The Tolkien Road

We did a LIVESTREAM! So this one will feel a little experimental - not our normal open, and lots of banter with the patrons who joined us! We had a lot of fun doing it, and it will certainly be the first of many to come. It was mostly a pilot for the WISDOM app, which we kinda struggled with...hence, the title of this episode.WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE » https://youtu.be/42z1VTfp8ac***THIS EPISODE WAS RECORDED 4 DAYS EARLY AND AD-FREE WITH OUR BELOVED PATRONS!*** » https://patreon.com/tolkienroadEXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Andrew T, John R, Ms. Anonymous, Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien TOPICS INCLUDE:- LOTR on Prime- Silmarillion 2022- The Nature of Middle-earth- Haiku » Will It Return In 2022?- Isildur » Good Guy or Bad Guy?- Gandalf SPECIAL THANKS:- Andrew T- John R- Ms. Anonymous- Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien- Redhawk- Shannon S- Brian O- Emilio P- Zeke F- James A- James L- Chris L- Chuck F- Asya V- Ish of the Hammer- Teresa C- David of Pints with Jack- Jonathan D- Eric S- Joey S- Eric B- Johanna T- Mike M- R

In 2013, Tolkien's lost poem "Noel" was discovered in the archives of an Oxfordshire school. With Christmas just around the corner, we take a close look at this 1936 poem, and discover the thematic seeds of Middle-earth's epic drama. Join us! WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE ***THIS EPISODE IS 3 DAYS EARLY AND AD-FREE FOR OUR BELOVED PATRONS!******LIVE DISCUSSION - DEC 16TH @ 7PM CT »»» https://www.wisdom.audio/*** If you’ve ever wanted to engage with us LIVE, your opportunity is coming up! On Thursday, December 16th, at 7pm CT, we’ll be going live on the WISDOM app to discuss whatever Tolkien-related things you guys want to talk about! Just follow me on the Wisdom App via @johncarswell. » https://www.wisdom.audio/We are looking forward to talking with you, taking your questions, and we can’t wait to hear from you! EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Andrew T, John R, Ms. Anonymous, Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien CONTENTS:- Background » 6:45- "Noel" reading » 15:00- Analysis » 16:50- Correspondence » 45:15LINKS:- "Noel" text

Have you ever heard of Tolkien's GOBLIN WARS? (HINT: you won't find them in the Middle-earth legendarium). These are the stories of Goblins invading the North Pole and stealing gifts intended for the children of England from Father Christmas' cellar. Join us as we explore how the "Other Fellowship" of Father Nicholas Christmas, the North Polar Bear, the Red Gnomes, and others join forces to save Christmas! EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Andrew T, John R, Ms. Anonymous, Redhawk, Kaitlyn of Tea with TolkienWATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE » https://youtu.be/BEK4vr1gXAw***THIS EPISODE IS 2 DAYS EARLY AND AD-FREE FOR OUR BELOVED PATRONS!******LIVE DISCUSSION - DEC 16TH @ 7PM CT »»» https://www.wisdom.audio/*** If you’ve ever wanted to engage with us LIVE, your opportunity is coming up! On Thursday, December 16th, at 7pm CT, we’ll be going live on the WISDOM app to discuss whatever Tolkien-related things you guys want to talk about! Just follow me on the Wisdom App via @johncarswell. » https://www.wisdom.audio/ We are looki

We take a look at Letters From Father Christmas, a collection of Christmas-themed illustrated letters that Tolkien wrote this children from 1920-1943.SPOILER: they're great!Join us!EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Andrew T, John R, Ms. Anonymous, Redhawk, Kaitlyn of Tea with TolkienWATCH THIS VIDEO ON YOUTUBE » https://youtu.be/QG4DH67BcQA***THIS EPISODE WAS 2 DAYS EARLY AND AD-FREE FOR OUR BELOVED PATRONS!***CONTENTS:- Background » 7:20- Contents » 13:00- Characters » 21:48- Themes » 27:45 LINKS:- buy The Father Christmas Letters » https://amzn.to/3FSMAhH- Lott's Bricks » https://www.brightontoymuseum.co.uk/i...- Snapdragons game » https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snap-dr...) SPECIAL THANKS:- Andrew T- John R- Ms. Anonymous- Redhawk- Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien- Shannon S- Brian O- Emilio P- Zeke F- James A- James L- Chris L- Chuck F- Asya V- Ish of the Hammer- Teresa C- David of Pints with Jack- Jonathan D- Eric S- Joey S- Eric B- Johanna T- Mike M- Robert H- Paul D- Julia- Werty

The conventional wisdom says that JRR Tolkien didn't much care for his buddy C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia.Is this true? If so, what was so off-putting about the stories from Tolkien's perspective?In episode 266, John is joined by Holly Ordway (author of Tolkien's Modern Reading) and David Bates (of Pints With Jack, the C.S. Lewis podcast) to explore these questions and more. Join us!Originally published on November 22, 2021.WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE » https://youtu.be/kuTXCxB92zcEXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Andrew T, John R, Ms. Anonymous, Redhawk, Kaitlyn of Tea with TolkienT-SHIRTS! Get your Tolkien Road T-Shirt now and take 10% Off! Just use the code ROAD at checkout.***THIS EPISODE IS 2 DAYS EARLY AND AD-FREE FOR OUR BELOVED PATRONS!***CONTENTS- Tolkien's View of Narnia » 2:30- WHY Did Tolkien Hold This View? » 10:45- Tolkien's View of Lewis' Space Trilogy » 16:45- Tolkien's View of His Earlier Works (Hobbit, Roverandom, etc) » 26:45- Narnia vs. The Wind in the Willows » 34:15- Tolkien's Fr. Christmas Let

In episode 265, we're looking at life in Númenor, as spelled out in The Nature of Middle-earth!Originally published 2021-11-15 05:00.WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Andrew T, John R, Ms. Anonymous, Redhawk, Kaitlyn of Tea with TolkienT-SHIRTS! Get your Tolkien Road T-Shirt now and take 10% Off! Just use the code ROAD at checkout.***THIS EPISODE IS 2 DAYS EARLY AND AD-FREE FOR OUR BELOVED PATRONS!***CONTENTS- Númenorean Chieftains Were Beardless » 11:31- Long Life and Peace » 14:30- Weariness / Clinging to Life » 21:00- Númenorean Aging » 22:30- Númenorean Marriage » 32:30- Númenorean Values & Pride » 35:40- Correspondence » 41:45 LINKS- Ep 216 » The Bombadil Enigma » https://youtu.be/iiFIWF6BtUo SPECIAL THANKS:- Andrew T- John R- Ms. Anonymous- Redhawk- Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien- Shannon S- Brian O- Emilio P- Zeke F- James A- James L- Chris L- Chuck F- Asya V- Ish of the Hammer- Teresa C- David of Pints with Jack- Jonathan D- Eric S- Joey S- Eric B- Johanna T- Mike M- Robert H- Paul D

In episode 264, we discuss some truly surprising new details from The Nature of Middle-earth. Seriously mind-blowing stuff here, including Gandalf's appearance, the race of hobbits, Aragorn's beard, the nature of Eagles, and more!

At the end of the day, ONE thing matters more than anything else when it comes to LOTR on Prime...

In this episode, we take a close look at "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor" from Unfinished Tales! It’s a brief and fascinating account of the 3000 year history of Númenor, and contains a lot that needs to be unpacked! Join us!

In episode 261, we're discussing Tolkien's ORIGINAL and far more detailed ending to The Silmarillion. We're delighted to be joined once again by Keith Mathison!

In episode 260, we discuss Gandalf's famous characterization of Frodo's quest: "a fool's hope". Why did he say that? Why is it significant he was saying that to Pippin? What is the broader significance of that line for the work and for Middle-earth (and our reality) in general?  Join us!

In episode 259, we sit down once again with Carl Hostetter, editor of the latest volume of JRR Tolkien's writings, The Nature of Middle-earth. We focus our attention on Appendix I: Metaphysical and Theological Themes.Join us!

So Lord of the Rings, according to Tolkien, is Catholic. SO WHAT??? On this episode, we explain why this matters, and what Tolkien was getting at...

In episode 257, we discuss Athrabeth, Enya, Estel, The Shadow, Consolation, and more! Join us!

In episode 256, we discuss The Nature of Middle-earth, The Wheel of Time, Robert Jordan / Carl Hostetter resemblance, LOTRonPrime theories, LOTR films criticisms, The Council of Elrond, and more!

Did Tolkien really say that the Lord of the Rings is “fundamentally religious and Catholic”? What did he mean by that? Join us as we explore the topic.

Why did Númenor exist? Was it simply to reward the Edain and their descendants? Or was there some greater purpose that impacted the rest of Arda, and perhaps even the Cosmos?In episode 254, we’re exploring the Religion of Númenor in order to better understand the purpose for Númenor’s existence.

In early July, I published an 8 minute video on our YouTube channel titled The Silmarillion: 3 Big Problems (and How to Fix Them). For many Tolkien fans, even asserting that there are problems with a work like The Silmarillion might be considered borderline blasphemy. I might have even said the same thing several years ago! However, after our survey of Unfinished Tales and The History of Middle-earth, I’m convinced that Christopher Tolkien himself came to view The Silmarillion as a flawed work. In episode 253, Greta and I discuss these problems in depth. We also catch up on correspondence, with topics ranging from the Valar to the flame of Udun to feedback on our recent discussion with Carl Hostetter. EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Andrew T, John R, Ms. Anonymous WATCH THE VIDEO  CONTENTS  - What We're Criticizing » 4:43 - Fix #1: Better Maps » 11:13 - Fix #2: Narrative Style » 23:20 - Fix #3: Timetables » 28:56 - Mailbag » 33:35  LINKS  - VIDEO: "The Silmarillion - 3 Big Problems (and How to Fix Them)" - ARTICLE: "The

Eagles, swans, thrushes, crows, gulls . . .We discuss the massive and iconic role that birds play in Middle-earth, with ornithologist and Tolkien-fan Jonathan Rice!

By the stars of Elbereth!!! It’s the Two Trees of Valinor!!!On August 2nd, Amazon gave us a release date for LOTR on Prime plus the first official image for the show. And what an image it is!In this latest video, Greta and John break down the release date and the image and discuss what it all means.