The One hundred and ninetieth Roving Ranger

Life & Works

June 30, 1972 Tolkien writes Letter 339 (Opens in a new window), published in The Daily Telegraph as "Beautiful place because trees are loved (Opens in a new window)".
July 1, 1916 Robert Gilson (Opens in a new window) is one of the first of the 360,000 British casualties of the Battle of the Somme (Opens in a new window) when he is hit by a shell at La Boiselle (Opens in a new window).
July 2, 1966 An issue of Saturday Evening Post (Opens in a new window) is published, containing the an interview with Tolkien (Opens in a new window).
July 3, 1956 Tolkien writes Letter 190 (Opens in a new window), on translations.

Tolkien's most important demand was that the word hobbit (Opens in a new window) stayed unaltered; no more "Hompen (Opens in a new window)".

July 4, 1966 The Jerusalem Bible (Opens in a new window) is published.
July 5, 1967 Tolkien writes Letter 108 (Opens in a new window), on publishing Farmer Giles of Ham (Opens in a new window).
July 7, 1944 Tolkien starts writing Letter 75 (Opens in a new window), on latest personal news, bullfinches and beer, the failure of machines.

The way the internet is going reliable information will be more difficult to find every day - so a curated newsletter like the Roving Ranger is more needed than ever.
Share it, let people know! Thank you 😊

Events & Shows

A review of RGS Worcester and their rendition of The Hobbit (Opens in a new window).

In western Hungary “KeszthelyFest Will Be the Region’s Largest Festival This Year” (Opens in a new window) [in cooperation with the Hungarian TS; July 3-5 (Opens in a new window)]

If this is not for you, you might join in the full week with Tolkien Tabor (Opens in a new window) of the Hungarian TS [Aug 7-16]

A correction from last week: The Great Haywood Tolkien Weekend is happening July 11/12 (Opens in a new window).

Sarehole Mill is offering this [Jul 26/ Aug 30]

For all events check out the Tolkien Guide (Opens in a new window).

Scholarship & Fandom

Was it a pleasure to write this? No.
Do we need to know more about this? Absolutely yes.

The Ælfwine Essay Awards (Opens in a new window) are happening [Spanish Tolkien Society]

Matej Cadil has The Drúedain: Who Are Tolkien's Wild Men and What Forgotten Past Do They Reflect? (Opens in a new window) [Substack]

John Garth has Three is company? What WW2 records reveal about Tolkien’s enrolment as an air raid warden (Opens in a new window) [Steady]

The Inklings Project has put out a Call for Proposal for their Fellowship for 6-12 Teachers (Opens in a new window).

doubtfulsea has Gundulf (Opens in a new window).

John Garth has The heatwave summer that hatched Tolkien’s T.C.B.S. (Opens in a new window) [Steady]

The most excellent Dimitra Fimi has announced: A Summer Confession: Two Books, and the Vaults Are Open (Opens in a new window) [Substack]

Thoughts on Tolkien has Samwise the Bard (Opens in a new window) [Wordpress]

The Road to Nowhere has Well, I’m Back (Opens in a new window) [or rather Diary of a City Guard (Opens in a new window)]

Stephen C. Winter has “He Was a Captain That Men Would Follow, That He Would Follow, Even Under the Shadow of The Black Wings.” Some Thoughts on Leadership as Faramir Returns to Minas Tirith (Opens in a new window).

Chen's Crazed Cast and Crew Cheat Sheet (Opens in a new window) is a love letter for the Kiwi production crew of the films [JWFan.com; and yes, it has been a franchise for some time!]

If you are more comfortable following me and my ventures via WhatsApp - here’s the Travelling Tolkienist Channel (Opens in a new window). 📝

Merchandise & Franchise

The truly weird stuff is coming out now and no mistake: “RingConn, a leading smart ring brand” (Opens in a new window) is now joining in the 25th Anniversary editions and I am not sure what to say - it is almost as bad as the Royal Mint and its Evil Eye 50p coin. [See also Verge (Opens in a new window); partial paywall]

Lord of the Rings: Ascension (Opens in a new window) is continuing to share info ahead of the July 14th Gamefound crowdfunding start.

Embracer Group Files Trademarks For Middle-Earth: Shadow of War (Opens in a new window) [The Phrasemaker; please note that 95% of the text is nothing but wild guesses without substance]

Roll for Second Breakfast with The Hobbit D20 dice (Opens in a new window) [TORn]

Free League Publishing has its Summer Sale until July 16, including several LotR products (Opens in a new window).¹

The International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conference 2026 in Monserrat has seen a talk last weekend titled: (Over) Tourism and Tolkien’s Doors of Durin: Challenges And Opportunities for St Edward’s Local Parish Church (Opens in a new window) [Please note: There is no proof at all these doors were an inspiration of any kind to Tolkien; rather, people with vested interests in Stow-on-the-Wold are known to make claims for tourism’s sake (Opens in a new window)]

Inter alia

One of my favourite places in Oxford will finally be back next year: TOAD (The Oxford Artisan Distillery) is returning as the Oxford Spirit Group (Opens in a new window)! [Youtube (Opens in a new window); here is the reason why I like it! (Opens in a new window)]

The 2026 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction Shortlist (Opens in a new window) has been announced.

Radiating fresh off the press:

Hobbit is an outstanding UK beatboxer (Opens in a new window), here is his 2026 Worldwide Cup Showcase [Youtube]

Thinking about starting a newsletter, podcast, Patreon, Substack etc.?

Then do consider using Steady (Opens in a new window) - it is an exceptionally easy to use option for all needs. Built originally for an independent journalists’ collective, Krautreporter (Opens in a new window), it is run by creative minds for creative minds. Think Patreon, just better. It is based in Germany, free of enshittification (Opens in a new window) and nazis.

Do use my invite link (Opens in a new window) and start with three months fee-free.
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According to German law I have to inform you all links to enterprises, artists, products etc. are [unpaid advertisements.] Some purchase links may earn me a small commission from Blackwell's (Opens in a new window), Bookshop.org (Opens in a new window), or Genialokal (Opens in a new window), the (independent) bookshops of my personal trust (one with a Tolkien connection!)

If you are interested in my other Tolkien-related work please have a look:
The Tolkienist Blog (Opens in a new window) : Facebook (Opens in a new window) : Bluesky (Opens in a new window) : Instagram (Opens in a new window) : Threads (Opens in a new window) : Mastodon (Opens in a new window) - and have a look at all Roving Rangers published so far. (Opens in a new window)

As this is 2026 I would like to note that this newsletter is 100% human-made, curated by me, Marcel R. Bülles. This also holds true for everything I write with my blog and here at Steady. Also, the minimum time of curating this newsletter ranges from 8-12 hours every week. Please consider supporting me so I can continue offering the Roving Ranger - thank you.

1. h/t PhantaNews (Opens in a new window). ↩