XPost: rec.arts.books.tolkien, alt.fan.tolkien   
   From: Troels@ThisIsFake.invalid   
      
   In message    
   Morgoth's Curse  spoke these   
   staves:   
   >   
      
      
      
   >      I have always wondered about Tolkien's relationship with   
   > Charles William.  I have read that Tolkien disliked William's work,   
   > but I do not know whether the two men were friends otherwise.  (I   
   > presume that the relationship was at least cordial.)   
      
   The implication in _Letters_ is that Tolkien enjoyed Williams'   
   company even though he rather strongly disliked his work (and   
   resented Williams' influence on Lewis). He may have exaggerated when   
   he wrote to Williams' widow that 'in the (far too brief) years since   
   I first met him I had grown to admire and love your husband deeply'   
   (_Letters_ #99). Elsewhere Tolkien describes the relationship of the   
   two men to a reader of _LotR_:   
       But I think we both found the other's mind (or rather mode   
       of expression, and climate) as impenetrable when cast into   
       'literature', as we found the other's presence and   
       conversation delightful.   
     _Letters_ #159   
      
   Without going into any discussion of what constitutes 'friendship' I   
   think the above at least suggests something that goes beyond   
   'cordial' ;-)   
      
   It would be interesting to know how Williams thought of his   
   relationship with Tolkien. Does anyone know about that? Has   
   Williams' letters been published or something?   
      
   --   
   Troels Forchhammer     
   Valid e-mail is    
   Please put [AFT], [RABT] or 'Tolkien' in subject.   
      
       Ash nazg durbatuluk,   
       ash nazg gimbatul,   
       ash nazg thrakatuluk   
       agh burzum ishi krimpatul.   
      - /The Fellowship of the Ring/ (J.R.R. Tolkien)   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)