November 21: The Birth of Christopher Tolkien

Some inherit stories. Christopher Tolkien inherited a whole world. Born November 21, 1924, he was the youngest son of J.R.R. and Edith Tolkien — and the first audience for The Hobbit. His father’s voice filled his childhood evenings with dwarves, dragons, and a little hobbit named Bilbo. Before the world knew those names, Christopher did. TheContinueContinue reading “November 21: The Birth of Christopher Tolkien”

Observing an Anniversary: Ralph Bakshi’s The Lord of the Rings (1978)

I first stepped into Tolkien’s world through a boxed set of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings sometime in the mid-70s. Taking on the larger-in-scope-and-theme Lord of the Rings was daunting, but I made it through and was captivated by the characters and the story. Today I’m marking the 47th anniversary of a film that left a mark onContinueContinue reading “Observing an Anniversary: Ralph Bakshi’s The Lord of the Rings (1978)”

November 11: ‘The Two Towers’ Turns 71

Some journeys are long, some perilous, some quiet. And some teach us what it means to endure. The Two Towers (1954) The story continues the epic saga of courage, friendship, and endurance in Middle-earth. On November 11, 1954, the second volume of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, was published. TheContinueContinue reading “November 11: ‘The Two Towers’ Turns 71”

November 10: The Fall of Númenor And Other Tales from the Second Age of Middle-earth

Some stories linger quietly on the edge of legend, waiting for readers to trace the rise and fall of kingdoms, the forging of powerful artifacts, and the choices that shape history. The Fall of Númenor (2022) A curated collection of Tolkien’s Second Age writings, where ambition, courage, and consequence shape a world. The Fall ofContinueContinue reading “November 10: The Fall of Númenor And Other Tales from the Second Age of Middle-earth”

November 9: Reflections on Orphans, Widows, and Tolkien

My editorial calendar is getting busy. November 9 reminds me that care and legacy come in many forms. They show up in quiet acts of compassion. They show up in stories passed down and letters and tales that shape hearts across generations. There is a quiet weight to loss that does not always get noticed.ContinueContinue reading “November 9: Reflections on Orphans, Widows, and Tolkien”