Found while browsing abebooks ...

[wellinghall]

"Letter Concerning Tolkien
Shepard,, E. H. (Ernest Howard) 1879-1976
Book Description: Manuscript. Book Condition: Fine. 17.7 x 13.7cm. In 1970 Shepard was asked if he might be interested in illustrating Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings". His response, a manuscript, signed letter of two pages, 19 January 1970, Woodmancote, Lodsworth, nr. Petworth, cites his age - he was 90 the last December - and the right to retire in favour of a younger artist. He recommends Norman Mansbridge who also works for "Punch". But I wonder how Shepard would have pictured a Hobbit or an Elf?."

"THE PRACTICE AND THEORY OF BOLSHEVISM. London, George Allen and Unwin, 1954.
RUSSELL Bertrand."

Comments

[parrot-knight.livejournal.com]

I remember being taken aback when I first saw how long Shepard had lived, and that his life had overlapped with mine, and my sister's.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

I didn't realise it until I saw this letter listed on abebooks.

[tree_and_leaf]

Good Lord. What a shame he turned it down (understandably, at his age!), I'd have loved to have seen it. Given his 'Wind in the Willows' illustrations, I think he'd have done a very fine job.

[nja.livejournal.com]

The Russell book would be interesting. He visited the Soviet Union shortly after the revolution (as part of an official government fact-finding delegation, I think), and saw through Lenin and company pretty quickly, unlike most left-leaning intellectuals of the time (Dora, who I think was not married to him yet, snuck in through unofficial channels at the same time and fell in love with the Bolsheviks).