Really enjoy reading the exchange of letters between Tolkien and his son, Christopher, during the latter's time in South Africa to train as a pilot. They discussed the progress of LotR writing in each letter, but their talks also expanded to so many topics.
Letter 61, for example, dated 18 April 1944, started with Tolkien saying that Christopher's letters made him so happy, he delayed breakfast just to read them all. He also decried "the stupidity of war" and wished that Christopher didn't follow his path.
After talking about the passage into the Dead Marshes, Tolkien decried the treatment of people of color in South Africa, referring to local conditions Christopher had described. Apparently, Tolkien's mother had discussed it several times.
Quote: "As for what you say or hint of 'local' conditions;.... I used to hear them discussed by my mother;.... The treatment of colour nearly always horrifies anyone going out from Britain, & not only in South Africa. Unfort. not many retain that generous sentiment for long."
In the same letter, Tolkien also mentioned tutoring "Miss Salu", referring to Mary Salu, a graduate pupil of Tolkien. She later published the translation of Ancrene Riwle (an anonymous monastic manual for anchoresses written in the early 13th century), with a preface by Tolkien.
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