There is a story about a king in exile, long-travelled, about to fight for his throne. On his journey, he comes to a peaceful refuge, related to water, ruled by a couple with...
With Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey hitting cinemas around the globe this month, one of the most influential texts of European cultural history is back in the spotlight – so why not make it about Tolkien and The...
It is my privilege and an absolute pleasure to have been announced the Guest of Honour with the Tolkien Society Unquendor (Netherlands) with this year’s Lustrum, a spectacular festivity that is so spectacular...
After a very long time I started doing another global event map for January 3rd, 2026. This has been so much fun that I would love to do another and even bigger edition...
2025 saw the first edition of the Tolkien Tagung Schweiz in Zurich (see my report) and 2026 it returned to the beautiful Asien-Orient-Institut at the University of Zurich again. And yes, it was...
The new year has come and gone and I am in a pensive mood. I am tired and in pain, by the by, but that is not going to keep me from my...
I have always wanted to give a talk titled Gandalf: the perfect mentor for the underachievers. Now, this conference would have my been my chance to do so but I am doing the...
Your artistic gateway into Tolkien What drew you to dedicate an entire album to the poetry of J. R. R. Tolkien? Was there a specific poem, moment, or emotional experience that convinced you...
If you happen to know me a little – or this blog – then you do know that I am probably the Tolkienist in the world who has written most about Tolkien’s favourite...
On November 18, 2015, a video by the singer Ulmo Ocin hit Youtube. It is titled MANDALO. In about two months time it was to amass more than two million views – a...
Even though I have never managed to get “Lord of the X” into the snowclone database I am still happy to use it for any silly title I can come up with, like...
The Leipzig Book Fair is by far my favourite as it exudes a love for reading and readers that a business-centred space like Frankfurt seems to lack at times. The whole town of...