From millstone to milestone! I’ve finished my book proposal As you almost certainly know, I’ve been working towards a new book for a long time now. Before you get too excited, no, I haven’t finished it. There’s still a long… As you almost certainly know, I’ve been working towards a new book for a long time now. Before you get too excited, no, I haven’t finished it. There’s still a long…
Where did Tolkien’s Silmarillion hero Beren get his name? Beren is a name etched in the memories of Middle-earth fans. And it is literally carved beneath Tolkien’s own name on his Oxford gravestone. There was never a clearer… Beren is a name etched in the memories of Middle-earth fans. And it is literally carved beneath Tolkien’s own name on his Oxford gravestone. There was never a clearer…
How the Riders of Rohan suddenly became Anglo-Saxon Join me as I follow the trail of the Riders of Rohan from the moment Tolkien invented them in 1939 to the moment in 1942 when Éomer and his éored galloped into the tale. Join me as I follow the trail of the Riders of Rohan from the moment Tolkien invented them in 1939 to the moment in 1942 when Éomer and his éored galloped into the tale.
Did Tolkien help the Queen of Denmark to abdicate? I wrote this article for Weekendavisen in Denmark to mark the abdication of Queen Margrethe – fan, correspondent, and illustrator of Tolkien. Here it is in English… I wrote this article for Weekendavisen in Denmark to mark the abdication of Queen Margrethe – fan, correspondent, and illustrator of Tolkien. Here it is in English…
Goblin caves, ancient scripts and Tolkien’s gift for invention Goblin caves at the North Pole! A goblin alphabet! Tolkien's 1932 letter from Father Christmas is a real treat. But did he just pull his ideas out of nowhere? Goblin caves at the North Pole! A goblin alphabet! Tolkien's 1932 letter from Father Christmas is a real treat. But did he just pull his ideas out of nowhere?
Branching out and seasonal sharing You helped me hit my first goal with this Steady project. I’ve now set a further goal and introduced a new mid-tier membership. Why not upgrade – or give one as a gift? You helped me hit my first goal with this Steady project. I’ve now set a further goal and introduced a new mid-tier membership. Why not upgrade – or give one as a gift?
Sound and vision Amon Hen and Amon Lhaw are Middle-earth’s hills of seeing and hearing. Tolkien first contemplated a single hill combining both powers – but changed his mind. Why? Amon Hen and Amon Lhaw are Middle-earth’s hills of seeing and hearing. Tolkien first contemplated a single hill combining both powers – but changed his mind. Why?
To Rivendell via Anduin A week with the Lord of the Rings manuscripts I just spent a week with the Lord of the Rings manuscripts at Marquette University. Research is one of the activities that… A week with the Lord of the Rings manuscripts I just spent a week with the Lord of the Rings manuscripts at Marquette University. Research is one of the activities that…
Wetwang revisited, part four Part four: visions of the battlefield Everything that Tolkien said or knew about Wetwang, a place-name both in Yorkshire and in Middle-earth, fell into three different… Part four: visions of the battlefield Everything that Tolkien said or knew about Wetwang, a place-name both in Yorkshire and in Middle-earth, fell into three different…
Wetwang revisited, part three A story like The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien said, ‘grows like a seed in the dark out of the leaf-mould of the mind' … A story like The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien said, ‘grows like a seed in the dark out of the leaf-mould of the mind' …
Wetwang revisited, part two En route to Wetwang in Middle-earth, Tolkien’s 1934 paper ‘Chaucer as a Philologist’ takes us into the lost English language of molars, sideburns and weeping. En route to Wetwang in Middle-earth, Tolkien’s 1934 paper ‘Chaucer as a Philologist’ takes us into the lost English language of molars, sideburns and weeping.
Wetwang revisited, part one I’ve been quiet for too long. I aim to give you a catch-up soon, but first I want to share something that’s hot off the press… I’ve been quiet for too long. I aim to give you a catch-up soon, but first I want to share something that’s hot off the press…
My talks on YouTube Did I mention that I’m very pleased with my latest talk, the Second Annual Tolkien Lecture at the University of Birmingham? It’s prompted me to gather a YouTube playlist… Did I mention that I’m very pleased with my latest talk, the Second Annual Tolkien Lecture at the University of Birmingham? It’s prompted me to gather a YouTube playlist…
The Houses of Healing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IUMh11B6u0 Here’s the Annual Tolkien Lecture that I delivered last week at the University of Birmingham. It showcases some of the ideas… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IUMh11B6u0 Here’s the Annual Tolkien Lecture that I delivered last week at the University of Birmingham. It showcases some of the ideas…
Old Joe Sauron? Dear supporters, I’ve just returned from delivering the Annual Tolkien Lecture at the University of Birmingham. I chose to talk about ‘The Houses of Healing: Tolkien,… Dear supporters, I’ve just returned from delivering the Annual Tolkien Lecture at the University of Birmingham. I chose to talk about ‘The Houses of Healing: Tolkien,…
‘A strong start’ Dear friends and supporters – you know who you are. I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you again for backing my work in the most practical way possible. I’m… Dear friends and supporters – you know who you are. I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you again for backing my work in the most practical way possible. I’m…