George Sayer

From Tolkien Gateway

George Sydney Benedict Sayer (1 June, 191420 October, 2005[1]) was head of the English Department at Malvern College, Worcestershire, from 1949 until 1974.

He was a pupil, and later close personal friend, of C.S. Lewis during his undergraduate years. Sayer wrote the memoir and biography Jack: C.S. Lewis and His Times. In August 1947 Sayer also befriended J.R.R. Tolkien.

In late August 1952 Tolkien visited Sayer and his wife and lent them the typewritten manuscript of The Lord of the Rings. During this visit, Sayer was to capture Tolkien singing and reading excerpts from The Hobbit and the manuscripts of The Lord of the Rings (see 1952 tape recording).[2]

While preparing publication of The Lord of the Ring, Tolkien was unable to write a brief (less than 100 words) sketch description of his work as a publicity blurb. Sayer helped him and sent a text to Allen and Unwin, who in turn drafted a shorter one, which was first printed in the 1953 catalogue.[3]

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