Thanks for this post. I recently finished John Garth’s brilliant book “Tolkien and the Great War”. It’s hard to conceive his books without considering his wartime life and experiences. @johngarthwriter.bsky.social
John Garth
@johngarthwriter.bsky.social
Writer, speaker, award-winner. Books in 18 languages on Tolkien’s life and work. Contact me via http://linktr.ee/johngarth. Support my work via Steady: http://bit.ly/3N191bi
Today in 1936 #Tolkien's academic research got a financial boost that also helped The #Hobbit and #LotR. It gives me the chance to thank crowdfunders for the financial boost they’ve just given my #Oxford Tolkien #PhD and to ask for help in the next step. steady.page/en/john-gart...
£400 funding changed Tolkien’s fortunes… Your support is changing mine
On this day in 1936, Tolkien received a financial boost for his academic research that also, indirectly, seems to have helped him in his work on Middle-earth. We have…
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My paper uncovering #Tolkien’s 1939 lecture On Fairy-stories, previously thought lost, is now the Journal of Inklings Studies' most read online article ever. Such vital findings about chronology will underpin my Oxford DPhil on #LotR in its time. steady.page/en/john-gart...
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.
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One of Tolkien’s final touches to The #Hobbit was also his hardest – to kill off the young dwarves Fili and Kili. Hard for his readers and, I suspect, for #Tolkien himself. So why did he do it? My latest post finds the clue in *when* he did it. tinyurl.com/fili-kili
Why do Fili and Kili die?
One of Tolkien’s last changes to The Hobbit was surely his hardest – to kill off the young dwarves Fili and Kili. And it's hard for his readers too. So why did he do it?
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Almost there! My amazing supporters have carried my #Oxford #Tolkien #LotR #PhD crowdfunder 94% of the way to its new target. If we hit 100% today, a third of the annual fees could be in hand when they're due. Can you help us go the extra 6 miles now? steady.page/en/john-gart...
The #TCBS was the club #Tolkien formed at school and later the first audience for his earliest Middle-earth writings. But what did their formation have to do with 1911's historic summer #heatwave? New research at my PhD crowdfunding blog… tinyurl.com/tcbs-1911
The heatwave summer that hatched Tolkien’s first fellowship
The last succession of heatwaves to compete with 2026's saw a coronation, canal-dipping, rioting – and the formation of Tolkien's first, extraordinary fellowship…
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I'm crowdfunding the fees for my unfunded Oxford PhD project on #Tolkien and #LotR. In just 3 days my wonderful supporters ❤️ have halved the distance left. Want to help me cross that finish line? Take a look at my plans and rewards 🧙♂️ steady.page/en/john-gart...
In a newly revealed letter Tolkien confirms his ‘Crickhollow’ is modelled on ‘Crickhowell’ in Wales. But what did he actually mean? Is Crickhowell right to claim it inspired a place in Middle-earth? That’s not so clear… steady.page/en/john-gart... #Tolkien #Wales #LotR
Interrogating Tolkien on the inspiration for Crickhollow
In a newly revealed letter, Tolkien says ‘Crickhollow’ in Buckland is modelled on ‘Crickhowell’ in Wales. But what he meant is not so plain…
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On this day in 1998 the British Library opened its new premises in London. It was vital for my research on #Tolkien's life for TOLKIEN AND THE GREAT WAR – and so it changed my own life too. Read on – at my crowdfunding blog to support my Oxford DPhil on #LotR. steady.page/en/john-gart...
A great library is a book of lives … and a life-changer
Like countless other writers, I owe a great debt to libraries in general. Like many, I owe a particular one to the British Library.
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My #Tolkien research crowdfunder supporters hit a big milestone today. Revenue has shot up by half since I relaunched to support my new DPhil (PhD) #LotR project. I’m nearly 3/4 of the way to meeting my first-year Oxford fees! Want to help? There are rewards… 🙂 bit.ly/GarthTolkien...
Three is company? How Tolkien enrolled as a WW2 air raid warden in Oxford — New open-access blog post at my Oxford Tolkien doctoral crowdfunder! Please share, visit, and if you like my work, consider supporting it. 🧙 tinyurl.com/JRRT-ARP #Tolkien #WW2 #Oxford #PhD
Three is company? How Tolkien enrolled as a WW2 air raid warden
A dive into Oxford’s wartime archives puts to rest any question over when Tolkien enrolled as an air raid warden. As a bonus, it also suggests he did not do so alone…
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My book Tolkien and the Great War changed how people look at the creation of Middle-earth. Now my Oxford doctoral project will transform the way we look at his epic masterpiece The Lord of the Rings. Here’s why … and how you can help. Please share! tinyurl.com/lotr-tides #tolkien #lotr #ww2 #DDay
How the tides of Tolkien’s world shaped The Lord of the Rings
Eighty years ago the Allies invaded France… and Frodo reached Mordor. Now I'm starting the first doctoral project to address how 20th-century war inspired Tolkien's epic.
tinyurl.com
My book Tolkien and the Great War changed how people look at the creation of Middle-earth. Now my Oxford doctoral project will transform the way we look at his epic masterpiece The Lord of the Rings. Here’s why … and how you can help. Please share! tinyurl.com/lotr-tides #tolkien #lotr #ww2 #DDay
How the tides of Tolkien’s world shaped The Lord of the Rings
Eighty years ago the Allies invaded France… and Frodo reached Mordor. Now I'm starting the first doctoral project to address how 20th-century war inspired Tolkien's epic.
tinyurl.com
My book Tolkien and the Great War changed how people look at the creation of Middle-earth. Now my Oxford doctoral project will transform the way we look at his epic masterpiece The Lord of the Rings. Here’s why … and how you can help. tinyurl.com/lotr-tides #tolkien #lotr #ww2 #DDay
Another edition of the Roving Ranger has just been sent to its subscribers. Including: New Tolkien!; meet me in the Netherlands and Berlin!; Tolkien's Invented Languages; tons of Hobbits on stage; Forodrim documentary; Tolkien & GB Smith; Balrog cave cricket etc. etc. steady.page/en/thetolkie...
The One hundred and eighty-eighth Roving Ranger
The Roving Ranger #188 brings you all the interesting things Tolkienian of the last week and the weeks upcoming, curated by the Tolkienist.
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Happy birthday to my beautiful book THE WORLDS OF J.R.R. TOLKIEN – exactly a tenth my age today! ● "Irresistible … a beautiful book" – The Times ● "Fascinating, gorgeously illustrated and thought-provoking … An exceptional guide to Middle-earth … Masterful" – Washington Post 🧵1/3
The Lord of the Rings – sheer masterpiece or just meh? Readers and experts are still divided. It's high time we changed that. So I’m beginning a doctorate on how world war shaped Tolkien’s epic story. Read on… tinyurl.com/lotr-dphil #tolkien #lotr #phd
Happy 91st birthday to Susan Cooper, author of the incredible Dark Is Rising fantasy sequence and a worthy heir to #Tolkien. Read all about her extraordinary work in my latest blog post. tinyurl.com/susancooper #susancooper #darkisrising @mythsoc.bsky.social @robgmacfarlane.bsky.social
Timeslip with Susan Cooper, conjurer of Light and Dark
Today, to mark the birthday of a worthy heir to Tolkien – and a formative influence on me – I present an interview-profile of Susan Cooper.
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Middle-earth was born in a meeting of minds – and I'm proud to be part of a pioneering new book about this most formative of Tolkien's early friendships. bit.ly/jrrt-gbs #Tolkien #GBSmith #poetry #myth @stuartdlee.bsky.social
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. …
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Latest edition of @thetolkienist.com's essential #Tolkien news – for fans and scholars alike. Read and subscribe!
Marcel R. Bülles 📚💍🌋🎉@thetolkienist.com · 3mo agoIn this quite possibly longest edition of the newsletter... @johngarthwriter.bsky.social, @miriamellis.bsky.social, @mgcoco.bsky.social, @tolkiensociety.org, @dimitrafimi.bsky.social, @abigailnussbaum.bsky.social, @medievalists.bsky.social, @riseupcomus.bsky.social, @archive.org and more...
In this quite possibly longest edition of the newsletter... @johngarthwriter.bsky.social, @miriamellis.bsky.social, @mgcoco.bsky.social, @tolkiensociety.org, @dimitrafimi.bsky.social, @abigailnussbaum.bsky.social, @medievalists.bsky.social, @riseupcomus.bsky.social, @archive.org and more...
There are discomforts as well as delights in unexpectedly meeting your own work reflected back at you. My book TOLKIEN AND THE GREAT WAR has brought me a few of both. Read how at my blog… steady.page/en/john-gart... #tolkien #ww1
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...
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Introducing the two Tolkien courses I'll be leading for this year's Inspiring Oxford summer school! Please share. People often say they'd love to study with me. Let's make sure this reaches them. www.youtube.com/shorts/5-PBh... Course link: lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk/tutors/7333 #Tolkien #Oxford
What’s the most important place in Middle-earth? #tolkien
YouTube video by Oxford Lifelong Learning, University of Oxford
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I just finished John Garth’s brilliant biography of J.R.R. Tolkien in the Great War. This gem of a book opens a window into the wartime life of Middle Earth’s creator. Highly recommended! #booksky #milsky #fwwhist #JRRTolkien #LotR #LordoftheRings #Hobbit @johngarthwriter.bsky.social
John Garth@johngarthwriter.bsky.social · 5mo agoIf you want to walk in #Tolkien's shoes, listen to me reading my audiobook of Tolkien and the Great War – "one of the best books about friendship, war, and the formation and nature of a genius". This and other reviews here: audible.co.uk/pd/Tolkien-a... #WW1 #genius #friendship #war
I remember reading this wonderful book in the last semester of my undergrad. For me, it was a quasi-personal way to link with WWI experience: and author I'd read deeply, including letters and biography, and now I was following his experience of hell.
John Garth@johngarthwriter.bsky.social · 5mo agoIf you want to walk in #Tolkien's shoes, listen to me reading my audiobook of Tolkien and the Great War – "one of the best books about friendship, war, and the formation and nature of a genius". This and other reviews here: audible.co.uk/pd/Tolkien-a... #WW1 #genius #friendship #war
"I think I may have found a handwritten calendar for the start of #Tolkien’s work for the @OED," I told my friend @petermgilliver.bsky.social at the Oxford English Dictionary. Now the article we wrote on it is shortlisted in the 2026 Tolkien Society Awards 🧵1/4 www.tolkiensociety.org/2026/04/vote...
Vote Now in the 2026 Tolkien Society Awards
The Tolkien Society is pleased to announce the shortlists for The Tolkien Society Awards 2026. Voting is open exclusively to members of the Society through the Members' Area. Shortlist This year marks...
tolkiensociety.org
If you want to walk in #Tolkien's shoes, listen to me reading my audiobook of Tolkien and the Great War – "one of the best books about friendship, war, and the formation and nature of a genius". This and other reviews here: audible.co.uk/pd/Tolkien-a... #WW1 #genius #friendship #war
It's #TolkienReadingDay! So how well do YOU really know The Lord of the Rings? Pit your wits against my quiz, originally commissioned by BBC Arts Digital but now with extra questions. ▶︎ tinyurl.com/lotr-toughes... #Tolkien #LotR #trivia #quiz
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!
tinyurl.com
It's #TolkienReadingDay! So how well do YOU really know The Lord of the Rings? Pit your wits against my quiz, originally commissioned by BBC Arts Digital but now with extra questions. ▶︎ tinyurl.com/lotr-toughes... #Tolkien #LotR #trivia #quiz
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!
tinyurl.com