Oxford University podcasts on J.R.R. Tolkien
On 7 October 2008 the University of Oxford launched its podcast site and has since then published thousands of them. If there is a topic you take an interest in you will stand a good chance to find a great talk by a leading Oxford academic – so do visit the site and start listening. 47 such talks you can find with the Fantasy Literature series alone – I have selected a few that might be particularly interesting to fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s life and works.
The Lord of the Rings: Tolkien’s Legacy
60 years since the publication of the series’ final volume, a distinguished panel explore Tolkien’s literary legacy.
The Internet Archive has a review of this panel saved.
‘J.R.R. Tolkien: The Making of a Philologist’
A talk by Professor Simon Horobin on Tolkien’s long-standing career and interest in philology as part of the Tolkien 50th Commemoration seminar series.
‘Tolkien in Oxford’, BBC 1968
A discussion between Dr Stuart Lee and film & TV director Leslie Megahey on the BBC’s 1968 documentary, ‘Tolkien in Oxford’, given at a day-long symposium that focused on different aspects of Tolkien’s academic and literary work and life in Oxford.
100 years on, how Tolkien came to the brink of Middle-earth
A talk given at a day-long symposium that focused on different aspects of JRR Tolkien’s academic and literary work, and his life in Oxford.
The Hobbit at the Bodleian: World Book Day
Judith Priestman, curator of the Bodleian library, discusses the World Book Day 2010 exhibition, where a selection of J.R.R. Tolkien’s original artwork which was used to illustrate The Hobbit, was on display to the public.
Tolkien Archive and Exhibition at Bodleian (Part 1)
An interview with Catherine McIlwaine on the Tolkien archive at Bodley and the exhibition of 2018 – Part 1.
What is the ‘Silmarillion’?
This lecture is an introduction to J.R.R. Tolkien’s third major work, ‘The Silmarillion’ (1977), and considers its lengthy development in numerous prose and verse texts over fifty years.
Tolkien and the Oxford English Dictionary: ‘The Ring of Words’
A discussion with the authors of ‘The Ring of Words’, an exploration into Tolkien’s work as a lexicographer for the Oxford English Dictionary.
For all podcasts on J.R.R. Tolkien’s life and works check out this link.
Post changed and updated, January 2024.
