Chapter 1, Edith Bratt Summary and Analysis

The book begins with a brief and very clear introduction about how the letters were selected and edited. Humphrey Carpenter provided the main order whilst Christopher Tolkien gave input, feedback and gave some advice. Following this the letters begin. These have been neatly numbered. The book has no chapters. As a consequence, the summary will be ordered around the letters. Which ones are covered by the summary chapter will be clearly indicated.

The remainder of this summary chapter covers the first letter. The author is quite a young man, at 21 years of age and he is finishing up his undergraduate work at the prestigious Oxford University. The earliest letters are excerpts from letters to his girlfriend. This is in 1914. The woman in question is Edith Bratt. JRR Tolkien admits that he loves her. What happened is explained...