The One hundred and ninetieth Roving Ranger

Life & Works

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

Tolkien's most important demand was that the word hobbit (Si apre in una nuova finestra) stayed unaltered; no more "Hompen (Si apre in una nuova finestra)".

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

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Events & Shows

A review of RGS Worcester and their rendition of The Hobbit (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

In western Hungary “KeszthelyFest Will Be the Region’s Largest Festival This Year” (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [in cooperation with the Hungarian TS; July 3-5 (Si apre in una nuova finestra)]

If this is not for you, you might join in the full week with Tolkien Tabor (Si apre in una nuova finestra) of the Hungarian TS [Aug 7-16]

A correction from last week: The Great Haywood Tolkien Weekend is happening July 11/12 (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

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

For all events check out the Tolkien Guide (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

Scholarship & Fandom

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

The Ælfwine Essay Awards (Si apre in una nuova finestra) are happening [Spanish Tolkien Society]

Matej Cadil has The Drúedain: Who Are Tolkien's Wild Men and What Forgotten Past Do They Reflect? (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [Substack]

John Garth has Three is company? What WW2 records reveal about Tolkien’s enrolment as an air raid warden (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [Steady]

The Inklings Project has put out a Call for Proposal for their Fellowship for 6-12 Teachers (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

doubtfulsea has Gundulf (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

John Garth has The heatwave summer that hatched Tolkien’s T.C.B.S. (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [Steady]

The most excellent Dimitra Fimi has announced: A Summer Confession: Two Books, and the Vaults Are Open (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [Substack]

Thoughts on Tolkien has Samwise the Bard (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [Wordpress]

The Road to Nowhere has Well, I’m Back (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [or rather Diary of a City Guard (Si apre in una nuova finestra)]

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 (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

Chen's Crazed Cast and Crew Cheat Sheet (Si apre in una nuova finestra) 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 (Si apre in una nuova finestra). 📝

Merchandise & Franchise

The truly weird stuff is coming out now and no mistake: “RingConn, a leading smart ring brand” (Si apre in una nuova finestra) 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 (Si apre in una nuova finestra); partial paywall]

Lord of the Rings: Ascension (Si apre in una nuova finestra) is continuing to share info ahead of the July 14th Gamefound crowdfunding start.

Embracer Group Files Trademarks For Middle-Earth: Shadow of War (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [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 (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [TORn]

Free League Publishing has its Summer Sale until July 16, including several LotR products (Si apre in una nuova finestra).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 (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [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 (Si apre in una nuova finestra)]

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 (Si apre in una nuova finestra)! [Youtube (Si apre in una nuova finestra); here is the reason why I like it! (Si apre in una nuova finestra)]

The 2026 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction Shortlist (Si apre in una nuova finestra) has been announced.

Radiating fresh off the press:

Hobbit is an outstanding UK beatboxer (Si apre in una nuova finestra), here is his 2026 Worldwide Cup Showcase [Youtube]

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

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Do use my invite link (Si apre in una nuova finestra) 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 (Si apre in una nuova finestra), Bookshop.org (Si apre in una nuova finestra), or Genialokal (Si apre in una nuova finestra), 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 (Si apre in una nuova finestra) : Facebook (Si apre in una nuova finestra) : Bluesky (Si apre in una nuova finestra) : Instagram (Si apre in una nuova finestra) : Threads (Si apre in una nuova finestra) : Mastodon (Si apre in una nuova finestra) - and have a look at all Roving Rangers published so far. (Si apre in una nuova finestra)

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 (Si apre in una nuova finestra). ↩