The One hundred and ninetieth Roving Ranger

Life & Works

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

Tolkien's most important demand was that the word hobbit (Abre numa nova janela) stayed unaltered; no more "Hompen (Abre numa nova janela)".

July 4, 1966 The Jerusalem Bible (Abre numa nova janela) is published.
July 5, 1967 Tolkien writes Letter 108 (Abre numa nova janela), on publishing Farmer Giles of Ham (Abre numa nova janela).
July 7, 1944 Tolkien starts writing Letter 75 (Abre numa nova janela), 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.
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Events & Shows

A review of RGS Worcester and their rendition of The Hobbit (Abre numa nova janela).

In western Hungary “KeszthelyFest Will Be the Region’s Largest Festival This Year” (Abre numa nova janela) [in cooperation with the Hungarian TS; July 3-5 (Abre numa nova janela)]

If this is not for you, you might join in the full week with Tolkien Tabor (Abre numa nova janela) of the Hungarian TS [Aug 7-16]

A correction from last week: The Great Haywood Tolkien Weekend is happening July 11/12 (Abre numa nova janela).

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

For all events check out the Tolkien Guide (Abre numa nova janela).

Scholarship & Fandom

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

The Ælfwine Essay Awards (Abre numa nova janela) are happening [Spanish Tolkien Society]

Matej Cadil has The Drúedain: Who Are Tolkien's Wild Men and What Forgotten Past Do They Reflect? (Abre numa nova janela) [Substack]

John Garth has Three is company? What WW2 records reveal about Tolkien’s enrolment as an air raid warden (Abre numa nova janela) [Steady]

The Inklings Project has put out a Call for Proposal for their Fellowship for 6-12 Teachers (Abre numa nova janela).

doubtfulsea has Gundulf (Abre numa nova janela).

John Garth has The heatwave summer that hatched Tolkien’s T.C.B.S. (Abre numa nova janela) [Steady]

The most excellent Dimitra Fimi has announced: A Summer Confession: Two Books, and the Vaults Are Open (Abre numa nova janela) [Substack]

Thoughts on Tolkien has Samwise the Bard (Abre numa nova janela) [Wordpress]

The Road to Nowhere has Well, I’m Back (Abre numa nova janela) [or rather Diary of a City Guard (Abre numa nova janela)]

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 (Abre numa nova janela).

Chen's Crazed Cast and Crew Cheat Sheet (Abre numa nova janela) 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 (Abre numa nova janela). 📝

Merchandise & Franchise

The truly weird stuff is coming out now and no mistake: “RingConn, a leading smart ring brand” (Abre numa nova janela) 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 (Abre numa nova janela); partial paywall]

Lord of the Rings: Ascension (Abre numa nova janela) is continuing to share info ahead of the July 14th Gamefound crowdfunding start.

Embracer Group Files Trademarks For Middle-Earth: Shadow of War (Abre numa nova janela) [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 (Abre numa nova janela) [TORn]

Free League Publishing has its Summer Sale until July 16, including several LotR products (Abre numa nova janela).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 (Abre numa nova janela) [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 (Abre numa nova janela)]

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 (Abre numa nova janela)! [Youtube (Abre numa nova janela); here is the reason why I like it! (Abre numa nova janela)]

The 2026 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction Shortlist (Abre numa nova janela) has been announced.

Radiating fresh off the press:

Hobbit is an outstanding UK beatboxer (Abre numa nova janela), here is his 2026 Worldwide Cup Showcase [Youtube]

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

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

Do use my invite link (Abre numa nova janela) 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 (Abre numa nova janela), Bookshop.org (Abre numa nova janela), or Genialokal (Abre numa nova janela), 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 (Abre numa nova janela) : Facebook (Abre numa nova janela) : Bluesky (Abre numa nova janela) : Instagram (Abre numa nova janela) : Threads (Abre numa nova janela) : Mastodon (Abre numa nova janela) - and have a look at all Roving Rangers published so far. (Abre numa nova janela)

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 (Abre numa nova janela). ↩