Edith Mary Tolkien (21 January 1889 – 29 November 1971; née Bratt) was the wife and lover of J.R.R. Tolkien. She is best known for being the inspiration for Lúthien Tinúviel and Arwen Evenstar.
Biography
Edith Bratt was born in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire. Her mother, Frances Bratt, was the unmarried daughter of a shoe and bootmaker.[1] Edith was raised in Handsworth, a suburb of Birmingham, by her mother and they help of her cousin. When Edith was 14 her mother died and she was sent to live at the Dresden House boarding school in Evesham. At the Dresden house is where Edith developed her love for the piano.[2] Edith's guardian, solicitor Stephen Gateley, had her stay at Mrs. Faulkner's boarding house at 37 Duchess Road, Birmingham.[3]
Edith met Tolkien in early 1908, when he and his brother, moved into 37 Duchess Road. Tolkien was 16 years old and Edith was 19 when they first met. When their relationship had become known to Tolkien's guardian, Fr. Francis Xavier Morgan. He viewed Edith as a distraction to Tolkien's school work, and he was bothered by her Anglican religion. He forbade them to meet again in till Tolkien turned 21.[4] Tolkien obeyed Father Morgan, but on the evening of Tolkien's 21st birthday he wrote a letter to Edith asking her to marry him. She replied that she was already engaged, but implied that she did so because she thought Tolkien had forgotten her. Tolkien journeyed to Cheltenham, where he and Edith met at the railway station. Edith returned her ring and announced that she was engaged to Tolkien.[5]