The Adventures of Tom Bombadil actual translation from the "Red Book of Westmarch", and contains some background information on the world of Middle-earth that is not found elsewhere: e.g. the name of the tower at Dol Amroth and the names of the Seven Rivers of Gondor. There is also some fictional background information of those poems, linking them to Hobbit folklore and literature and to their actual writers (some of them are ascribed to Samwise Gamgee). The book uses the letter "K" instead of "C" for the /k/ sound in Sindarin (one of the languages invented by Tolkien), a spelling variant Tolkien used many times
Samwise Gamgee way admirable – except in his service and loyalty to his master." (letter to Mrs. Eileen Elgar in September 1963) In the appendices of "The Lord of the Rings", Tolkien says the "true" or Westron form of Sam's name is "Banazîr Galbasi" (also spelt "Galpsi"). As with "Samwise", "Banazîr" comes from elements meaning "halfwise" or "simple". "Galbasi" comes from the name of the village "Galabas". The name "Galabas" uses the elements "galab-", meaning "game", and "bas-", corresponding somewhat to "-wich" or "-wick". In his role as "translator" of the "Red Book of Westmarch", Tolkien devised a strict English translation, "Samwís