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| #=279
| #=279
| to=[[Michael Tolkien (b. 1943)|Michael George Tolkien]]
| to=[[Michael Tolkien (b. 1943)|Michael George Tolkien]]
| date=[[1965#October|October 30]], [[1965]]
| date=[[30 October]] [[1965]]
| subject=Staying in Oxford, financial situation, campaign against [[Ace Books]]
| subject=Staying in Oxford, financial situation, campaign against [[Ace Books]]
}}{{letter|279}}
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Tolkien told his grandson that it was unlikely that they would move from Oxford.  Anything near the sea was too expensive.  He was not "rolling in gold" but by continuing to work he had an income a margin above his needs.  Without the good fortune of his "unprofessional" work he would be eking out a penurious existence on one-quarter pay.  An author who sold any rights sees his proceeds taxed as income, unlike other property.  He could not afford the ''thousands'' needed for a flat or bungalow near the sea.
Tolkien told his grandson that it was unlikely that they would move from Oxford.  Anything near the sea was too expensive.  He was not "rolling in gold" but by continuing to work he had an income a margin above his needs.  Without the good fortune of his "unprofessional" work he would be eking out a penurious existence on one-quarter pay.  An author who sold any rights sees his proceeds taxed as income, unlike other property.  He could not afford the ''thousands'' needed for a flat or bungalow near the sea.


On the income front things went well.  [[Ace Books]] has sold many pirate editions, but it was being discovered to be badly and erroneously printed, causing many institutions to ban their products.  The rumpus provided free advertising and Tolkien expected that the "authorised" paper-back would sell more copies because of it.
On the income front things went well.  [[Ace Books]] had sold many pirate editions, but it was being discovered to be badly and erroneously printed, causing many institutions to ban their products.  The rumpus provided free advertising and Tolkien expected that the "authorised" paper-back would sell more copies because of it.
==See also==
*[[Michael George Tolkien 30 October 1965]]
{{letters}}
{{letters}}

Revision as of 23:10, 30 December 2011

The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Letter 279
RecipientMichael George Tolkien
Date30 October 1965
Subject(s)Staying in Oxford, financial situation, campaign against Ace Books

Letter 279 is a letter written by J.R.R. Tolkien and published in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien.

Summary

Tolkien told his grandson that it was unlikely that they would move from Oxford. Anything near the sea was too expensive. He was not "rolling in gold" but by continuing to work he had an income a margin above his needs. Without the good fortune of his "unprofessional" work he would be eking out a penurious existence on one-quarter pay. An author who sold any rights sees his proceeds taxed as income, unlike other property. He could not afford the thousands needed for a flat or bungalow near the sea.

On the income front things went well. Ace Books had sold many pirate editions, but it was being discovered to be badly and erroneously printed, causing many institutions to ban their products. The rumpus provided free advertising and Tolkien expected that the "authorised" paper-back would sell more copies because of it.

See also


The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
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Unpublished letters

Letters marked with a (*) are updated and expanded in the new edition.