J.R.R. Tolkien was a devoted correspondent, as evidenced by the countless letters he sent to his family, friends, publisher, and readers.

When he refers to his major works, such as 'The Lord of the Rings', 'The Hobbit', and 'The Silmarillion', as well as to his lesser-known writings, his letters become quite lengthy.

Through these letters and the extensive comments from the editors, we extract a wealth of information about his work and how he was inspired to create his stories; about his family and friendship relationships, his professional career, and his opinions on the current issues of his time.

Here, then, is one of the greatest writers of the 20th century in his personal, and often confessional, writings.

[Excerpt from the text on the back cover of the edition]