Letter 88a

The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Letter 88a
Recipient	Christopher Tolkien
Date	1 November 1944
Subject(s)	Personal news from home

Letter 88a is a letter written by J.R.R. Tolkien and published in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Revised and Expanded edition.

Summary

Tolkien discusses Christopher's encounter with another member of the Unwin family, Harold "Chris" Unwin, and provides reflections on Rayner Unwin, whom Tolkien describes as a "dark upstanding & rather nice-looking young fellow." Tolkien contrasts Rayner with his father, Stanley Unwin, who he humorously notes resembles one of his dwarves.

He then turns to a more personal note, expressing his hopes and prayers for Christopher as he leaves his troubled teens, marred by illness and war, and enters his twenties. Tolkien muses on the challenges and frustrations of life, offering philosophical reflections on the use of time and the hope for better circumstances. He ends by expressing his longing to see Christopher again and suggests that enduring present hardships might serve as a form of anticipated Purgatory.