Letter #1: To Edith Bratt
Today we embark on our first deep dive into J.R.R. Tolkien’s published letters—how exciting! We start with a very special one—Letter No. 1: To Edith Bratt, written in October 1914 while Tolkien was in his final year at Oxford. This letter provides not just a snapshot of his day-to-day life as a student, but also a window into his early relationship with the woman who would later inspire some of his most memorable characters. At the time of the letter, John and Edith had been engaged for nearly two years. He was balancing the pressures of academia, his Officers' Training Corps duties, and preparation for military service. This sets the tone of the letter, where we see a young man caught between love, duty, and the demands of his education.
In the letter, Tolkien talks about a wet and exhausting weekend of military drills, where he and his comrades spent hours getting soaked and then had to spend even more time cleaning their rifles. Not exactly glamorous! But despite the demands of training, Tolkien still finds time to enjoy his books. He mentions working on an essay, getting distracted by Shakespeare, and having conversations with friends about literature. What really stands out is how much Tolkien enjoyed diving into his studies and spending time with books, even when life was pulling him in different directions. It’s clear that, even as a young man, his love of reading and storytelling was already a huge part of who he was.
Even in this personal letter, Tolkien hints at his creative mind. He talks about a story he's working on—one that’s tragic and full of poetry. It’s a small but interesting glimpse into his early attempts at writing fiction. He was already experimenting with blending narrative and poetry, which is something that would become a hallmark of his later works. Tolkien also mentions introducing a friend to the Kalevala, a Finnish epic that would later influence The Silmarillion. It’s fascinating to see how even then, he was drawing inspiration from mythology and using it to fuel his imagination.
What makes this letter especially sweet is the way Tolkien talks to Edith. He calls her “little one” and says her letters are “splendid,” which shows how much he cherished their connection. Even though the letter is full of his day-to-day experiences, it’s clear that Edith was a grounding presence in his life, especially during such a chaotic and uncertain time. As we know, Edith would go on to inspire the character of Lúthien in The Silmarillion, and their love story is one of the most beautiful in Tolkien’s Legendarium. This letter gives us a glimpse of that relationship in its early days—filled with affection, despite the challenges they faced.
Letter No. 1 shows us a young Tolkien, balancing a lot on his plate—studies, military duties, and his relationship with Edith. It’s a fascinating peek into his life before the fame and the world of Middle-earth. And even here, we see the seeds of the storyteller he would become.
I hope you enjoyed this first dive into Tolkien’s letters! There’s so much more to explore, and I can’t wait to share more insights with you as we continue on this journey.
Thank you for reading!
Barliman.