I received this lovely book several years ago as a Christmas gift. I was in my Tolkien mania and BPR would buy me any Tolkien stories he could find. Yes, he is a sweetheart...not allowed to called him Honey, though. The book includes most of the letters received by the Tolkien children over 20 years. Tolkien had four children, three boys and a girl. He obviously loved them very much. Sweeter proof cannot be found than these letters from Father Christmas.
Tolkien wrote in various scripts and even invented languages, for which he is famous, to his children in the name of Father Christmas. I can almost see the excitement in their home. To write your letter to Santa is important, but to receive a reply, is better than most gifts. The letters are humorously decorated with pictures that depict the adventures in the letters. It is a lovely detail, as Father Christmas notes in one of his letters, not all of the children in the house could read yet.
My children were still young enough to enjoy being read to back then and that Christmas I read them this short collection of letters. We still pick up the book around this time of year, place it on the coffee table and page through it with something festive to drink. Polar Bear is still the favorite character, what a master of mayhem. Father Christmas sometimes sounds a little too wise and Polar Bear keeps him young, I suspect. The letters include the topics that Tolkien enjoyed, calligraphy, invented languages as well as story telling with elves, goblins and snowmen. They are intimate at the same time. He wrote them for special children. The love shines through.
J.R.R. Tolkien
ISBN: 9780261102552
