The J. R. R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: Volume 1: Chronology. Christina Scull

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СКАЧАТЬ mountainous cake’ (which his children like) but has left the sun and dragon red; if effect alone is considered rather than cost, he thinks red ‘very desirable’ and suggests other places on the jacket where it might be applied. The rest of the design is now in blue, black, and green; but it would be improved also by using a second, dark shade of green here and there. He leaves such questions, however, for Furth to decide. ‘The design is probably too complicated already.’ He is returning separately the dummy, with the (now tattered) paper model of the jacket, and a brown paper model of the same size as the enclosed design. He worries in a long postscript that he has drawn the jacket too wide, with too much space allowed for the back and hinges. If it is wrong ‘I cannot do anything more about it, as term is now in full blast’ (Tolkien–George Allen & Unwin archive, HarperCollins).

      28 April 1937 C.A. Furth writes to Tolkien. The red colour on the dust-jacket will have to be omitted. The sun on the upper jacket will be distinguished by an outline. ‘Otherwise everything seems straightforward and we are proceeding with the reproduction’ (Tolkien–George Allen & Unwin archive, HarperCollins).

      30 April 1937 Tolkien attends a Pembroke College meeting. – In the evening, Tolkien attends a dinner of The Society hosted by G.F. Hudson in the hall of All Souls College, Oxford. Seventeen members are present. Hudson speaks about the entertainment of foreign visitors.

      6 May 1937 Tolkien attends an English Faculty Library Committee meeting.

      11 May 1937 C.A. Furth writes to Tolkien. An American publisher is interested in The Hobbit, wants to add four colour illustrations to the book, and have suggested employing a good American artist. ‘It occurred to us, however, that it would be better if all the illustrations were from your hand’, and Furth recalls (presumably from his visit of 27 February) having seen some pictures that Tolkien has tucked away in a drawer (Tolkien–George Allen & Unwin archive, HarperCollins). He asks if Tolkien could send five or six of them, which Allen & Unwin will forward to the American publisher.

      12 May 1937 Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. There are no lectures or classes at Oxford. The Vice-Chancellor, Proctors, and graduates, in academic dress, assemble at 9.40 a.m. in the Divinity School and process to a special service in the Church of St Mary the Virgin.

      13 May 1937 Tolkien writes to C.A. Furth. He asks the name of the American publisher interested in The Hobbit. ‘As for the illustrations: I am divided between knowledge of my own inability and fear of what American artists (doubtless of admirable skill) might produce. In any case I agree that all the illustrations ought to be by the same hand: four professional pictures would make my own amateurish productions look rather silly.’ He does have some pictures, but they illustrate ‘The Silmarillion’. He would have to draw new ones for the American Hobbit. He will try to do so, but does not have much time in the middle of term, and it might be some time before he can produce anything. ‘Perhaps the matter does not allow of much delay? It might be advisable, rather than lose the American interest, to let the Americans do what seems good to them – as long as it was possible (I should like to add) to veto anything from or influenced by the *Disney studios (for all whose works I have a heartfelt loathing). I have seen American illustrations that suggest that excellent things might be produced – only too excellent for their companions’ (Letters, p. 17). He asks how much time he would have to produce samples for the Americans; and again, when the English edition of The Hobbit is to be published.

      14 May 1937 Tolkien attends an English Faculty Board meeting. – C.A. Furth writes to Tolkien. The American publisher interested in The Hobbit is the Houghton Mifflin Company. Allen & Unwin will probably publish the book themselves in October 1937. They have no information yet as to when the American edition will be published, so there might be time for Tolkien to make coloured drawings to submit to them. Furth thinks that it would be best to forward Tolkien’s letter to Houghton Mifflin, so that they will know his mind, and that he might be able to send them some (finished) drawings by the end of June. He will ask them to cable if they cannot wait so long. Allen & Unwin have already suggested that if Houghton Mifflin decide to use an American artist, Tolkien should be allowed to see specimens of his work.

      22 May 1937 Allen & Unwin send Tolkien for his approval a proof of the Hobbit dust-jacket.

      26 May 1937 Allen & Unwin send Tolkien for his approval sample binding cases for The Hobbit.

      28 May 1937 Tolkien writes to Allen & Unwin. He approves the proof dust-jacket for The Hobbit, though he thinks that the sun would be improved if it had a slightly finer outline. Of the sample binding cases, he prefers the one in green. He agrees that ‘The Hobbit’ in the title would be best centred; but he does not like the italic lettering Allen & Unwin have used, or a wavy line at the edges and under the title. Either there should be no line, or it should be straight. He thinks that ‘a small design would be an improvement’ and will try to produce something. (Tolkien–George Allen & Unwin archive, HarperCollins). – Tolkien also writes a second letter to Allen & Unwin, noting that ‘this is the most busy time of the year in every way. A week later and a time of relative peace will arrive’ (Tolkien–George Allen & Unwin archive, HarperCollins). He discusses how the publication date of The Hobbit might affect its sales in Oxford. He would prefer it to come out sooner than later, lest people assume that it is the major fruit of his Leverhulme Research Fellowship. He mentions the possibility of reviews in the Oxford Magazine, and by C.S. Lewis in the Times Literary Supplement. He encloses three ‘Silmarillion’ pictures as examples of his work in colour. If Houghton Mifflin like them, he could probably improve his standard for The Hobbit pictures. He will see what he can do as soon as he has time. He asks if there is any chance that Houghton Mifflin might use Mirkwood as an endpaper in their Hobbit, and put the maps in the text in the original colours, with Thror’s Map and the runes redrawn?

      31 May 1937 Tolkien writes to Lionel Salt, the Bursar at Pembroke College. He will have to miss a play this evening, as one of his sons (Christopher) is being operated on for appendicitis.

      June 1937 Tolkien spends much of his time caring for one of his children who is seriously ill (presumably Christopher, while recovering from appendicitis), and is ill himself. – He draws an ornamental wraparound design for the Hobbit binding, featuring mountains, moons, suns, and winged dragons.

      1 June 1937 C.A. Furth writes to Tolkien. Allen & Unwin have written to Houghton Mifflin regarding Tolkien’s letter of 28 May and have sent them the three ‘Silmarillion’ drawings. Furth asks Tolkien to return the approved Hobbit binding case. He agrees to remove the wavy line from underneath the title on the binding, but feels that something is needed at the edge; perhaps Tolkien’s small design will change the effect. They will change the lettering from italic to roman. Publication is now planned for September. Allen & Unwin will send unbound advance copies to C.S. Lewis and to the editor of the Oxford Magazine.

      2 June 1937 Mabel Day reports to the Early English Text Society Committee that their Ancrene Riwle subcommittee met on 27 May and recommended that the texts of that work to be published by EETS should be printed line by line as in the original manuscripts. The main Committee, unconvinced of the need for this approach, asks that the printer prepare specimen pages from several of the manuscripts, and instructs Mabel Day to ask Professor Tolkien what would be the precise benefits of line-by-line transcription relative to the expense involved. She does so on the same day.

      10 June 1937 Tolkien attends an English Faculty Library Committee meeting. – English Final Honour School Examinations begin.

      15 June 1937 Tolkien attends a Pembroke College meeting.

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