In this episode, we delve into the profound life of J.R.R. Tolkien, the beloved author of "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings." Join Lorelee Siemens as she explores Tolkien's journey through faith, loss, and war, revealing how his experiences shaped the enchanting world of Middle-earth.

From his early childhood in South Africa to his transformative years at Oxford and the impact of World War I, discover how Tolkien's steadfast faith and friendships influenced his legendary storytelling. This episode is a tribute to the enduring power of hope and fellowship in the darkest of times.

Chapters:

(05:03) Arthur Tolkien, who worked as a bank manager in Africa, died in 1896

(10:38) Father Francis Morgan adopted Ronald and Hillary Tolkien when they were 12 years old

(14:50) Tolkien remained steadfastly devoted to the Catholic Church throughout his life

(17:30) In 1914, Ronald Tolkien was 22 years old, a student at Oxford

(22:23) Ronald Tolkien was on the Western Front during World War I

(28:42) In 1926, Ronald Tolkien met Clive Staples Lewis at Oxford University

(35:15) Ronald Tolkien was a professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford during WWII

(43:24) The Lord of the Rings was never meant to be a Christian allegory

(45:32) By the 1950s, the friendship between Ronald Tolkien and Jack Lewis had shifted

(47:39) After Tolkien died in 1973, his family carried on his legacy

Episode Sponsor:

The church is corrupted https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKFSXQTR

The church is born https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BGLZ7C1

Alexander Henry Coffee https://alexanderhenrycoffee.ca Use CODE: churchhistory for 20% off

Links:

https://linktr.ee/loreleesiemens

An Africa mission I recommend: https://globaltrain.org

If you enjoyed this episode, listen to these as well:

Chasing Joy: The Transformative Journey of C.S. Lewis: https://loreleesiemens.com/media/771671-3210084-35089061/chasing-joy-the-transformative-journey-of-c-s-lewis

Armenian Genocide: Aurora's Fight for Freedom https://loreleesiemens.com/media/771671-3210084-35084508/armenian-genocide-auroras-fight-for-freedom

Faith and Fury: The Church's Role in World War I: https://loreleesiemens.com/media/771671-3210084-35078519/faith-and-fury-the-churchs-role-in-world-war-i

The Russian Revolution: https://loreleesiemens.com/media/771671-3210084-35063416/how-faith-survived-when-empires-fel