Malcolm from ADC Books sends this along: Press release Updated Front Page to ADC’s Tolkien Art & Books website:

“The front page of the ADC’s Tolkien Art & Books website (www.adcbooks.co.uk) has now been updated to more clearly show the Catalogue of original Tolkien art and limited edition prints by its four Tolkien artists: Ted Nasmith, Ruth Lacon, Jef Murray & Peter Pracownik; and now also the Books that are available, by Angela Gardner, Alex Lewis & Elizabeth Currie, & Ruth Lacon, along with How to Order details! The forthcoming biography of Hilary Tolkien, “Wheelbarrows at Dawn”, due August 2010, is also listed, though price details, ISBN’s, and cover image are to follow later. Continue reading “ADC Books News”

Claire writes: In early December 2008 TheOneRing.net carried a report of the launch of Dr Dimitra Fimi’s book ‘Tolkien, Race and Cultural History’. Well, the publishers, Palgrave Macmillan, have decided to reissue the book – and this time it’ll be in paperback!

It’s fairly unusual for an academic volume to be published in paperback, so this is a real coup for Dimitra and Tolkien studies. It’s due out on 14th August 2010, but you can always pre-order a copy from your local bookshop or on line. To do that you’ll need the ISBN, which is 9780230272842, the title, author’s name and publisher. Continue reading “Dimitra Fimi’s ‘Tolkien, Race and Cultural History’”

The American Culture writes: Should authors like C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien be considered “real” artists?  Not according to James Bowman.  They and numerous others create what Bowman dismissively refers to as “fantasy art.” And fantasy art isn’t Art.

Mr. Bowman is among that group that just can’t seem to abide anything that smacks of fantasy.  Bowman distinguishes Homer’s tales of gods and heroes because Homer actually believed these beings existed. The modern world, however, knows that elves, faeries, monsters, magic spinning wizards and sword wielding heroes don’t exist. To James Bowman these are childish fantasies that should be put aside in favor of reality. At the very least, we should not include fantasy in discussions about Art.

You can read the entire article at The American Culture.

Kara Maloney writes: I just wanted to let you know that I will be teaching an online course on Tolkien and his medieval sources this summer entitled “Going Medieval on Tolkien: Tolkien’s Sources and Inspirations from Medieval English”. The course runs May 25th through June 25th, and will include a reading of “Lord of the Rings” as well as some of Tolkien’s medieval sources and various scholarship regarding the two. It’s an open enrollment online course through Binghamton University, one of the SUNY schools. A four credit class, it counts for both General Ed and Writing credit. Here is the course catalog blurb, as well as a pretty flyer for your website. Continue reading “Going Medieval on Tolkien at Binghamton University”

Tolkien devotees will be making their way to Oxford’s Bodleian Library on World Book Day for a fleeting glimpse of some of the revered author’s original artworks.

The Bodleian is mounting a one-day only exhibition of J.R.R. Tolkien’s original iconic artwork for The Hobbit, together with a manuscript of Hobbit doodles and a rare first edition of the book.

The free-of-charge display will take place in the Bodleian’s Divinity School on Thursday March 4 and will focus on Tolkien’s own manuscript of The Hobbit, which was illustrated throughout with monochrome drawings and maps. The drawings also appeared in the British first edition of the middle earth classic. Continue reading “Tolkien Paintings On Exhibit at Oxford’s Bodleian Library”

Garfeimao writes: Here ye, here ye, Tolkien Reading Day is quickly approaching and Tolkien Forever, the official Los Angeles area smial of the Tolkien Society, is hosting a Reading Day event. Because March 25 falls on a Thursday, we’ve decided to move it to Saturday, March 27 so that more people may attend. Both adults and children of all ages are welcome for this event where reading is the order of the day. Continue reading “Tolkien Reading Day in LA”