Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:07 pm
Thanks for the heads up, Philipa. I'll certainly do so!
I wonder what Tolkien would have thought of a housewife cooking dinner could listen to a scholarly discussion of his own work.
Middle-earth Journeys
It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door…You step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to.
http://www.middle-earth-journeys.com/forums/
Tolkien in General
http://www.middle-earth-journeys.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10
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Posted: 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.
I wonder what Tolkien would have thought of a housewife cooking dinner could listen to a scholarly discussion of his own work.
Posted: 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 .
.Posted: 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???
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
© marbretherese 2009
the altar, Blackfriars, Oxford
© marbretherese 2009
Posted: 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
.
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
.Posted: 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?
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?
Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 3:57 pm
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 roadMerry wrote:I wonder if the locals are sick of people visiting the Eagle and Child so reverentially?
Posted: 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.
!I remember the 'Orcs' on the stations of the cross. Very remarkable.
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 4:54 pm
What a warm fuzzy day.
Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:18 am
Best kind of days, warm fuzzy days!
Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 6:41 pm
Tolkien Art Festival
Many of you have contacted me over the summer to inquire about a new Middle-earth calendar from Rabbit Ridge Art for 2010 and new Tolkien artwork coming this year as well. I am pleased to announce that the Best Places in Middle-earth 2010 Calendar is now available for purchase in Special Edition, Limited Edition, and Basic formats.
Special Edition Middle-earth 2010 Calendar
Now Available at Rabbit Ridge Art
Here is the Special Edition Best Places in Middle-earth 2010 Calendar. This is the calendar that contains not only the beautiful new artwork for 2010, but also the key Tolkien Lord of the Rings dates highlighted as they occurred in Tolkien's marvelous story. Besides the individual artwork done for each month, the calendar also contains celtic symbols, a popular hallmark of last year's calendar.
Click on the images below to view the wonderful detail of the special calendar.
You can ONLY order the Special Edition Best Places in Middle-earth 2010 Calendar through Rabbit Ridge Art at http://www.rabbitridgeart.com . Go here to place your calendar order. Don't miss out!
Limited Edition Middle-earth Prints
Now Available at Rabbit Ridge Art
As mentioned previously, many of you have also contacted me over the summer to inquire about prints of my new Tolkien artwork coming this year as well. I am pleased to announce that the Best Places in Middle-earth 2010 Limited Edition prints are now also available only at Rabbit Ridge Art.
I have posted a couple of them here for you to check out. The stories of J.R.R.Tolkien inspire the Best Places in Middle-earth series - full of fun, beauty, and Tolkien magic. Each print is created using the Giclee process to create a virtually indistinguishable replica of the original work of art. Each piece is reproduced on the finest quality Epson Somerset Velvet 255 gsm paper to give each individual print the look and feel of the original watercolor artwork. Each 12" x 16" print is a limited edition of only 50 and is accompanied by a numbered certificate of authenticity, signed by the artist.
Check out all the rest of the pieces and order here at Rabbit Ridge Art.
Basic Tolkien Art Assortment
For all of the Basic Middle-earth calendars, prints, notecards, and other fun Tolkien items, please visit the Rabbit Ridge Art Shop at Zazzle. You can NEVER get enough Tolkien!
Many of you have contacted me over the summer to inquire about a new Middle-earth calendar from Rabbit Ridge Art for 2010 and new Tolkien artwork coming this year as well. I am pleased to announce that the Best Places in Middle-earth 2010 Calendar is now available for purchase in Special Edition, Limited Edition, and Basic formats.
Special Edition Middle-earth 2010 Calendar
Now Available at Rabbit Ridge Art
Here is the Special Edition Best Places in Middle-earth 2010 Calendar. This is the calendar that contains not only the beautiful new artwork for 2010, but also the key Tolkien Lord of the Rings dates highlighted as they occurred in Tolkien's marvelous story. Besides the individual artwork done for each month, the calendar also contains celtic symbols, a popular hallmark of last year's calendar.
Click on the images below to view the wonderful detail of the special calendar.
You can ONLY order the Special Edition Best Places in Middle-earth 2010 Calendar through Rabbit Ridge Art at http://www.rabbitridgeart.com . Go here to place your calendar order. Don't miss out!
Limited Edition Middle-earth Prints
Now Available at Rabbit Ridge Art
As mentioned previously, many of you have also contacted me over the summer to inquire about prints of my new Tolkien artwork coming this year as well. I am pleased to announce that the Best Places in Middle-earth 2010 Limited Edition prints are now also available only at Rabbit Ridge Art.
I have posted a couple of them here for you to check out. The stories of J.R.R.Tolkien inspire the Best Places in Middle-earth series - full of fun, beauty, and Tolkien magic. Each print is created using the Giclee process to create a virtually indistinguishable replica of the original work of art. Each piece is reproduced on the finest quality Epson Somerset Velvet 255 gsm paper to give each individual print the look and feel of the original watercolor artwork. Each 12" x 16" print is a limited edition of only 50 and is accompanied by a numbered certificate of authenticity, signed by the artist.
Check out all the rest of the pieces and order here at Rabbit Ridge Art.
Basic Tolkien Art Assortment
For all of the Basic Middle-earth calendars, prints, notecards, and other fun Tolkien items, please visit the Rabbit Ridge Art Shop at Zazzle. You can NEVER get enough Tolkien!
© All Images and Artwork: Rabbit Ridge Art™. All Rights Reserved
Posted: 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.
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.
Posted: 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!
Posted: 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 
.
.Posted: 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.
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.