Hold onto your hat (or your pipe-weed and elf-cloak) as we go on a deep dive into J. R. R. Tolkien and his works. The mythos and worlds Tolkien created have been celebrated in their own right, have influenced numerous other authors, and inspired some of the most popular fantasy/action films ever produced – but what’s really cool is the essay he wrote on Beowulf that redefined the way it’s taught and understood! In this episode Ken and Glen – in the first of who knows how many as they’re kind of obsessed with Tolkien – discuss Tolkien’s life, influences, WWI service, work as a linguist, love of trees, surprise at fame, love of beer and pipe smoking, being bitten by a baboon spider at age two…well, the list just goes on.

Fun note! The lovely cross stitch art on our episode cover was made by the History Center's own Lesley Jones! The center tree is the White Tree of Gondor, a symbol of the High Kings of Middle-Earth. It reads:

Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul,

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them

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