Letter to Mrs A. Mountfield
On 17 January 1964, J.R.R. Tolkien wrote a letter to Mrs A. Mountfield of Eltham Green School.[1]
- Subject: A letter of thanks.
- Description: 1 page, printed heading, typed and partly handwritten letter. 4to, Sandfield Road, Headington.[1]
From the auction
Autograph and partly typed letter signed ("J.R.R. Tolkien"), to Mrs A. Mountfield of Eltham Green School, thanking her for sending the letter by one of her class children which gave him great pleasure ("...The Hobbit seems to have gone down well at school; I have had several letters telling me of class activities arising from interest in it. Not all as well penned as this...") but adding that he hopes "it will turn out not to be the only gift to you from Oxford"; adding in his own hand: "for you to hand on" and observing: "All teaching is exhausting, and depressing and one is seldom comforted by knowing when one has had some effect. I wish I could now tell some of mine (of long ago) how I remember them and things they said, though I was (only, as it appeared) looking out of the window or giggling at my neighbour".[1]
Transcription
Dear Mrs. Mountfield,
The Letter you sent from one of your class children gave me great pleasure. The Hobbit seems to go down well at school; I have had several letters telling me of class activities arising from interest in it. Not all as well penned as this.
All the same, I hope it will turn out not to be the only gift to you from Oxford, for you to hand on. All teaching is exhausting, and depressing and one is seldom comforted by knowing when one has had some effect. I wish I could now tell some of mine (of long ago) how I remember them and things they said, though I was (only, as it appeared) looking out of the window or giggling at my neighbour.
Yours sincerely,
J. R. R. Tolkien
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Lot 277 TOLKIEN (J.R.R.), Auction 21763", bonhams.com (accessed 18 May 2014)
