Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien

Can you imagine writing to Father Christmas and actually getting a reply? For more than twenty years, the children of J.R.R. Tolkien received letters from the North Pole – from Father Christmas himself! They told wonderful stories of mischief and disaster, adventures, and battles: how the reindeer got loose and scattered presents all over the place, how the accident-prone Polar Bear climbed the North Pole and fell through the roof of Father Christmas’s house, and many others.

Now, for the first time, these letters are brought to life with specially arranged holiday music.

Illustration by J.R.R. Tolkien.

 

REVIEW:

«Tolkien at his relaxed and ingenious best.» The Times of London

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

J.R.R. TOLKIEN (1892-1973) is the creator of Middle-earth and author of such classic extraordinary works of fiction as ‘The Hobbit’, ‘The Lord of the Rings’, and ‘The Silmarillion.’ His books have been translated into more than fifty languages and have sold many millions of copies worldwide.

 

Laurel & Hardy: Example of humility and friendship

 

«What’s funny? How do I know? Can you analyze it? Can anybody? All I know is how to make people laugh.» —Stan Laurel

 

«Ask Stan.» —Oliver Hardy

 

 

 

Words like these, can only have been spoken by the greatest comic duo in cinema history: Laurel & Hardy.

 

 

 

Two geniuses of laughter, endearing and best friends. I think these words of John Larrabee describe perfectly and with simplicity who were Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.

 

          «In an era where movie stars routinely command eight-figure salaries for six weeks’ worth of work, where top comedians travel with an entourage of bodyguards and sycophants, and where rock stars employ logistics managers and toadies to sort their M&M’s by color, it is perhaps difficult to envision a time in which two genuinely nice and humble gentlemen labored for forty-eight weeks out of the year, expecting nothing but a reasonably comfortable salary and a bit of laughter in return. To say that Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, both onscreen and off, represented human character at its best is no understatement. As men, they may have had their flaws, but an examination of their lives, either close or cursory, reveals them as kind and gentle souls. As screen characters, this kindness and gentleness is evident in even the roughest of their comedies. On film and in life, they were utterly incapable of pretense, and demanded from the world only what they had rightfully earned. On screen, if they received an occasional scrap of warmth and kindness, they were sincerely grateful for it. In life, they were loved the world over and were overwhelmed by it.»

 

 

 

This is the sad letter that Stan Laurel wrote just a few days after his friend Oliver Hardy died.

 

  AUG.12th.’57.
My Dear Friends [Bob & Marie Hatfield]:-
          Many thanks for the nice card of sympathy, your kind expressions were deeply appreciated.
          Even tho’ I had been notified the day before [that] my dear Pal ‘Babe,’ was’nt expected to last but a few hours, the final news came as a shock & upset me very much – being such close friends for over 30 odd years, it was really a great blow. However, in situations like this we must be sensible & face facts, he has been suffering very much these last few weeks & in terrible pain (Cancer condition), so I feel it was a blessing that he was taken out of his misery, am sure he would have wished it so – I am happy in a sense that he has gone to rest – sad as it is. I miss him more than anyone will ever know & feel quite lost, but I will forever cherish the wonderful memories I have of him & the many happy times we shared together In the past – God Bless Him, he certainly did’nt deserve such a tragic end.
          My Dr. would’nt permit me to go to the services, so Mrs L & my daughter attended instead, it was a Masonic affair & beautifully conducted with many many friends & mourners, & banks of flowers filled the chapel, after which he was cremated.
          Will close now, do’nt feel much in the mood for correspondence, am sure you will understand.
          Mrs L joins in every good wish to you both & thanks again.
                    Sincerely always:-

                    Stan Laurel.

 

 

Love letter: Zelda Sayre to F. Scott Fitzgerald

Photo: F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald-1920

 

Spring 1919

Sweetheart,

            Please, please don’t be so depressed — We’ll be married soon, and then these lonesome nights will be over forever — and until we are, I am loving, loving every tiny minute of the day and night –

            Maybe you won’t understand this, but sometimes when I miss you most, it’s hardest to write — and you always know when I make myself — Just the ache of it all — and I can’t tell you.

            If we were together, you’d feel how strong it is — you’re so sweet when you’re melancholy. I love your sad tenderness — when I’ve hurt you — That’s one of the reasons I could never be sorry for our quarrels — and they bothered you so — Those dear, dear little fusses, when I always tried so hard to make you kiss and forget —

            Scott — there’s nothing in all the world I want but you — and your precious love — All the material things are nothing.

            I’d just hate to live a sordid, colorless existence — because you’d soon love me less — and less — and I’d do anything — anything — to keep your heart for my own — I don’t want to live — I want to love first, and live incidentally –

             Why don’t you feel that I’m waiting — I’ll come to you, Lover, when you’re ready — Don’t don’t ever think of the things you can’t give me — You’ve trusted me with the dearest heart of all — and it’s so damn much more than anybody else in all the world has ever had —

            How can you think deliberately of life without me — If you should die — O Darling — darling Scott — It’d be like going blind. I know I would, too, — I’d have no purpose in life — just a pretty — decoration.

            Don’t you think I was made for you? I feel like you had me ordered — and I was delivered to you — to be worn — I want you to wear me, like a watch — charm or a button hole boquet — to the world.

            And then, when we’re alone, I want to help — to know that you can’t do anything without me.

            I’m glad you wrote Mamma. It was such a nice sincere letter — and mine to St. Paul was very evasive and rambling. I’ve never, in all my life, been able to say anything to people older than me — Somehow I just instinctively avoid personal things with them — even my family. Kids are so much nicer.

All my love.

I love you.

Zelda.