This collection will entertain all who appreciate the art of masterful letter writing.  The Letters of J.R.R Tolkien sheds much light on J.R.R. Tolkien's creative genius and grand design for the creation of a whole new Middle-earth. Featuring a radically expanded index, this volume contains 354 letters, dating between October 1914, when Tolkien was an undergraduate at the University of Oxford, and August 29, 1973, four days before his death. This is a valuable research tool for all fans wishing to trace the evolution of  The Hobbit  and  The Lord of the Rings.