Cool early versions of LotR

[Barliman Butterbur]

...I never thought that Sam got the attention he should have in the long run, seeing as how a strong argument could be made that he was actually the hero of the story...

Indeed, Tolkien himself thought so!

"I think the simple 'rustic' love of Sam and his Rosie (nowhere elaborated) is absolutely essential to the study of his (the chief hero's) character, and to the theme of the relation of ordinary life (breathing, eating, working, begetting) and quests, sacrifice, causes, and the 'longing for Elves', and sheer beauty." (From the Carpenter collection of Tolkien letters, #131) [Emphasis mine]

And, I'm happy with Tolkien's writings as they are in final form. If Tolkien saw fit to discard his earlier drafts, if he felt them inadequate in some way — that's fine with me: I shall give them no further thought, just as I do not mourn the musical drafts left in the wake of Beethoven's or Brahms' creative processes.

Barley