Letter 51a

The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Letter 51a
Recipient	Christopher Tolkien
Date	3 November 1943
Subject(s)	Life in the R.A.F.

Letter 51a 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 is responding to a long letter Christopher had recently sent him and expresses relief that he experiences some decent moments amidst the difficulties. Tolkien critiques the inefficiency in the R.A.F. on the ground, attributing it to the nature of war, which contrasts with heroic poetry.

He advises Christopher to use these challenging experiences for personal growth, urging him to withhold judgment and contempt for seemingly unworthy comrades, as appearances can be deceptive. The letter concludes with a heartfelt blessing and expression of love.