[Alouette]

My apologies to this thread if this question has been asked before. I am looking for the source and the exact text of a reply that Tolkien is said to have written to a nazi asking if he was Aryan or if he had any Jewish ancestors. The reply was clever and insulting at the same time. I am also curious to know what his ancestry was? English or Boer Afrikaans?

Again, apologies if I seem utterly clueless. This is my first venture into the HH and I'm intimidated by 8,000 posts on a thread (though I understand previous HH threads have gone on for 30,000 posts)

[Corin Stormhands]

This is my first venture into the HH and I'm intimidated by 8,000 posts...

Don't be intimidated. Probably about 7,899 of those posts are hot air. And if there is substance in the rest, we'll bring it up again. We're nothing, if not repetitive.

I can't answer your question, but there are those here who can.

Welcome!

[Sam Cree]

Hi, Alouette, nice to see you again.

I am pretty sure, just off the top of my head, that Tolkien's response was that he did not have Jewish ancestry, but would have been honored if he did. The exact quote is in his letters, I will look it up later, when I get a chance, if someone has not already posted it for you by then.

Tolkien was English, but born in South Africa. However his ancestors had migrated to England at some point in the not too distant past, in the 1800's, I believe, from Germany.

Sorry to be slightly vague on this, have to go out now, so don't have a minute to get the exact stuff right away.

[Overtaxed]

. I am looking for the source and the exact text of a reply that Tolkien is said to have written to a nazi asking if he was Aryan or if he had any Jewish ancestors.

It's in Letters somewhere....my sister wanted her copy back so I can't tell you exactly where. :) His response is in this discussion thread though http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/652976/posts

In 1938, Tolkien denounced the Nazis’ "wholly pernicious and unscientific race-doctrine." When German publishers Rütten and Loening wished to translate The Hobbit from English, they wrote him, inquiring whether his name was of "Aryan" origin. Tolkien’s reply dripped scorn:

I regret that I am not clear as to what you intend by arisch. I am not of Aryan extraction: that is, Indo-Iranian; as far as I am aware none of my ancestors spoke Hindustani, Persian, Gypsy, or any related dialects. But if I am to understand that you are enquiring whether I am of Jewish origin, I can only reply that I regret that I appear to have no ancestors of that gifted people.

[HairOfTheDog]

Welcome Alouette!

I know the quote you are talking about, I think it is in the Letters. Hopefully one of the folks that has the Letters will post it!

[Dawntreader]

Welcome to the Hobbit Hole! Don't be intimidated by the posts. I joined at ... 4,000+ posts I think? Everyone here is very friendly and it's easy to jump right in!

[rightwingreligiousfanatic]

Welcome to the Hobbit Hole thread! Drop in anytime! I have been an admirer of yours ever since I joined FR for your creative use of photos (separated at birth thread, etc), and your no-nonsense approach to issues, especially as relates to the Mideast threads... ;^)

Did Overtaxed answer your question satisfactorily? If not we can do more research....

[RMDupree]

I'm sure someone else has answered your initial question by now, but I just wanted to say...WELCOME!!!