The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Revised & Expanded REVIEW

[@NerdoftheRings]

Here's the NOTR affiliate links for the NEW Letters of JRR Tolkien book: Amazon US: amzn.to/40t9LL5 Amazon UK: amzn.to/3FQYv1r Blackwells: tinyurl.com/44nvzk8c

[@stevenjones7170]

I've written to Harper Collins and they sent a nice reply. To my specific question on more volumes of Tolkien letters they said............ 'The Publisher says he’s afraid we can’t comment yet on anything about more letters being published or even a deluxe edition of the new book - what happens next will depend on how well this book is received. But we thank you for your comments and very positive review'. So over to you guys to ask Santa for a copy(ies).

[@fgdj2000]

Isn't it amazing that even fifty years (!!!) after his passing we still get new material written by him and still apparently haven't seen all he has written, yet.

[@DavidRoberts]

Your "applicability" heavy hint was gold. I like the point also that he outright says more money would make him happier with the script, showing he was also conscious of the reality of the business.

[@specialnewb9821]

He was always concerned with providing for his family!

[@bfkc111]

Or reality of life, at least. And not just that, but I would say it's also simple humility about his work.

[@andersonic]

Ron Cobb was also production designer for Conan The Barbarian (1982) and personally did much of the concept art. He definitely had a talent for new legends set in forgotten ages and fallen kingdoms.

[@jamesogle5045]

Being a pastor/theologian who loves the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, the moment you said a letter that deals with “the state of the church” made this an instant buy! Thanks for the review.

[@TheGeneralGrievous19]

Mae Govannen! 💚 I always loved reaserching Tolkien's letters bevause you could learn a lot about views and intentions of the man who wrote my favourite legendarium. I am looking forward to checking out this new, expanded edition! 🙌

[@onthetrail506]

Great review, thanks. And especially thank you for linking to the Guide to Tolkien's Letters where as you say, summaries of the new and existing Letters are are detailed along with more than 700 others not published in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien. We are growing the Guide literally every day and week and there is much more information to come. Thanks again.

[@gtsguitartuitionservices2878]

His letter to his niece when she asked what he thought the meaning of life is, that’s a great letter.

[@AndrewCarlisle11B]

Got this on my graduation wish list. I have the other copy but have yet to read it so excited to see the two together when I get to them. Great presentation as always, and again, congrats on earning 1 million!

[@HazelPlace89]

I compare the Letters to the Appendices of the films. Fantastic behind-the-scenes stuff...and I cannot wait to get this new edition added to my library!

[@cormacmacsuibhne2867]

I got The Fall of Numenor last Christmas. Now I know exactly what I want this year. Thanks for the info.

[@gabriql]

Got the book for christmas from a family member. It's absolutely amazing as I didn't have the original, so it is so much Tolkien content I just had never seen in full before. I've started reading and his letters to his children, especially around the time of the Hobbit publication I think are amazing. I just love to see how his family worked and how all this came into his writings, and also the fact that he was incredibly busy (and apparently constantly ill judging by some of the letters). Thanks so much for the review as it really helped with knowing what had changed, what to look out for etc. and is just making me even more excited to finish the book. (also I know I'm a little late to the party here)

[@vincemilner5500]

The audiobook of this is extraordinary with yet another brilliant reading by Sam West. I noticed it had been released and just kept listening for hours. The love of family through WW2 as his sons follow his footsteps to war is portrayed perfectly.

[@rickblaine9670]

I’m going through his letters now for the first time, and they are genuinely my favorite Tolkien work. Not that they were intended to be a “work”, of course, and not that I don’t love the others - both the Silmarillion and LotR are right there in my heart - but some of the letters are just so beautiful. They draw the picture of a man who, despite being very rational and intelligent, never let that make him arrogant, and always made it his life’s work to bring wonder and hope into the world through his stories.

[@babbisp1]

15:01 Nts 0:50 1:36 2:33 3:13 3:32 4:25 4:57 5:48 6:37 7:13 7:43 8:28 11:18 12:45 13:19 13:55

[@emilywagner6354]

Sometimes you just assume your parents know stuff by osmosis, haha! I've been working on reading the original Letters for years, and I still haven't finished it, but I've just pre-ordered the extended edition, so I think I'll set the original aside and start over with this new one.

[@charleslarrivee2908]

LOL 13:27 🤣 And I say that as somebody who adamantly believes that RoP is faithful to Tolkien's spirit and larger themes and ideals, even if it's not exact in every detail being reproduced.

[@Andrey.N]

Congrats on one million!

[@philliptrobaugh7578]

Love the lego sets and how you organized the bookshelf in the background

[@Relics_of_Arda]

I've been wandering about getting this edition.

[@dgib1694]

How could he write that much while pursuing an academic career?

[@rydmanterry3297]

The same way we text and tell people about our life and dealings. He jusy didn't have a phone, so letters were the way to go haha

[@Austiffs_Bricks]

People within this generation were just more productive and generally had a better sense of time management. I also personally (servicetime myself) he saw the worst in mankind and with most cases with people who see the worst do the most they can to put good back into the world in their own lives.

[@bertbaker7067]

The ~500 letters were written over 60 years.

[@Trotter_Tolkien]

He wrote a lot more Letters than this, the book is the tip of the Iceberg 😀

[@duncanramsay9262]

Love of his creations

[@random22026]

9:59 10:01 10:26 12:56 to 13:09 '...the stupidities and vulgarities of the script...'! Tolkien telling it like it was? Yagottaluvvit. Impossible not to love that resonant way with words, which was his own blade to wield.

[@Westminstrelsy]

Worth mentioning that despite this new edition, there exist still unpublished letters that have since come to light. 😵‍💫

[@JimCullen]

"I feel like there might be some applicability here." Oof. Big shade! Just so long as it's applicability, and not allegory…

[@thebrowneyesofmandalore]

Hi Matt! Can’t wait to watch this tomorrow morning!

[@VoiceoftheRings]

Awesome!!! NEW BOOK!!!! Thanks for video matt! Going to go get mine! Great info too thank you. I used the link :)

[@masontrent5543]

Excellent summary! Always enjoy your videos! This book sounds very interesting. Especially cool to know that Tolkien was briefly open to talking with that young artist/animator. I wonder what Tolkien would have thought of Alan Lee and John Howe’s art? I know Christopher had very strong opinions about the movies mostly that they they were merely action adventures for teens. But not one mention apparently of the (art,) which is a bit sad. But didn’t Christopher Tolkien have books published with Alan Lee’s art on the front? So it seems kind of strange. I guess he had that same stubborn irascible streak like his father and maybe Gandalf the gray, laugh. Grin. I do see a bit of John Howe’s work in ROP. So thank you for mentioning art and scenery…with all the other “applicability” erm aside *chuckle* i just shake my head when I hear how ROP “copied” LOTR Balrog when John Howe worked on both LOTR and ROP (even if only in part) Numenor certainly feels as though it has a touch of Howe. the art may feel different than LOTR but it’s still pretty. Thank you for this lovely book summary. One day I’ll catch up to all the Tolkien books beckoning. :-)

[@patrickcheesman7941]

I am just completing the original version. Will have to get this one as well and read it. Project for next year.

[@michaelh3800]

Wonderful review! Another Tolkien book to add to the bookshelf... I'd be interested in you reviewing Humphrey Carpenter's Tolkien biography. At times he seems to have a bone to pick.

[@NerdoftheRings]

It was interesting to hear Dr. Shippey talk about some things being "rubber-stamped" by Carpenter that aren't quite accurate! If you haven't already, you might enjoy watching my interview with him: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jXi0lmWPmqeaq6c

[@michaelh3800]

Great! Thanks for the reference. I appreciate the range of your videos from near-scholarly to just plain fun. I'm taking a graduate course on Lewis and Tolkien, so some of these videos are useful! Keep up the good work!@@NerdoftheRings

[@stephaniecowans3646]

I would have so loved to have you read a couple of the letters, but maybe that might violate any copyright laws? Great video!

[@TiagoRamosVideos]

Your voice is amazing and very easy to listen to 👌

[@TheMan05555]

If only Tolkien lived to 1980. We definitely would have learned what he thought of the animated movies.

[@LMAOGAN]

Hello! I currently own the original edition of the letters and have referenced a couple of them within school papers and whatnot, but I haven’t read the entire thing. Would you recommend reading the original book and then moving onto the expanded edition? Or should I just buy and jump right into the expanded edition when I eventually get around to reading it? Also congrats on almost 1 million subs!

[@Trotter_Tolkien]

I would buy the new book and read that instead of the earlier book, the new book supersedes the original.

[@emilywagner6354]

Since the new book includes everything in the old one, you wouldn't be missing anything by just reading the expanded edition.

[@DonnchadhMccarthy]

Just wondering if this is coming out as an audio book? Love your work and cant wait for you to hit a million, nobody deserves it more!

[@jasonhopkins1584]

Nice, subtle dig at the clowns in the writer's room of RoP. I appreciate that you can be so generous to so odorous and onerous a posse.

[@DarthFlauschi]

I just hope that Harper Collins is finished with their re-release, my bank account is dying, and my bookshelves are thinking I am crazy for buying a book a second or third time...

[@NerdoftheRings]

Haha - so you don't wanna hear about the 2024 editions of History of Middle-earth, then? :)

[@DarthFlauschi]

@@NerdoftheRings no please tell, how I bought 12 books just to buy them again

[@Istari68]

Thanks for this interesting, thoughtful review.

[@tjbmenick7263]

Hello. Are all of the letters in the previous edition covered in the new. Or are some left out. Didnt get that point. Basiacly: is there any reason to get the old version at all, based on what it covers. Very good video.

[@Trotter_Tolkien]

All the Letters in the original 1981 edition are in the new edition.

[@tjbmenick7263]

@@Trotter_Tolkien Tank ju

[@fingersTitan]

Now I want a Tolkien 3:16 T-shirt now.. Great review Matt.

[@carnilino.m]

Which song do you use as BGM in this video? It is calming, yet doesn't take away from your focus. I think it would be great for work.

[@lupinotuumlunam]

With as long as he has been dead you would think he would have stopped writing letters.

[@midnight7703]

Please consider doing some videos on the LOTR content from the Letters.

[@GeroniMomartinezMG]

"Tolkien had nuance" I like to think of it as "Tolkien had sass"

[@brooksrownd2275]

Interesting - I enjoyed reading the original years ago.

[@LorolinAstori]

As an author, nothing is canon until it is published by the author. One could only wonder about how Tokjien would feel about these sorts of publications.

[@Leikjarinn]

Letter 131 is a masterpiece

[@kr4119]

Thank you for the review! Tolkien was a funny guy. Anything he wrote was gold.

[@babbisp1]

How are they gonna number the letters if they publish all 700+ of them? I dont see the a b c system being useful when there are 30+ letters between existing letters.

[@felixrauker4213]

Hey Matt, what’s the name again from you‘re friend who did a sound and music version for Andy Serkis‘s audiobook ?

[@NerdoftheRings]

Jordan from A long Expected Soundscape. You can find his stuff here: jordanrannells.com/shop

[@felixrauker4213]

Thank‘s a lot 🙏🏻

[@moondogg_monte]

What does Matt's Hat say in Cirth?

[@Capt_Spork]

HURRY UP AND HIT 1 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS!

[@jeremyjacobs4991]

I didn’t know this existed. Thanks!

[@progrockerNZ]

Hi - I'm seeing two editions coming out of the same book for sale. There is the 432 page one - ISBN 9780358652984 (Height 218mm x Width 137mm) or the 700 page one - ISBN 9780008628765 (230mm x 156mm)? I absolutely hate it when we have choices 😉 I'm trying to work out why the 700 page book is larger in size (larger size text and photos perhaps) as opposed to the 432 page smaller one (perhaps more condensed). Which is the preferable edition to get? Thanks.

[@NerdoftheRings]

Is one a larger print edition perhaps? I’ve seen some instances where the font size is larger making really big volumes

[@martinmera7681]

I have the old version but have not read it yet. Do I have to read that one first or can I just read the new version?

[@sofiemorena7781]

12:51 Tolkien really described the ROP series perfectly

[@BobbyM817]

And the Jackson films and any adaptation, really.

[@scrubs4everr]

So awesome! Have to get this!

[@luth7050]

999k subs almost there broo

[@istari0]

I just ordered it!

[@stefandebeer9375]

I wonder if there is anything new that expands or changes the lore of ME from the new and revised letters?

[@thomasryan6240]

I hope that gets the Deluxe Edition treatment

[@alternativefactory7190]

Have you checked out Tolkeins Faith?

[@Jan_ne]

Do you think the Rings of Power show runners had early access to these letters (esp. 131) when working on the show due to the deal with the estate?

[@isaiaholsen5685]

You should do a Tolkien Theory episode on what would happen if Glorfindel took the one ring from frodo, well running from the black riders, or if he went with the fellowship?

[@iandennis7836]

As an interesting exercise, I wonder if anyone has imagined how things might have gone if Butterbur had delivered Gandalf's letter as intended.....

[@kalmarfanatic04]

Need. This. Book.

[@hikaruvortex]

Loved this!

[@kalm6872]

I love letter 131

[@Relics_of_Arda]

Cool!

[@chrysm6842]

Nice !

[@Eowyn3Pride]

...I wants it preciioouusssss!!! 😧❤️🧝‍♀️🧝‍♂️🧙‍♂️🥔🍻

[@agentspaniel4428]

I wonder if there are any letters that address his portrayal of non European cultures compared to European ones. I ask this because I know that his friend C.S. Lewis doesn't portray middle eastern cultures with any respect (the calormens who appear the horse and his boy, and the last battle.)

[@reimink690]

"some applicability here...". Cough-RiNGSofPOwer!-cough

[@NerdoftheRings]

One could say the reception to Rings of Power is strikingly similar - but I think the applicability of Tolkien's approach to adaptations is the more important point. The fact that the creator of these tales could appreciate and praise the skill and artistry of the visuals is a great lesson for those who like to see things (like ROP) in purely black and white extremes.

[@reimink690]

@@NerdoftheRings Right. I'm not purely bashing ROP. I'm agreeing it's beautiful. And I watched every episode. Then your review of the episode. Then the episode again with captions on. And I'll watch S2 for sure. But I have limits to what I think is appropriate...like Tolkien

[@erikbender1967]

I really wished JRR Tolkein would have wrote the entire tale of the Return of the Shadow.

[@lastlaugh5178]

-on release it has issues in facts... nice.

[@barrell_rider4869]

I like the letters where he shits on the nazis what a GOAT

[@jackthehumanofficial]

😮‍💨

[@allones3078]

Man respect your work but come on selling out any time soon

[@gandalf4751]

😍😍😍😍👌💕💕💕

[@j2c695]

Very SUS

[@stevenjones7170]

Yes,essential addition to the Tolkien library but also a big disappointment......the majority of letters remain unpublished. Why? The main protagonists are dead. Christopher has gone. Lives of great artists,and JRRT was such,require biographical details to provide context for their artistry and singularity. This was no mere entertainer,no lover of the insipid banal mainstream for Tolkien drank deeply at the well of creativity and not the waters of oblivion. Tolkien was a serious unique trailblazing artist.C S lewis for example has three fat volumes of his letters already published with another to follow and,in my opinion,Tolkien is a far superior artist and C S Lewis no lightweight. A very long wait and sadly,a wasted opportunity by Harper Collins.

[@NerdoftheRings]

I have a feeling this expanded edition (made from an existing manuscript) could be HC testing the waters. If interest in these new letters is strong enough, they can justify the resources to edit and publish a Vol 2. That’s my hope anyway!

[@stevenjones7170]

Oh,I do so hope that is the case. I did wonder if HC were testing the waters and will write to them in due course. Thanks for the reply @@NerdoftheRings

[@stevenjones7170]

And a volume 3 and 4 he he he. Fingers and hairy toes crossed @@NerdoftheRings

[@ImotekhtheStormlord-tx2it]

you get amazon money, you promote of the biggest abominations to sir JRR TOLKIEN work and now you act like youre the good guy. you think ppl forgot how you got paid with a ring prop ?

[@UldisCrystal]

3rd xD

[@Pdog7293]

First

[@kalm6872]

Omg I can’t wait to get it ! Mine is coming next Tuesday 🥹