity not quality! Tolkien did write diaries ... I think Carpenter drew on them or at least referred. I do wonder about what will happen when CT dies. His younger son, Adam, has translated some of HoME into French so he may pick up the baton but I imagine the trust will prevent any individual family member having quite the same influence. In some ways Hammond and Scull seem to be the anointed heirs... __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace