Tolkien in General

Merry · Post by **Merry** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:07 pm

Thanks for the heads up, Philipa. I'll certainly do so!

Philipa · Post by **Philipa** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 11:26 pm

I'll browsing in the Barnes and Noble's sale stock I chanced upon a copy of Of Sorcerers and Men: Tolkien and the Roots of Modern Fantasy Literature. These lectures by Professor Michael Drout come in an eight CD set for under $20. I listen to them while cooking dinner and having finished the first CDs' lectures I can say they are wonderful.

I wonder what Tolkien would have thought of a housewife cooking dinner could listen to a scholarly discussion of his own work.

Iolanthe · Post by **Iolanthe** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 4:55 pm

I think he would have been absolutely amazed! What a great idea - lectures on CD that can be listened to while your busy with chores

.

marbretherese · Post by **marbretherese** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 7:49 pm

Jonick and I went to Oxford today. Not Tolkien-related as such, but to a garden party at St John's, where Jonick was at college many years ago. It's not as if I want to make anyone jealous or anything

but we left home at 11am and by 1pm we were having lunch at the Eagle & Child (I had to resist the temptation to ring Iolanthe and say "guess where we are"). We even managed to get a table in the Rabbit Room. Every time I've visited, I've been lucky! Two American guys at the next table were examining the photos and memorabilia on the walls, one was telling the other "That's Tolkien, and that's Lewis". They left and a couple of Chinese guys sat down, chatting away in Chinese punctuated by the word "Inklings". Talk about international appeal!

After lunch I showed Jonick Blackfriars, one of the places Tolkien used to worship when he lived in Oxford. As soon as we went in we felt a wonderful sense of peace and calm which stayed with us the whole time. As well as sitting for a while in contemplation I did take a couple of discreet photos, the first of the St Dominic statue which some people think inspired the idea of a star on Aragorn's brow:

statue of St Dominic in a side chapel at Blackfriars, Oxford

And the second one to remind me of that wonderful sense of peace:

the altar, Blackfriars, Oxford

Jonick absolutely loved Blackfriars and picked up loads of leaflets while we were there. Then we headed for Exeter College, which I've never managed to look round - and I failed again because it was shut for a function. I guess a lot of colleges are having reunions this weekend . . . so we went off to the St John's garden party - champagne, tea and cakes on the lawn in the blazing sunshine, lovely gardens; this was my second visit and I got to see the chapel and the dining hall. Reminded me of a scaled down version of Christ Church. We left the party at 5pm and were home by 7pm. Are you jealous yet???

Iolanthe · Post by **Iolanthe** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 2:26 pm

I'm VERY jealous. The food at The Eagle and Child is so good, and when you put the atmosphere on top of it... well!

I'm so glad you managed to take some photos in the Blackfriar's Chapel. I've failed twice now and I've always wanted a picture of the statue of St Dominic with the Star. I'm sure Merry will be thrilled to see it again! We have such happy memories of visiting with Father Pereira, and it is so peacful and secluded there. I can see why Tolkien loved the chapel.

I have another half finished essay about stars and jewels on brows in Tolkien. Now you have a photo I ought to dig it out again and make the effort to complete it. I think it's remarkable!

As you still haven't managed to get into Exeter College I have another shot at seeing it again myself as we'll have to visit again

.

Merry · Post by **Merry** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 3:31 pm

This is wonderful! But if I don't quit being jealous of you all, I might not be able to meet Tolkien in the Great Beyond! At least I've been there (Oxford, not the Great Beyond) once.

You're right about the feeling of Blackfriars. You know, they are also the site of a publishing house that puts out a lot of the philosophy books I have studied, particularly those of Thomas Aquinas, so I was really on pilgrimage there. Glad you got the shot of Dominic. It would be interesting to try to date when the idea of the star on the brow first occurred in Tolkien and when he first started visiting Blackfriars. Great idea for an essay, Iolanthe. Remember, too, that there are orcs in that chapel?

I wonder if the locals are sick of people visiting the Eagle and Child so reverentially?

marbretherese · Post by **marbretherese** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 3:57 pm

Merry wrote:I wonder if the locals are sick of people visiting the Eagle and Child so reverentially?

No, I reckon they're thrilled. After all, it's good for business! and for those who really can't stand the Tolkienalia there's alwaya the Lamb & Flag across the road

Iolanthe · Post by **Iolanthe** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:49 pm

Which the Inklings also visited, of course

!

I remember the 'Orcs' on the stations of the cross. Very remarkable.

Philipa · Post by **Philipa** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 4:54 pm

What a warm fuzzy day.

Iolanthe · Post by **Iolanthe** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:18 am

Best kind of days, warm fuzzy days!

Riv Res · Post by **Riv Res** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 6:41 pm

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serinde · Post by **serinde** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:49 am

All of you would have been thrilled over a recent episode of Masterpiece Mystery -- Inspector Lewis "Allegory of Love" episode

Lewis is set in Oxford (as was his predecessor Insp. Morse). This episode centres on a new fantasy writer. There are so many references to Tolkien, Lewis, Carroll & the Inklings. It featured the Eagle & Child, and a new version of the Inklings, Lewis's Sword of Truth, etc.

One professor on the show claimed that Carroll would outlast Tolkien & Lewis.

Merry · Post by **Merry** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 3:28 am

I saw that one, too, serinde. I have been enjoying that series, mostly for its views of Oxford, but I also find Hathaway an intriguing character. But the episode certainly doesn't view Tolkien in a positive light!

Iolanthe · Post by **Iolanthe** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 4:36 pm

I remember that one from a while back and thought the same thing - it was pretty dismissive of Tolkien, which probably represents the views of the scriptwriter

.

Merry · Post by **Merry** » Sun Feb 14, 2010 6:09 am

TOR.n had a little article on this tea company:

http://www.hobbittea.com

It would be fun to order some! But also of interest is the story of how they got permission to use the names.