Oxford Literary Festival News
Xoanon @ 10:28 am EST

Turgon writes: The schedule for the Oxford Literary Festival, which runs from Sunday April 10th through Sunday April 17th in Oxford, has been posted on their website: sundaytimes-oxfordliteraryfestival.co.uk. Tolkien fans might be interested in a few events, one by Green Books contributor Olog-Hai (Henry Gee), another on Tolkien's biographer, Humphrey Carpenter, who passed away earlier this year.

Tuesday 12 April 2.30 pm Oxford Union (5.50 GBP)
Henry Gee - The Science of Middle-earth

Henry Gee ingeniously reveals how contemporary science can explain some of the wonders of Middle Earth, where Tolkien's marvellous fantasy creates a world with an insistent sense of reality. In The Science of Middle Earth, he delights in explaining such scientific conundrums as how Frodo's coat of mithril armour can deflect deadly blows and how Legolas can count the Riders of Rohan across five leagues. Just because The Lord of the Rings is fantasy, he argues, this doesn't prevent scientific explanations for its wonders. Henry Gee is one of the editors of Nature.

Sunday 17 April 8 - 9.30 pm Oxford Union (10.00 GBP)
Remembering Humphrey

An evening recalling the many sides of the multi-talented, multi-faceted Humphrey Carpenter. Presented by Libby Purves and including contributions from people who worked with him in radio and books, as well as a taste of the one-man musical on which he was working at the time of his death: Shake It All About. More details on this event will be posted on the Festival website as they become available. All profits from this event will go to a charity in Humphrey's name: see website for further information.