The One hundred and ninetieth Roving Ranger

Life & Works

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

Tolkien's most important demand was that the word hobbit (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) stayed unaltered; no more "Hompen (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)".

July 4, 1966 The Jerusalem Bible (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) is published.
July 5, 1967 Tolkien writes Letter 108 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), on publishing Farmer Giles of Ham (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).
July 7, 1944 Tolkien starts writing Letter 75 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), 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 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

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

If this is not for you, you might join in the full week with Tolkien Tabor (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) of the Hungarian TS [Aug 7-16]

A correction from last week: The Great Haywood Tolkien Weekend is happening July 11/12 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

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

For all events check out the Tolkien Guide (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

Scholarship & Fandom

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

The Ælfwine Essay Awards (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) are happening [Spanish Tolkien Society]

Matej Cadil has The Drúedain: Who Are Tolkien's Wild Men and What Forgotten Past Do They Reflect? (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Substack]

John Garth has Three is company? What WW2 records reveal about Tolkien’s enrolment as an air raid warden (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Steady]

The Inklings Project has put out a Call for Proposal for their Fellowship for 6-12 Teachers (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

doubtfulsea has Gundulf (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

John Garth has The heatwave summer that hatched Tolkien’s T.C.B.S. (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Steady]

The most excellent Dimitra Fimi has announced: A Summer Confession: Two Books, and the Vaults Are Open (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Substack]

Thoughts on Tolkien has Samwise the Bard (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Wordpress]

The Road to Nowhere has Well, I’m Back (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [or rather Diary of a City Guard (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)]

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 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

Chen's Crazed Cast and Crew Cheat Sheet (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) 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 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). 📝

Merchandise & Franchise

The truly weird stuff is coming out now and no mistake: “RingConn, a leading smart ring brand” (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) 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 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster); partial paywall]

Lord of the Rings: Ascension (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) is continuing to share info ahead of the July 14th Gamefound crowdfunding start.

Embracer Group Files Trademarks For Middle-Earth: Shadow of War (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [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 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [TORn]

Free League Publishing has its Summer Sale until July 16, including several LotR products (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).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 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [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 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)]

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 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)! [Youtube (Öffnet in neuem Fenster); here is the reason why I like it! (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)]

The 2026 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction Shortlist (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) has been announced.

Radiating fresh off the press:

Hobbit is an outstanding UK beatboxer (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), here is his 2026 Worldwide Cup Showcase [Youtube]

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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 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), Bookshop.org (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), or Genialokal (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), 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 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) : Facebook (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) : Bluesky (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) : Instagram (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) : Threads (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) : Mastodon (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) - and have a look at all Roving Rangers published so far. (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)

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 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). ↩