“Being a cult figure in one’s lifetime is not at all pleasant”: Tolkien’s relationship with his fans

A series of free seminars to commemorate the death of J. R. R. Tolkien, to be held in 2023/2024 in the University of Oxford. The talks present an introduction and further background to Tolkien’s life, work, and legacy. They have an academic approach, but they are also aimed at those who have read Tolkien’s work but are interested in gaining a bit more insight into his life, career, and writings.

WEEK 1 – April 22
Catherine McIlwaine (Tolkien Archivist, Bodleian Library)
“Being a cult figure in one’s lifetime is not at all pleasant”: Tolkien’s relationship with his fans
CHAIR: Simon Horobin (Magdalen)

Date: 22 April 2024, 17:00 (Monday, 1st week, Trinity 2024)
Venue:
Magdalen College
High Street OX1 4AU
See location on maps.ox

Details: Magdalen College (Summer Common Room)
Speaker: Catherine McIlwaine (Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford)
Organisers: Professor Simon Horobin (University of Oxford), Grace Khuri (University of Oxford), Professor Giuseppe Pezzini (University of Oxford)
Part of: Tolkien 50th Anniversary Seminar Series
Booking required?: Not required
Booking url: https://tolkien50.web.ox.ac.uk/event/tolkien-50th-anniversary-seminar-series
Audience: Public
This talk features in the following public collections:
- Faculty of English What’s On: events and talks of interest
Editor: Katy Terry