Gems from the Letters

[The Squatter of Amon Rûdh]

This is somewhat frivolous, but I enjoyed it:

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).

From Letter #13, to C.A. Furth at Allan and Unwin, dated 13th May 1937. Tolkien's comments refer to a suggestion from Houghton Mifflin, relayed by Allan and Unwin, that American artists be engaged to produce additional illustrations for the first US edition of The Hobbit.