Tag Archives: Lord of the Rings

There and back again (again)

Posted on January 12, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Last year I posted a story about the Oxford Bodleian Library once-in-a-lifetime exhibition Tolkien: Maker of Middle Earth, which was the most extensive public display of original Tolkien materials ever gathered in one place. This week I was dead chuffed to discover … Continue reading →

Posted in Animation, Art, Books, Libraries, Maps, movies, Museums, Photography, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

And the winner is…

Posted on October 25, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird was chosen by voters as America’s #1 best-loved novel in  “The Great American Read.” The viewers’ voting results were revealed Tuesday night on PBS during the final episode of the eight-part television series and nationwide campaign, … Continue reading →

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Long Walk To A Dark Place

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

A big h/t to Cameron Booth for the link to this marvelous Middle Earth “transit” map. Commissioned by Empire magazine,the brilliant map which plots the journeys of the key characters through the Peter Jackson film adaptations of The Hobbit and Lord of the … Continue reading →

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Did you remember to get your visa

Posted on November 1, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Some of us spend more time traveling through fictional lands than we may care to admit. What if those imaginary countries actually issued their own passports and travel documents? Well, thanks to NeoMam Studios and Budget Direct we can have … Continue reading →

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A trip to Middle Earth

Posted on July 22, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Serious JRR Tolkien fans should begin planning a visit to Oxford next summer for the groundbreaking exhibition Tolkien: Maker of Middle-Earth. The show, which will be created by the Bodleian Library, will explore the world of Tolkien’s literary imagination through the largest … Continue reading →

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Back to Middle Earth

Posted on May 7, 2016 by Brian D. Butler

Last year, I posted on the surprise discovery of a previously unknown annotated map of Middle Earth that J.R.R. Tolkien had created while working on the 1970 reissue edition of The Lord of the Rings (Allen & Unwin). The map … Continue reading →

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Silmarillion with an accent

Posted on February 1, 2016 by Brian D. Butler

I was searching for an illustrated copy of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Silmarillion for a client when I stumbled across this Russian language version with exceptional black and white drawings by artist Denis Gordeev. I don’t know anything about him, but he … Continue reading →

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Another Reason To Check Your Old Books

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

I have discovered all manner of ephemera in old books—everything from 19th century hotel bills to bawdy letters—but nothing as special as a rare map of Middle Earth. Blackwell’s Rare Books in Oxford, UK, where J.R.R. Tolkien once taught, has … Continue reading →

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Better Know Middle Earth

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

I’ve been a huge fan of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books since I discovered the world of Middle Earth at about twelve. So, I’m always tickled to find ways in which obsessed readers help others grasp the complexity of the stories. Emil … Continue reading →

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