Posts

Black Country, white tree: an elegy by the friend who inspired Tolkien

G.B. Smith is the man who persuaded J.R.R. Tolkien to take up poetry and become a writer. It had taken a personal tragedy for Smith to find his own poetic voice. G.B. Smith is the man who persuaded J.R.R. Tolkien to take up poetry and become a writer. It had taken a personal tragedy for Smith to find his own poetic voice.

23.05.2026 23.05.2026

Book news: Tolkien and the Smith who helped forge his future path

This week we welcome a pioneering collection of essays on the friendship most responsible for laying the path to Middle-earth. … This week we welcome a pioneering collection of essays on the friendship most responsible for laying the path to Middle-earth. …

23.05.2026 23.05.2026 2 Reaktionen

On encountering yourself in the wild

There are discomforts as well as delights in unexpectedly meeting your own work reflected back at you. Tolkien and the Great War has brought me a few of both... There are discomforts as well as delights in unexpectedly meeting your own work reflected back at you. Tolkien and the Great War has brought me a few of both...

10.05.2026 10.05.2026 3 Reaktionen

The Lord of the Rings: Toughest quiz ever

Think you know Tolkien’s 1,000-page epic? Pit your wits against this quiz, commissioned from me by BBC Arts Digital in 2020 but now with extra questions! Think you know Tolkien’s 1,000-page epic? Pit your wits against this quiz, commissioned from me by BBC Arts Digital in 2020 but now with extra questions!

24.03.2026 24.03.2026 2 Reaktionen

Tolkien’s land of the dead and ‘going west’ in 1914–18

‘Going west’ was a new English phrase for dying as the First World War raged. Did it help to shape Tolkien’s wartime idea that the souls of the dead go into the West? ‘Going west’ was a new English phrase for dying as the First World War raged. Did it help to shape Tolkien’s wartime idea that the souls of the dead go into the West?

08.03.2026 08.03.2026 9 Reaktionen

‘Going west’: How war in 1914 resurrected an ancient image for dying

War changes language. The use of “go west” to mean “die” entered recorded English in the trenches – and inspired a packed postbag of ideas about its origins. War changes language. The use of “go west” to mean “die” entered recorded English in the trenches – and inspired a packed postbag of ideas about its origins.

28.02.2026 28.02.2026 5 Reaktionen

Meditation and mosaic: two landmark Tolkien studies

I wrote this review for the Times Literary Supplement, which published it on 19 February 2026 with judicious but substantial edits. Here's the uncut version. I wrote this review for the Times Literary Supplement, which published it on 19 February 2026 with judicious but substantial edits. Here's the uncut version.

21.02.2026 21.02.2026 3 Reaktionen

My 2025 with Tolkien – from Faërie to Minnesota

I had a busy time with Tolkien in 2025 – in scholarly and popular publications, in talks and lectures, on my crowdfunding blog, and in manuscript archives… I had a busy time with Tolkien in 2025 – in scholarly and popular publications, in talks and lectures, on my crowdfunding blog, and in manuscript archives…

02.02.2026 02.02.2026 6 Reaktionen

The wartime bomber crash that sent Tolkien racing from his home

How a tragic 1941 RAF accident shattered the quiet of a north Oxford afternoon and brought the realities of war almost to the Tolkiens’ doorstep… How a tragic 1941 RAF accident shattered the quiet of a north Oxford afternoon and brought the realities of war almost to the Tolkiens’ doorstep…

13.12.2025 13.12.2025 1 Reaktion

Tolkien’s 1918 return to Oxford: a new discovery

I have a new biographical article in the latest Tolkien Studies, with Peter Gilliver, filling in an important gap in Tolkien's life at the end of the First World War. I have a new biographical article in the latest Tolkien Studies, with Peter Gilliver, filling in an important gap in Tolkien's life at the end of the First World War.

06.12.2025 06.12.2025 2 Reaktionen

Deaths, beliefs and griefs observed: C.S. Lewis, Huxley and Kennedy

These three men died on 22 November 1963. Starkly different, each gave his energies to universal concerns. Together they form a curious triptych on the mortal condition. These three men died on 22 November 1963. Starkly different, each gave his energies to universal concerns. Together they form a curious triptych on the mortal condition.

22.11.2025 22.11.2025 2 Reaktionen

For remembrance: Robert Quilter Gilson on the eve of war, 1914

On a summer day in a former age, Robert Quilter Gilson of the T.C.B.S. painted a beach scene. I find it one of the most affecting pictures by this friend of Tolkien's. On a summer day in a former age, Robert Quilter Gilson of the T.C.B.S. painted a beach scene. I find it one of the most affecting pictures by this friend of Tolkien's.

09.11.2025 09.11.2025 1 Reaktion

Why I had to stop reading C.S. Lewis’s diary

Lewis's "All My Road Before Me" promises to be a splendid read. But the distracting thrill of a coincidence uncovered means almost all of it still lies before me. Lewis's "All My Road Before Me" promises to be a splendid read. But the distracting thrill of a coincidence uncovered means almost all of it still lies before me.

25.10.2025 25.10.2025 5 Reaktionen

Revealed: Tolkien’s 1939 lecture on fairy-stories

I've identified the manuscript Tolkien used for his landmark 1939 lecture On Fairy-stories – a manuscript previously thought lost. I've identified the manuscript Tolkien used for his landmark 1939 lecture On Fairy-stories – a manuscript previously thought lost.

16.10.2025 16.10.2025

‘Mounted on the monster’: Tolkien and the motor-car

To mark the publication of The Bovadium Fragments, let’s explore the background to Tolkien’s satire on the motor-car and Oxford… To mark the publication of The Bovadium Fragments, let’s explore the background to Tolkien’s satire on the motor-car and Oxford…

11.10.2025 11.10.2025

J.R.R. Tolkien, the lord of the ring road

Here’s my review of Tolkien’s Bovadium Fragments – a slight variant on the version published in The Times Saturday Review, 4 October 2025. Here’s my review of Tolkien’s Bovadium Fragments – a slight variant on the version published in The Times Saturday Review, 4 October 2025.

04.10.2025 04.10.2025 3 Reaktionen

The day Tolkien became a WW2 air raid warden

The day Tolkien enrolled as a Second World War air-raid warden has been revealed in a previously unseen image from Oxford’s city archives… The day Tolkien enrolled as a Second World War air-raid warden has been revealed in a previously unseen image from Oxford’s city archives…

28.09.2025 28.09.2025 6 Reaktionen

Tolkien’s hidden gift to his favourite aunt

Tolkien hid all kinds of personal jokes and messages in his stories and – it turns out – in his pictures. Here's a newly discovered one in his famous image of Hobbiton. Tolkien hid all kinds of personal jokes and messages in his stories and – it turns out – in his pictures. Here's a newly discovered one in his famous image of Hobbiton.

12.09.2025 12.09.2025 6 Reaktionen

Tolkien’s road goes on – but there’s traffic ahead at Bovadium

I’ve been waiting for Tolkien’s Bovadium Fragments since 1976, when I first read Humphrey Carpenter’s Tolkien biography… And now it’s almost here. What can we expect? I’ve been waiting for Tolkien’s Bovadium Fragments since 1976, when I first read Humphrey Carpenter’s Tolkien biography… And now it’s almost here. What can we expect?

24.05.2025 24.05.2025 1 Reaktion

Tolkien left the land of his birth 130 years ago today –…

Tolkien steamed out of Cape Town on 29 March 1895. Read about his journey and how he was misidentified on arrival in England, home for the rest of his life… Tolkien steamed out of Cape Town on 29 March 1895. Read about his journey and how he was misidentified on arrival in England, home for the rest of his life…

29.03.2025 29.03.2025 1 Reaktion

Tolkien Reading Day and the machine war against imagination

Tolkien Reading Day marks the destruction of the Ruling Ring, Tolkien's symbol of the machine. Now his works are being used to train AI. What would he have thought? Tolkien Reading Day marks the destruction of the Ruling Ring, Tolkien's symbol of the machine. Now his works are being used to train AI. What would he have thought?

25.03.2025 25.03.2025 4 Reaktionen

Mordor on the Oxford express

Did England's Black Country inspire Mordor? Now we have Tolkien's own description of the real place, from a train to Oxford shortly before he created Sauron's dark realm… Did England's Black Country inspire Mordor? Now we have Tolkien's own description of the real place, from a train to Oxford shortly before he created Sauron's dark realm…

22.02.2025 22.02.2025 4 Reaktionen

John Garth on Tolkien: One to watch, one to hear, one look out for

I discuss Tolkien in a new TV documentary, Dan Snow asks me about Tolkien and WW1, and I reveal an upcoming special on Tolkien's Finnish inspirations… I discuss Tolkien in a new TV documentary, Dan Snow asks me about Tolkien and WW1, and I reveal an upcoming special on Tolkien's Finnish inspirations…

01.02.2025 01.02.2025 1 Reaktion

Storm Éowyn and the ghost gale in Tolkien’s ‘Notion Club Papers’

A terrible storm, Ireland, and Tolkien – that’s a suggestive combination. I’m inevitably drawn back to the storm in The Notion Club Papers… A terrible storm, Ireland, and Tolkien – that’s a suggestive combination. I’m inevitably drawn back to the storm in The Notion Club Papers…

23.01.2025 23.01.2025

A birthday post for Tolkien’s ‘second father’, Francis Morgan

Today is the birthday of Francis Morgan, the man Tolkien called ‘my second father’. So here’s a previously unseen photo plus an extract from my preface to his biography… Today is the birthday of Francis Morgan, the man Tolkien called ‘my second father’. So here’s a previously unseen photo plus an extract from my preface to his biography…

18.01.2025 18.01.2025 2 Reaktionen

A mathom on Tolkien’s birthday

One of Tolkien’s gifts to us is the word mathom. It seems a good topic for the Professor’s birthday. Let’s unwrap the word and find out what more it has to offer us… One of Tolkien’s gifts to us is the word mathom. It seems a good topic for the Professor’s birthday. Let’s unwrap the word and find out what more it has to offer us…

03.01.2025 03.01.2025 2 Reaktionen

2024: My year of Tolkien and tribulation

I’ve been extremely quiet online this year, but far from idle in my work on Tolkien. Up to the end of September I was very productive. Then disaster struck, literally. I’ve been extremely quiet online this year, but far from idle in my work on Tolkien. Up to the end of September I was very productive. Then disaster struck, literally.

30.12.2024 30.12.2024 7 Reaktionen

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…

19.05.2024 19.05.2024 3 Reaktionen

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…

22.03.2024 22.03.2024 2 Reaktionen

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.

02.03.2024 02.03.2024 9 Reaktionen