Letter to Campbell

From Tolkien Gateway

On 28 July 1973, J.R.R. Tolkien wrote a letter to Campbell.

  • Subject: A letter an autograph letter from J.R.R. Tolkien to Professor Campbell, thanking him for the award of an Honorary Degree.
  • Publication: .

Transcription

July 28th 1973

Dear Professor Campbell,

I have now returned to Oxford after some further travelling, and write, rather belated- ly to thank you for your part in the events of July 11th and 12th, which both in feasting and in ceremonial were to me the most resplendent academic occasion in which I have taken part. The festive occasions to my own surprise I sur -vived with unmarred pleasure, owing to the generous substitution of whisky for wine, and I am confirmed in my doctor's advice: 'you must transfer your allegiance wholly from Bacchus to Ceres'. At the laureation I felt like a hobbit would: as is exhibited in 'The Lord of the Rings', especially by Merry and Pippin: great pride and delight in the re- ception of high honour and title, combined with (and in a way enhanced by) a difficulty ^in believing that^ it was really happening to me, or was really deserved except by the generousity of my superiors. The words of the Address left me overwhelmed. Especially the words 'making him one of us'. I assure you that Edinburgh has gripped me fast; and though my 81 years had begun to make me reluctant to travel far, a journey back north, if opportunity and heath allows, will not be reluctant.

Yours sincerely

J R R Tolkien .

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