Adam Fox English Poem on a Sacred Subject Oxford University
Press, England, 1929 First thus
A good copy in wrappers, chipped at the spine and edges, with some
tanning to the margins. Front and back covers separated.
In ink, on upper right corner of the cover, in Tolkien’s hand,
"JRR Tolkien." Unfortunately the signature has been
somewhat compromised by a chip in the cover that has taken out the
"olk" in Tolkien. Also included is a printed sheet
that reads, "Sent with the Author’s compliments and in
/ accordance with the conditions of the prize. // Magdalen College,
/ Dec., 1929."
Adam Fox eventually became a member of The Inklings, and a friend
of both Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. From Jack, the definitive C.S. Lewis
biography by George Sayer: "Another breakfast companion was
Adam Fox, the devout and gentle dean of the Divinity School, who
helped Jack along the road to Christianity by his example and wise
advice. Fox was also a lover of poetry, although not
as an academic..." [p 190 (more information continued through
p. 191)] From C.S. Lewis at the Breakfast Table , ed by Hames
T Como (with an essay by Adam Fox called "At the Breakfast
Table"): "Author, preacher, and poet, the Reverend Canon
Fox, late of Westminster, was born in 1883 and went on to win the
Sacred Poem Prize, to be a Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, and
to be a Professor of Poetry at Oxford University... Canon Fox died
in 1977."
The "Sacred Poem Prize" was for the contents of this offprint.