12 Items Tagged

Tolkien

An ancient English woodland that inspired a young J.R.R. Tolkien.

Podcast: Tolkien Takes Us Places

Unearthing the real-life places and events that inspired fantasy writer J.R.R. Tolkien.

The Podcast Team October 9, 2023

An Iranian Tolkienologist sees swaths of Pakistan and India in J.R.R. Tolkien's specific descriptions of mountains and rivers.

fantasy locations

Is Mordor Based on the Himalayas?

Much of Asia seems to be riddled onto the Lord of the Rings map of Middle Earth.

Frank Jacobs, Big Think September 15, 2023

Jenins, Switzerland

Greisinger Museum

Middle-earth in the middle of Switzerland.

Kaitoke Regional Park

Upper Hutt, New Zealand

Rivendell

You may recognize this beautiful grove within Kaitoke Regional Park as location of the house of Elrond.

The quote.

Natural Bridge, Virginia

Hidden J.R.R. Tolkien Quote

Lines from a walking song are etched into a rock in Natural Bridge State Park.

A 1916 illustration to Christina Rossetti's <em>Goblin's Market</em> by Winifred Knights.

Why Do Fantasy Novels Have So Much Food?

Writers since Tolkien have conjured magical feasts for readers.

Anne Ewbank April 10, 2018

<em></em>

Many of You Are Homesick—For a Place You’ve Never Been

We asked which places gave you "fernweh," and you gave us poetry!

Eric Grundhauser March 16, 2018

The Exeter Book is the source of 95 of the 96 Old English riddles still known today.

objects of intrigue

One of the World's Most Irreplaceable Books Was Used as a Cutting Board

The Exeter Book also once served as a coaster.

Anne Ewbank February 27, 2018

Four Shire Stone.

Moreton-in-Marsh, England

Four Shire Stone

The centuries-old obelisk may have inspired J. R. R. Tolkien.

Drawing, 1932.

J.R.R. Tolkien Is Our Favorite Father Christmas

For 23 years he role-played in holiday letters to his children.

Anika Burgess December 21, 2017

Held over two days in southern Italy, Camp Hobbit I in 1977 attracted far-right youth from across the country.

How 'Hobbit Camps' Rebirthed Italian Fascism

From 1977, crowds of militant youth gathered to discuss Tolkien and totalitarianism.

John Last October 3, 2017

Probably not.

A Tolkien Truther From Colorado Says He's the Real King of England

He took out an ad in The Times of London to stake his claim.

Eric Grundhauser March 2, 2017