Tolkien’s Influence on Fantasy

Here’s Tolkien himself, in a letter to Milton Waldman, probably written about 1951 but never sent:

“Do not laugh! But once upon a time (my crest has long since fallen) I had a mind to make a body of more or less connected legend, ranging from the large and cosmogonic, to the level of romantic fairy-story . . .The cycles should be linked to a majestic whole, and yet leave scope for other minds and hands, wielding paint and music and drama.” *

He finishes with “Absurd.”

But I don’t believe that is...