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Tolkien Estate bars Quenya researcher - Lord of the Rings news - J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings

March 01, 2001 at 19:09:16

Helge Fauskanger, operator of the popular Ardalambion Web site, is asking his fellow Tolkien fans for help.

Through circumstances not of his making, Fauskanger came into possession of copies of two previously unpublished Quenya texts written by J.R.R. Tolkien. One text is a translation of the Lord's Prayer (Pater Noster). The other text is a copy of the Hail Mary (Ave Maria).

Asked to provide translations and commentary, Fauskanger complied with the request. But then he realized that his work might be of interest to other Tolkien researchers. So he approached the Tolkien Estate and asked them for permission to publish a copy of the original semi-calligraphic text of the Quenya poems.

The poems, totalling no more than 72 words, have nonetheless enabled Fauskanger to produce "more than sixty pages" of analysis. "The Quenya text," he says, "provides considerable insight not only on the invented language, but also on Tolkien's methods of work."

Fauskanger intended to publish his work in a non-profit American Tolkien journal for no compensation. When he asked the Tolkien Estate for permission to publish the facsimile he requested, not to his surprise, they refused. But the Tolkien Estate also indicated they believed they owned all rights to his research and the material he wishes to publish. The Tolkien Estate therefore forbade the researcher to publish his work.

Citing an interest in publishing the Quenya texts themselves, along with earlier versions of the poems, the Tolkien Estate also declined Mr. Fauskanger's offer to let them publish his own research. He also offered to analyze the earlier texts. Few people are more qualified to engage in such work than Helge Fauskanger.

Mr. Fauskanger's attorney informed the Tolkien Estate that publication of his research (without the original Tolkien text requested) would be protected under fair use exclusions of American copyright law. But Fauskanger hopes to persuade the Tolkien Estate to reconsider its decision and to work with him.

To that end, he is asking Tolkien readers who have an interest in linguistics, and who are familiar with his work on Ardalambion and other resources, to write to the Tolkien Estate and express their support. Without stipulating what he would like other Tolkien readers to say, Fauskanger is asking that the recognition he has earned among the Tolkien community be brought to their attention.

Anyone who wishes to participate in the campaign should write a letter to:

Mrs. Cathleen Blackburn
Solicitor for the Tolkien Estate
Manches & Co.
3 Worcester Street
Oxford OX1 2PZ
United Kingdom

We encourage all correspondents to be polite and direct. A brief message of support may be more effective than a lengthy epistle. International postage rates will apply for letters sent from outside the United Kingdom.

Michael Martinez, author of Visualizing Middle-earth, and founder of Xenite.Org, writes a weekly column on Tolkien and Middle-earth for Suite101. "Tolkien's linguistic material," he says, "has proven to be invaluable in researching and understanding Middle-earth. Although these poems won't provide any particular insight into Middle-earth's history and cultures, by allowing the linguistic research community to study the poems and engage in discourse with Helge Fauskanger, the Tolkien Estate will help broaden our foundation of knowledge and understanding of J.R.R. Tolkien's achievement. There has literally been nothing else like it in real history."