CT's lawyer lays the facts down

[The Squatter of Amon Rûdh]

Nobody should be shot. Pilloried and lampooned maybe, but not shot.

This sort of idle gossip and speculation is always rife when somebody remains out of the public eye. In fact, a certain type of journalism feeds it in vengeance when someone refuses to give interviews. C.T. likes his privacy, and unfortunately that means that a lot of foolish ideas about him aren't countered as often or as authoritatively as they ought to be. Add to that the amateurish reportage of the average weblog and you have a recipe for this sort of wild misinformation.

Perhaps we should even be thankful that someone's comments have provoked a definitive statement from those in the know. I've heard each and every one of those rumours before, and they always sounded rather fishy. It's nice to have both sides of the story.

[MatthewM]

Thanks for posting this. I really wish C.T. was more open about certain stuff...can't he just write a book already with all his LotR thoughts? Of course that won't happen, but I would love to hear an authentic right from his mouth confirmation on some things, and things he may like to share concerning J.R.R.

Anyway, I found this part in the original blog very harsh:

When Christopher's son Simon went to see the first film, he was removed from the Tolkien Company board and disowned by his father: “I never saw the films as a threat and I’ve enjoyed the movies for what they are, but I crossed my father on a Tolkien issue ... he will never speak to me again as long as he lives, he will never see my children and will never have anything to do with me.” --S.T.

I know that C.T.'s lawyer said this was completely false, but has Simon Tolkien ever spoken up about the issue? How did that mumbo jumbo BS ever get released? Has S.T. ever truly commented about this rumour?

[Child of the 7th Age]

You might want to glance at this: here.
I am having trouble with the link....just in case I will quote the portion. This is a very long article that goes on and on -- this is just a tiny part of it.

In 2001, Christopher issued a statement declaring that the "Tolkien estate would be best advised to avoid any specific association with the films." This dispelled any rumor that director Jackson had received his blessing. But not every member of the Tolkien Company, the board that maintains the relationship between the estate and the outside world, was in agreement. Simon Tolkien, one of J.R.R.'s six grandchildren, expressed interest in cooperating with the filmmakers. For Simon's traitorous views, Christopher removed his son as a trustee.

My several attempts to reach Christopher or interview an estate lawyer were handily deflected. But via telephone I did reach Simon.

"The essential thing was that I crossed my father on a Tolkien issue, and he never looked back," Simon, 44, says from London. "I never saw the films as a threat. I've enjoyed the movies for what they are."

Obviously hurt by his father's rejection, Simon hasn't spoken to him in 4 1/2 years. He's not permitted to discuss the estate. "I do have a relationship with the money, but I can't talk about it. If what you're after is someone who will tell you the estate's attitude toward this and that, I can't. I'm cut off. It's a source of grievance for me."

Of course, we don't know who is in the "right" here, or even if there is a "right". It is perhaps wise to remember that Christopher was divorced from his first wife, and that Simon is the son of that wife. I know nothing about the family situation, but it would not be unusual to have bad blood in a situation like this where divorce is involved.

I think some legitimate complaints can be made against Christopher, despite his dedication. For example, as this article indicates, only four scholars have been given direct access to the linguistic papers. There is tremendous unhappiness about this among other linguists, since the material has been released very, very slowly. You can find websites where this is discussed, not by crackpots but legitimate scholars. Other scholars have complained about uneven access to the materials, with certain old favorites getting the nod. I am no expert on this, and undoubtedly there are different viewpoints here. Certainly, the blog cited above is ridiculous, and the author of this newspaper article is no fan of CT, but legitimate concerns could exist.

[MatthewM]

Wow...that is really harsh. It's interesting that he is the son of CT's divorced wife, but come on now...if that is true, I have lost a lot of respect for CT. Would J.R.R. be so strict in regards to something like that? I mean...ST is CT's son, no matter the mother...

[Child of the 7th Age]

Matthew,

There is no doubt that Simon feels estranged from his father and says that he was "cut off".. However, we can never really know the whole truth behind that. So often in life, even when both parties have good intentions, things are misunderstood and bad feelings result. That definitely seems to be the case here.

It does sound as if these misunderstandings go back a very long time and that they have shaped Simon's whole outlook on his life:

"My parents split up when I was 5. My mother was working full time as a teacher. I spent an incredible amount of time alone. I read a lot, including 'The Lord of the Rings.' I would go and stay with my grandfather for a weekend or a week at a time. I spent a lot of time with him on a one-to-one basis.

"He lived in a seaside town. We did lots and lots of word games. We skimmed stones in the sea and walked on the beach. I asked him endless questions about 'The Lord of the Rings.' He was patient and very nice about it. We had a lot of fun together."

Four years ago, Tolkien began reading his grandfather's works to his son, Nicholas, now 12. He says it's one way he's tried to bond with his son as he and his father never have.

"When my relationship with my father broke down, there was not an innate sense of love and affection... to get us through that difficult time," says Tolkien, who is also the father of 1-year-old Anna.

"I've been very conscious with my own son of having a different relationship. We've had a lot of fun together. When the troubles and the difficulties come, we'll be able to get through them."

Christopher is a very private man and chooses not to open up in this way, which is definitely his right. But because he is so private, we can only guess at many things in his life, even the answers to some of our questions about the Legendarium, such as who is going to inherit the mantle and make the decisions for the future.

And there are undoubtedly people who feel that Simon should have kept more to himself. Still, you might enjoy looking at Simon Tolkien's website. He has some interesting reminiscences about his grandfather. Just poke on the various links. Website...

[Lalwendë]

Laying aside all matters of family discord, which are not ours to comment on, I feel that Christopher is the victim of some very peculiar thought. And some wrong thought, as in the Boston news article Child links to, which is full of errors. CT was chosen by his father as the person best suited to oversee what is both a complex and highly lucrative estate. We must trust that JRR chose the right person putting all family issues aside.

The legacy is financially lucrative, but the family are not leeches, they have a trust which donates widely; we must also realise that they do have the right to control unpublished material which could be lucrative in future. They are also right to control what critics and writers have access to as they have Tolkien's reputation to maintain. Of the writers mentioned in the Boston news article as having exclusive access, their number includes Scull & Hammond who are thoroughly reputable and reliable; the guy mentioned (Perry) who had his book stymied by the estate unfortunately wrote an inaccurate book, therefore proving that the Tolkien Estate are correct in restricting access to such a high degree.

Some of these articles would lead those not in the know to believe that the Tolkien family are weird, when in fact they are only protecting a literary asset (and a father and grandfather's good name) from ravening hordes of critics and fans, both sensible and freakish. The truth is that the family have been fully involved with fans, especially via the Tolkien Society, and are entitled to enlist passing on further parts of Tolkien's legacy only through those they trust. If anyone wants to get 'in on the act', then the avenue is there for the sensible and they are remarkably welcoming and friendly (as one or two here will vouch for ).

Approach all negative tales of CT and the estate with great caution.

[Saurreg]

Originally Posted by Child of the 7th Age

I think some legitimate complaints can be made against Christopher, despite his dedication. For example, as this article indicates, only four scholars have been given direct access to the linguistic papers. There is tremendous unhappiness about this among other linguists, since the material has been released very, very slowly. You can find websites where this is discussed, not by crackpots but legitimate scholars. Other scholars have complained about uneven access to the materials, with certain old favorites getting the nod. I am no expert on this, and undoubtedly there are different viewpoints here. Certainly, the blog cited above is ridiculous, and the author of this newspaper article is no fan of CT, but legitimate concerns could exist.

Hmm. I am divided between respect for private property and the betterment of the masses here. Is it really that wrong of CT to control the works of his father from hordes of legitimate scholars with nevertheless unknown agendas that we can only guess?

Ultimately what will be the final result of their research used for? Does it say, help humanity worldwide to understand the syntax of discovered but indecipherable ancient languages and as such serves as an advancement in mankind? Or does it simply serve an elite few in these world for mere amusement and interest?

[Child of the 7th Age]

Laying aside all matters of family discord, which are not ours to comment on, I feel that Christopher is the victim of some very peculiar thought. And some wrong thought, as in the Boston news article Child links to, which is full of errors. CT was chosen by his father as the person best suited to oversee what is both a complex and highly lucrative estate. We must trust that JRR chose the right person putting all family issues aside.

Hmm. I am divided between respect for private property and the betterment of the masses here. Is it really that wrong of CT to control the works of his father from hordes of legitimate scholars with nevertheless unknown agendas that we can only guess?

I believe these two statements, though seemingly contradictory, both contain a great deal of truth. No decent person would want the kind of name calling and innuendo that appears in the original blog, and a writer like the one for the Boston Globe clearly has a personal axe to grind and is more concerned with grinding that axe than arriving at the truth.

Even so, there are troubling things that have previously been discussed on the BD and in other articles and websites concerning the actions of the estate. Many people of good will on this site and others have used words like "over-litigious" to describe what is going on. (I could link to prior posts but won't.) CT is rightfully the one who still makes the big decisions on things like this, and personal comments about him often surface in the course of these wider discussions, which has to be frustrating.

Still, Saurreg asks a legitimate question: exactly where should the line be drawn? I have a personal bias here. I was a librarian in charge of book selection for a large metropolitan system, and I feel there are legitimate issues of free expression.

It goes far beyond serving the interests of an "elite few". For instance, there used to be many Tolkien map sites on the web with a variety of resources. Some of these maps were copyrighted, but others were simply produced by readers who were responding to the books. These were small websites so financial considerations were not an issue. The estate threatened to bring lawsuits and all these sites were shut down so that it is now difficult to find a good online map. Writers outside the circle chosen by the estate have had trouble publishing some materials.

I also feel that studying Quenyan and Sindarin is more than an esoteric exercise reserved for a few. It gets into scholarly questions of the crafting of man-made languages and how these are different and similar to so-called natural languages. It is at least a legitimate question to ask if access to the linguistic papers should be restricted to just four people, when many others have petitioned to use them. These are not crackpot media types but legitimate scholars trying to do work.

The most vexing problem to me is the one posed by Tolkien's translation of Beowulf. A few years ago, everyone was abuzz with the news that Profesor Michael Drout had been authorized to begin preparing that manuscript for publication. A short time later, after undue media hype and craziness, the estate withdrew that permission, though Drout himself was not involved in anything inappropriate. No one knows if and when Tolkien's scholarly work on Beowulf will ever see the light of day. That flies in the face of everything I believe about academic inquiry, to say nothing of the many people who will never get a chance to read what Tolkien has written.

The sad fact is that decisions about Tolkien's writings are tainted by commercial considerations as well as the fact that the press acts irresponsibly. Although Beowulf may be a scholarly work, its publication could again place the family in the spotlight, and they are undoubtedly sick of that. Still, it is immeasurably sad that Tolkien's work as a medievalist is being hidden away because of problems like this. It's also impossible to say whether this situation will improve or not once control of the estate passes to the next generation. It is looking more likely that this control will rest not only with family representatives but scholars like Hammond and Scully. Christopher's son Adam also seems to be taking a larger role, and he is doing an excellent job in interviews. See here for Adam Tolkien's discussion of the upcoming Children of Hurin, which is a fascinating read. (Scroll down past the Spanish for English.)

[Lalwendë]

I think that the Boston Globe writer was more pursuing an angle than grinding an axe, even though he hit a saw point....but that's enough of the toolshed references...

It is a 'fine line' but I'd err on the side of the estate. We tend to think of Tolkien's work as 'ours' to do what we like with, but it isn't. What's more, there's a lot of that work yet unpublished that cannot simply be used as it is. The executors must think carefully about how that new material will be used, as it will go out with Tolkien's name attached to it, which is why they seek to approve everything that does go out in his name. Quite rightly.

And rightly for another reason. It helps us to sort out the merely speculative and the absolute dross from the genuinely useful (especially as these crit texts are deadly expensive and there are hundreds of 'em!). 'Approved' names like Flieger, Hammond, Scull, Vinyar Tengwar etc are marks of quality. It's all worth it if I never have to read a pile of tripe 'critical' book again!

Yes it's frustrating! But I'd rather be frustrated than have a free-for-all seeing the vultures picking over the remaining bones of the corpus. If scholars are genuine and have the right aims in mind, and the right understanding, then its up to them to convince the right people. 'Free access' is all well and good if we're talking about a less popular writer, but the fanaticism for Tolkien's work is a whole different kettle of fish to interest in Tennyson's for example.

[Boromir88]

We all know about the part of the will that named CT as JRR's literary executor. Here are some other moments when JRR talks about the importance of Christopher in the writing process and which is probably why Christopher has so many strong feelings about the books and upset over film adaptations:

A map of the Gondor area is perhaps the most urgent. I am hoping to get my son Christopher to produce one from my drafts, as soon as possible.~Letter 150

'This book {LOTR} has become to be more and more addressed to you, so that your opinion matters more than any one else's.'~Letter 78 (Dated Aug. 12, 1944 to Christopher).

"But I made a very great effort to finish the Hobbit sequel, and chapters went out to Africa and back to my chief critic and collaborator, Christopher, who is doing the maps"~Letter 105

JRR clearly felt that Christopher was an important person when it came to creating his story. And I think CT has taken on that duty quite admirably because as the will states...Upon trust to allow my son Christopher...he was trusted by his father to act as his Literary Executor over all unpublished works. I believe this is why CT has such strong beliefs about movie adaptations, just as his father did, because he was placed in such a position to do so.

I don't know Simon, it seems like he had great times with his grandfather, but if you ask me he seems like there was a strain between him and Christopher even before the movies came out:

Life wasn't great after his death....
My father moved to the South of France with his second family and I hated having to be away at school. I missed my grandfather very much. My father has always been in charge of my grandfather's literary estate, and about four years ago he started to think about who would succeed him on the board of the company which administers the Tolkien estate. He named new directors to join him and I was not one of them.

Here is the full account Simon tells...I greatly enjoyed reading the memories Simon had with his grandfather.

[Mithalwen]

A lot of good stuff has been said but I would point out both that Simon Tolkien was publicising his first novel when these stories emerged ( and that sensation sells.) and that the world has changed a lot in the past forty years, fathers are generally much more involved with their children and the needs of children of separated parents are better understood. So even if there is an element of truth it wouldn't make CT particularly monstrous by the standards of the time. Even in families that stay together it is not unusual for a child to have a better relationship with one parent than another ..it certainly was the case in mine..

I am just now reading the letters and from them, you can glean the deep love Tolkien had for all his family. If you look at the donations of the Tolkien Trust you can see the kind of people the family are by the wide range of humanitarian causes they put the money from the estate to. And having recently had the pleasure of receiving a charming personal reply to a communication that demanded no response at all, from Adam Tolkien I can second Lalwende's comments. But I did not need that or a lawyers statement to know that the blog was ludicrous and libellous and guess the Simon Tolkien quotes "spun" ... frankly it would not be saying a lot for JRRT's judgement if it were even half true.

As for access ..I am sure we would all love to get our claws on everything. It isn't possible but HoME is enoughfor most ..and I believe that some of the Trust money is going on making some of the archive available in a more accessible form.