From The Observer: A Webley Mark VI revolver carried at the Battle of the Somme by JRR Tolkien, the author of The Lord of the Rings, is to go on display next month. The weapon was acquired two years ago by London’s Imperial War Museum from the Tolkien estate and will be shown at the museum and in an online exhibition marking the 90th anniversary of the battle. Tolkien served in the trenches as a signaller from July to October 1916. Nigel Steel, head of research at the museum, said his experience would have ‘darkened his mythological world and given him an insight into personal combat’. The exhibition will be at iwm.org.uk
Category: J.R.R. Tolkien
Celebriel forwards a BBC News report that a statue of Treebeard planned for Birmingham, UK, to be created in honor of J.R.R. Tolkien by his grand-nephew Tim Tolkien, will be moved because road experts are worried it might distract drivers. [More]
Author Henry Gee writes: Dr Dimitra Fimi has been teaching an online Tolkien course at Cardiff University and due to popular demand it will be run again from May 1. This course can be taken by anybody in the world (student or adult learner) and its credits can be used towards a qualification at any other Higher Education and/or Higher Education Lifelong Learning institution in Britain. The website of the course is here.
Ian Collier from The Tolkien Society writes: There are two articles one pro one anti (and the anti is quite anti) and a brief mention of reading day. [More]
But the funniest thing is that the Times’ fiction specialist can’t spell Tolkien’s name right, should the defenders of Tolkein, a Birmingham based childrens’ author, raise an objection? [tolkeinsociety.org]
Vacaville, CA – Hear ye! Hear ye! On April 21-23, 2006, the second annual Middle Earth Festival will come to life in historic Downtown Vacaville to celebrate author J. R. R. Tolkien and “The Lord of the Rings”. This fun-filled family event includes a fun run and forums on the themes of Tolkien. Saturday and Sunday activities include craft and merchandise vendors, entertainment, and games for the kids, demonstrations of old time skills, music, dance, fantasy and abundant food. [More]
Dr. Dimitra Fimi writes: Tolkien Online Course at Cardiff University (open to adult learners) running again in May. Due to popular demand, the online Course on Tolkien hosted by Cardiff University during the Autumn and Spring Semesters (October 2005 and February 2006) will be run again later on this semester starting on 1 May. Both students and adult learners can enrol, and explore the rich background of myth, languages and contemporary ideas of Tolkien’s creative writing. For more information visit the Course’s website. [More]