Dilly Dalley’s Reviews > The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien > Status Update
Dilly Dalley
is on page 180 of 502
Nearly finished the Second World War letters. At this stage the letters cover Tolkien's everyday life, reading like a diary, his concern for his children in the war (one set covers Michael's war experiences) but the great bulk are letters to Christopher who is the RAF. In the diary like format, you get a sense of Tolkien's academic life during the war. Then towards the end of the war, his novel writing picks up.
— Jun 16, 2026 08:19PM
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Dilly’s Previous Updates
Dilly Dalley
is on page 210 of 502
I am up to 1950 - We are getting close to the publication of Lord of the Rings and there's a bit of back and forth about whether Tolkien wishes to change publishers. He's also acknowledging that it has taken him 12 years to write the requested follow up to the Hobbit. There is much discussion about how big it is - a million words - and he is still keen to publish the Silmarillion.
— Jun 23, 2026 04:38PM
Dilly Dalley
is on page 46 of 502
The letters about illustrations and the US publisher are interesting. Tolkien is just so invested in every part of the process.
— Jun 05, 2026 07:50PM
