Letter 353

Letter 353 is a letter written by J.R.R. Tolkien and published in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien.

Summary

This fragment of a letter, dated August 4, 1973, was written to Tolkien's friend, Lord Halsbury. Tolkien thanks him in advance for whisky that Halsbury sent, and thinks back of when Halsbury came to visit, on July 26. The fragment is ended by a statement about Galadriel. She was "unstained", not part of the deeds of Fëanor. She longed for dwelling in Middle-earth, and had the misfortune that at her time of departure, Manwë spoke his ban on emigration.

Notes

By stating Galadriel had no part in the crimes of Fëanor, Tolkien contradicts himself; in Letter 320, he says she was a "leader in the rebellion against the Valar".