‘Reduced to nonsense’: JRR Tolkien’s irritation with typist revealed in archive

The collection, which offers insights into the creative process of one of the most influential literary figures of all time, is being sold by Jonkers Rare Books. Photograph: IanDagnall Computing/Alamy

JRR Tolkien was so irritated by a careless typist’s slapdash work on one of his manuscripts that he vented his frustration in a letter that has come to light.

The Lord of the Rings author said in despair: “She reduced [my manuscript] to nonsense. I have some sympathy with the typist faced with such unfamiliar matter; though evidently she wasn’t paying much attention.”