Book Description

The buildings and people of Oxford were a valuable source of information for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. This absorbing book charts Tolkien's life in Oxford from 1911 to 1973, using old postcards, maps and photographs to paint a picture of the places and times that relate to one of the leading authors of the twentieth century. The book covers such places as The Bird and Baby, where the Inklings met to read passages from their work; the Old Ashmolean Building on Broad Street where Tolkien worked on the Oxford English Dictionary; the University Botanical Gardens opposite Magdalen College, which contained Tolkien's favourite tree under which to ponder; and the Wolvercote Cemetery where Tolkien was finally buried, with his wife, in 1973. Presented in a handy guide-book format, this is an essential companion for anyone wanting to find the places that influenced Tolkien and his work.