Chapter 9, Now the Books Themselves Summary and Analysis

Letters #146, 147, 148 are located near to the center of the book in its published form. These letters are dated from June and July of 1954. They are actually about getting the books into their publishable forms. Tolkien writes a letter to Allen & Unwin in which he admits to suffering from discontent regarding the proposed book cover images they have sent to him. He goes on to confess that he doesn't think they are really going to take his views into account but are only asking in order to be polite. Here, readers find this creative genius and highly experienced father and professor sulking like a boy, doubtful about whether or not to even dare hope of getting his way. In reality, the publishers do take into account his comments and deliver modified forms of the...