Revised and Expanded Edition of the Letters

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Apparently this version with 500 letters is the original edition Carpenter and CRT prepared. But Unwins thought it was too long to have a hope of breaking even, so they insisted it be curt down in size. So, in one way, there's nothing "new." Call it the Director's Cut.

[Arvegil145]

Wait, wasn't it supposed to come out in November this year?

Also, what does the "vision for publishing his 'Tales of the Three Ages'" mean exactly?

[Mithadan]

When is the release date?

[Bêthberry]

The revised and expanded edition of The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien will be published in hardback by HarperCollins in the UK and William Morrow in the USA. It will be released on 9 November 2023 in the UK and 14 November in the USA, with translations in other countries to follow. The book will be over 700 pages in length.

from the website of the Tolkien Society, https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2023/...-be-published/

I wonder where I got the January 2024 date in the first post.

[Mister Underhill]

*Rubs hands in anticipation…*

[Arvegil145]

I would just like to add this summary of the changes made in the new Letters, courtesy of Tolkien Collector's Guide: https://www.tolkienguide.com/uploads...7cd2197837.pdf

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by Arvegil145

I would just like to add this summary of the changes made in the new Letters, courtesy of Tolkien Collector's Guide: https://www.tolkienguide.com/uploads...7cd2197837.pdf

I appreciate the link, but apparently cannot bear to read it in any detail! I want to go in--of all things--unspoiled.

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

Apparently this version with 500 letters is the original edition Carpenter and CRT prepared. But Unwins thought it was too long to have a hope of breaking even, so they insisted it be curt down in size. So, in one way, there's nothing "new." Call it the Director's Cut.

This makes a lot of sense. The original letters is quite a substantial paperback as it is and I am pretty sure it would have had to be physically type set at that time.. I did hope their might have been some extras made relevant by the publication of HoME in the interim but I am still looking forward to this vey much

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Just arrived; I'm pleased to say that it appears to have a much expanded and improved index (the old one was pretty marginal)

[Bêthberry]

http://https://menelrond.blogspot.com/2023/11/tolkien-and-physical-economy-of-post.html?fbclid=IwAR2lXhXvrX6o2a-L3Jt9KgnrrZMwBIpv-z0a34onU-bgLtgMUPLV7f5pMJA

Note: This review is by a Tolkienist with considerable credibility.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

A lot of anger in that piece.

[Mithadan]

I am surprised that there have been no reviews posted of the Expanded Edition. I have not yet purchased it. Any feedback?

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

A lot of anger in that piece.

Really? And?

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Well, it strikes me as odd to get heated over a man who's been dead half a century expressing viewpoints eighty years ago which would have been completely unremarkable at the time. Not many people write angrily about Cicero's views on slavery or Boniface VIII's take on religious libertiy. Comment? Sure. But anger? A little misplaced.