As a fan of both Tolkien and C.S. Lewis it is odd that I never gave much thought about the men themselves or where they came from. It is odd in particular given my obsessive nature when I find something I like. I have a tendency to absorb every last bit of it and then move on to something else. Maybe it was because I read the books for the first time as a young teen and in the case of Tolkien every year for about 25 years. I did learn to translate the runes on the covers and illustrations in Tolkien's books using the clues he left. OK a little obsessive see. But I had not give much thought to the actual men or where they lived. Until April 2015 when Wendy and I made plans to stay with our friends Paula and Richard who live in Bicester and visit Oxford after a week in London. So on a rainy spring Saturday morning after the proper amount of coffee and nibbles (lots!) we headed to Oxford in Paula's Mini Cooper. I wish there were pictures of this. Think of the joke How many Popes can you fit in a Volkswagen and you get the idea. Poor Richard took the bus back home at the end of the day rather than face that cramped ride again. Sorry Richard! I owe you a pint for that one. Paula decided to stay off the hi-ways and take the 'scenic' route to Oxford.... During that short 30 minute ride I saw all of Tolkien's illustrations of the shire that were in the books come to life before my eyes. I knew instantly where his inspiration came from for the sleepy, idyllic land of the Hobbits was born from. The early spring green made more vibrant by the rain was amazing as we drove down country lanes past farms, old stone churches and little homes I felt myself being transported to Hobbiton and half expect to see Samwise Gamgee around every corner smoking a pipe, pushing a wheelbarrow and singing a bawdy pub song. I have never connected a place to the writing inspired by it so strongly. There was magic afoot that day to be sure. I can see in my mind's eye Tolkien sitting under a big tree painting the landscape in front of him that I would look at a thousand times as a teenager as I read the covers off of my first copy of the Hobbit.
Next week's sketch will be of the moment i had the idea that started this whole thing.
It figures ... my brother Jack and his friends wrote in Runes. As his little sister and the best friend of HIS best friend's little sister, I had to learn some, too, but I was two years younger! Her read this all in 7th grade, so I was in elementary school. But the landscape captured my imagination too. Loving this blog, my friend.
ReplyDeleteIt's just like the old days Jeannette! All we need is for Dave to throw in a comment :-)
DeleteFrom the former proprietor of "Bag End Pipes & Tobacco" I am looking forward to your journey through Tolkien's pipe smoke rings to Middle Earth.
ReplyDeleteThanks Nigel! My plan is to post something each Monday.
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