^Lot 664 J. R. R. Tolkien

TLS, one page, 8 x 10, November 13, 1961. Letter to an admirer, Mr. Barneston. In full: “Thank you very much for your letter, and especially for your very practical way of showing your appreciation. Praise is sweet, but one cannot live on it. I do not think the book is "based" on German or Icelandic folklore, though it has a generally northern air; but of course one cannot help being influenced by the Niebelung story (which is epic rather than folklore). As for orc, that is supposed to be the name used in the time of the book for what we would call goblins; though there is in fact an ancient English word, orc, used of dark, demonic creatures. Thank you again for writing.” In fine condition, with intersecting folds, one through a single letter of signature. Following his retirement in 1959, Tolkien received steadily increasing public attention and literary fame, and enjoyed sending occasional detailed answers to readers' inquiries, such as this very response in which he mentions characters from his most famous literary contributions. Accompanied by a letter from a literary critic of the Daily Herald to Mr. Barneston as well as a vintage leaflet order form for The Lord of the Rings.