Peter Roe

The First and Second Ages within Tolkien's legendarium feel like a time far removed from that of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings even though they constitute the underpinnings of J.R.R. Tolkien's entire mythology. This book explores those underpinnings and in particular the nature of good and evil, creators and destroyers, and the very foundations of the world itself. It is a diverse collection of four articles, which will no doubt cause the reader to reflect on their own understanding of Tolkien's works. First published in 1992, this book is, published under the auspices of the Tolkien Society's Peter Roe Memorial Fund, and features a collection of four papers delivered at the David Baxter Centre in Milton Keynes, on the 2nd June 1990.

In many stories, myths and legends, the sea can be a beautiful and peaceful expanse of water, a dangerous and ferocious obstacle to be overcome, or a threat waiting to be unleashed. In Tolkien's works this is no exception. This book explores the theme of the sea in Tolkien's works, and understanding what Tolkien was trying to achieve in his writings, and perhaps what was motivating him to do so. This diverse collection of five article will encourage readers to reflect on their own understanding of how Tolkien makes use of the sea.

Death and Immortality in Middle-earth: Proceedings of The Tolkien Society Seminar 2016 J.R.R. Tolkien deplored allegory and rejected any suggestion that The Lord of the Rings has an inner meaning or message. In reading back the tale, however, he became aware of a dominant motif: 'The real theme for me is… Death and Immortality: the mystery of the love of the world in the hearts of a race "doomed" to leave and seemingly lose it; the anguish in the hearts of a race "doomed" not to leave it, until its whole. evil-aroused story is complete' (Letters, p. 246). Despite the lucidity of this statement, the theme of death and immortality has been, left relatively unexplored in Tolkien studies. In recognition of this, and to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, The Tolkien Society called for presentations on this important topic for its seminar in Leeds on 2 July 2016. Published under the auspices of the Society's Peter Roe Memorial Fund, this book features a collection of twelve papers delivered on the day by aspiring and established Tolkien scholars alike.

Poetry and Song in the Works of J.R.R. Tolkien: proceedings of the Tolkien Society Seminar 2017. J.R.R. Tolkien regarded himself 'chiefly as a poet' (Carpenter, The Inklings, p. 29) and the importance of poetic diction and its most potent form, song, provides a powerful leitmotif to his mythological universe. Following the publication of Tolkien's two verse works: The Lay of Atrou and Itroun (2016) and Beren, and Luthien (2017), the Tolkien Society called for papers re-examining the importance of poetry and song in Tolkien's writing. A series of presentations both on the author's poems and on verse incorporated into his world building were, given in Leeds on the 2nd of July 2017. Published under the auspices of the Society's Peter Roe Memorial Fund, this book features a collection of four papers delivered on the day by aspiring and established Tolkien scholars alike.

This volume of proceedings contains papers from the largest and, perhaps, most diverse Tolkien Society Seminar to date. Following a much-contested Call for Papers, 'Tolkien the Pagan? Reading Middle-earth through a Spiritual Lens' explores Tolkien's complex use of religious ideology, the readers' approach to their beloved fictional world via unusual spiritual and philosophical channels, and how Middle-earth almost became a faith unto itself.

Hosted online, the Tolkien Society 2020 seminar sought to explore how J.R.R. Tolkien's legacy partly relies on the continued adaption of his works, characters, and languages. It offered insights into a range of artistic adaptions and evaluated how the tangible result expands the Tolkien fanbase and readership while cultivating a love and appreciation of Tolkien through the adaptor's creative vision. It further examined the ways in which Tolkien's creations have been interwoven into the very fabric of our primary world. His words no longer simply exist on the page, they are transformed in our minds and are cast out into the stars. They inspire new universes and invite fresh interpretations from across the globe. Published under the auspices of the Society's Peter Roe Memorial Fund, this proceedings features a collection of six papers delivered at the Tolkien Society 2020 Online seminar.

Hosted online, the Tolkien Society 2021 winter seminar sought to explore how J.R.R. Tolkien has been received in the twenty-first century. With a broad range of Tolkien's writings being published in the last twenty-two years, adaptions embellishing on Tolkien's stories, and new philosophies offering innovative ways to read Tolkien, the twenty-first century continues to bring us revised visions of Tolkien. This proceedings offers a range of insights into how recent adaptions and philosophies have expanded Tolkien's legendarium. It was also the first of three seminars that the Tolkien Society hosted online in 2021, collectively welcoming over 1600 people from across the globe. Published under the auspices of the Society's Peter Roe Memorial Fund, this proceedings features a collection of four papers delivered at the Tolkien Society 2021 winter seminar.

Welcoming over 700 delegates across the two-day event, the 2021 Tolkien Society summer seminar was the highest attended event in the Society's history. It invited scholars to consider the role that diversity plays in Middle-earth's linguistic and literary make-up: how does he explore race, gender, sexuality, disability, class, religion and faith, and age? How do different fandoms receive his works? How can varying perspectives enrich our understanding of Arda? Tolkien and Diversity was the second of three seminars that the Tolkien Society hosted online in 2021, reaching over 1600 global delegates. Published under the auspices of the Society's Peter Roe Memorial Fund, this proceedings features a collection of four papers delivered at the Tolkien Society 2021 summer seminar.

J.R.R. Tolkien's works have gained global appeal, leading to translations in over thirty languages and a host of stylistically unique illustrations. As a translator and illustrator himself, Tolkien was acutely aware of the challenges and benefits that both bring to a written text. Translating and Illustrating Tolkien explores what these processes add to, emit from, or complement Tolkien's original text. Hosted online, the Tolkien Society 2021 autumn seminar concluded the year's trilogy of seminars, collectively welcoming over 1600 people from across the globe. Published under the auspices of the Society's Peter Roe Memorial Fund, this proceedings features a collection of six papers delivered at the Tolkien Society 2021 Autumn seminar.

This volume of proceedings contains papers from the Tolkien Society Hybrid Seminar 2022. It seeks to add to the conversation on what the words 'Goth' and 'Gothic' meant to J.R.R. Tolkien and the ways in which their various associated traditions proliferate his writing. From the linguistic to the literary, religious to the ecocritical, the proceedings explores how traditional and new theories in Gothic scholarship can help us read Tolkien's work anew. Published under the auspices of the Society's Peter Roe Memorial Fund, this proceedings features a collection of seven papers delivered at the Tolkien Society Hybrid Seminar 2022.