The J. R. R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: Volume 1: Chronology. Christina Scull
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March 1937 C.A. Furth writes to Tolkien, belatedly returning a Hobbit drawing. The printers are revising the typesetting of the whole book. They hope to send Tolkien some of the revised proofs the weekend of 3–4 April, and all of the proofs by about 7 April.
7 April 1937 Oxford University Press sends Tolkien proofs of his essay Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics.
13 April 1937 Revised proofs for The Hobbit apparently having arrived as promised, Tolkien now returns them together with proofs of the endpapers. He writes to Allen & Unwin, pointing out that he has altered eight words to correct narrative errors he missed before, and he has marked a few other corrections, some of errors made in the revised typesetting. He takes note of the cost of excess correction, and ‘must pay what is just, if required; though I shall naturally be grateful for clemency’ (Letters, p. 16). He passes the endpapers but regrets that Wilderland is not being printed in black and blue as he had wished. He wonders if both endpapers would not be better in black and blue, which would mean changing ‘red’ to ‘blue’ on p. 30 of the text; but on second thought he decides to accept red. He is sorry that it has proved impossible (as it seems) to substitute better drawn runes he has supplied for Thror’s Map. He thinks some of the illustrations badly placed, but is unable to judge how they will fall on the finished page. He sends a draft design for the dust-jacket, but foresees objections: it has too many colours (blue, green, red, black); it needs simplifying; the lettering could be improved. He explains the runic inscription in the border. He would be glad to hear as soon as possible if the design is of any use, as he has little time left before the beginning of term in which to make a new drawing.
15 April 1937 C.A. Furth writes to Tolkien. The margins around the Hobbit illustrations will be adjusted before printing. He apologizes for not including Tolkien’s more careful drawing of the ‘moon-letters’ for Thror’s Map, and cannot understand how this happened. He thinks the dust-jacket design ‘admirable’, but suggests that the red colouring be omitted, which would improve the clarity of the title and remove a ‘flush on the central mountain, which makes it look to our eyes just a trifle like a cake’ (Tolkien–George Allen & Unwin archive, HarperCollins). He suggests that the runes in the border should be against a green background. He returns Tolkien’s original art for redrawing, and to ensure a jacket of correct proportions he will send Tolkien a dummy of the book.
15–?17 April 1937 Tolkien takes a walking holiday in the *Quantock Hills in Somerset with C.S. Lewis and Owen Barfield. He finds it hard going to walk more than twenty miles a day in rough country while carrying a pack.
25 April 1937 Trinity Full Term begins. Tolkien’s scheduled lectures and classes for this term are: Outlines of Old English Phonology and Grammar on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12.00 noon in the Examination Schools, beginning 27 April; and Old English Verse Texts (Class), at an hour and place to be arranged. – Tolkien writes to C.A. Furth. He has redrawn the Hobbit dust-jacket, but does not think it much improved. It is now the exact size of the book. Tolkien has omitted the ‘offending pink icing on the mountainous cake’ (which his children like) but has left the sun and dragon red; if effect alone is considered rather than cost, he thinks red ‘very desirable’ and suggests other places on the jacket where it might be applied. The rest of the design is now in blue, black, and green; but it would be improved also by using a second, dark shade of green here and there. He leaves such questions, however, for Furth to decide. ‘The design is probably too complicated already.’ He is returning separately the dummy, with the (now tattered) paper model of the jacket, and a brown paper model of the same size as the enclosed design. He worries in a long postscript that he has drawn the jacket too wide, with too much space allowed for the back and hinges. If it is wrong ‘I cannot do anything more about it, as term is now in full blast’ (Tolkien–George Allen & Unwin archive, HarperCollins).
28 April 1937 C.A. Furth writes to Tolkien. The red colour on the dust-jacket will have to be omitted. The sun on the upper jacket will be distinguished by an outline. ‘Otherwise everything seems straightforward and we are proceeding with the reproduction’ (Tolkien–George Allen & Unwin archive, HarperCollins).
30 April 1937 Tolkien attends a Pembroke College meeting. – In the evening, Tolkien attends a dinner of The Society hosted by G.F. Hudson in the hall of All Souls College, Oxford. Seventeen members are present. Hudson speaks about the entertainment of foreign visitors.
6 May 1937 Tolkien attends an English Faculty Library Committee meeting.
11 May 1937 C.A. Furth writes to Tolkien. An American publisher is interested in The Hobbit, wants to add four colour illustrations to the book, and have suggested employing a good American artist. ‘It occurred to us, however, that it would be better if all the illustrations were from your hand’, and Furth recalls (presumably from his visit of 27 February) having seen some pictures that Tolkien has tucked away in a drawer (Tolkien–George Allen & Unwin archive, HarperCollins). He asks if Tolkien could send five or six of them, which Allen & Unwin will forward to the American publisher.
12 May 1937 Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. There are no lectures or classes at Oxford. The Vice-Chancellor, Proctors, and graduates, in academic dress, assemble at 9.40 a.m. in the Divinity School and process to a special service in the Church of St Mary the Virgin.
13 May 1937 Tolkien writes to C.A. Furth. He asks the name of the American publisher interested in The Hobbit. ‘As for the illustrations: I am divided between knowledge of my own inability and fear of what American artists (doubtless of admirable skill) might produce. In any case I agree that all the illustrations ought to be by the same hand: four professional pictures would make my own amateurish productions look rather silly.’ He does have some pictures, but they illustrate ‘The Silmarillion’. He would have to draw new ones for the American Hobbit. He will try to do so, but does not have much time in the middle of term, and it might be some time before he can produce anything. ‘Perhaps the matter does not allow of much delay? It might be advisable, rather than lose the American interest, to let the Americans do what seems good to them – as long as it was possible (I should like to add) to veto anything from or influenced by the *Disney studios (for all whose works I have a heartfelt loathing). I have seen American illustrations that suggest that excellent things might be produced – only too excellent for their companions’ (Letters, p. 17). He asks how much time he would have to produce samples for the Americans; and again, when the English edition of The Hobbit is to be published.
14 May 1937 Tolkien attends an English Faculty Board meeting. – C.A. Furth writes to Tolkien. The American publisher interested in The Hobbit is the Houghton Mifflin Company. Allen & Unwin will probably publish the book themselves in October 1937. They have no information yet as to when the American edition will be published, so there might be time for Tolkien to make coloured drawings to submit to them. Furth thinks that it would be best to forward Tolkien’s letter to Houghton Mifflin, so that they will know his mind, and that he might be able to send them some (finished) drawings by the end of June. He will ask them to cable if they cannot wait so long. Allen & Unwin have already suggested that if Houghton Mifflin decide to use an American artist, Tolkien should be allowed to see specimens of his work.
22 May 1937 Allen & Unwin send Tolkien for his approval a proof of the Hobbit dust-jacket.
26 May 1937 Allen & Unwin send Tolkien for his approval sample binding cases for The Hobbit.
28 May 1937 Tolkien writes to Allen & Unwin. He approves the proof dust-jacket for The Hobbit, though he thinks that the sun would be improved if it had a slightly finer outline. Of the sample binding cases, he prefers the one in green. He agrees that ‘The Hobbit’ in the title would be best centred; but he does not like the italic lettering Allen & Unwin have used, or a wavy line at the edges and under the title. Either there should be no line, or it should be straight. He thinks that ‘a small design would be an improvement’ and will try to produce something. (Tolkien–George Allen & Unwin archive,