Charles River Editors

For more than half a century, the name J.R.R. Tolkien has been synonymous with epic fantasy. Known across the world for his classic The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Tolkien both revived interest in fantasy literature and set the standard for the genre. Today he is widely acknowledged as the “Father” of modern fantasy and its most famous author. While Tolkien made Middle Earth famous and vice-versa, his works were influenced by a lifetime of his own personal experiences. His tales concern creatures of myth, yet the plot lines and characters are human at heart. Tolkien drew his inspiration from war, nature, history, love, and language, and through the lens of fantasy he examined bravery, loyalty and friendship. That essential “humanness” at the core of his writing, whether it was displayed by a man, hobbit, or even a tree, struck a chord with readers that continues to resonate today. The Hobbit has been released in more than 40 languages, and The Lord of the Rings has sold more than 150 million copies. 

Tolkien and C.S. Lewis were good friends before the peaks of their careers, meeting together at Oxford’s University College to read and discuss the unfinished works of the members. Although they discussed readings, they were in essence literary enthusiasts who gathered to celebrate writing and literature, especially fantasy. The Inklings were both important and informal. “Properly speaking, the Inklings was neither a club nor a literary society, though it partook of the nature of both,” said Warren Lewis, a member of the group who also happened to be C.S. Lewis’ older brother. “There were no rules, officers, agendas, or formal elections.” It was a place to simply talk of new ideas and literature in an environment that embraced fantasy, and one of the new ideas was that of mythopoeia, or creating mythology to go along with fiction.

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