WOF 268: What Books Did J.R.R. Tolkien Read?

<p><!-- wp:html --><!-- /wp:html --><!-- wp:paragraph --></p> <p>It's commonly assumed that J.R.R. Tolkien, author of <em>The Hobbit </em>and <em>The Lord of the Rings</em>, was an arch-conservative, a backward-looking person, and that he valued nothing that smacked of the modern day. But in a groundbreaking new book titled <a href= "https://wordonfire.org/tolkien"><em><strong>Tolkien's Modern Reading: Middle-earth Beyond the Middle Ages</strong></em></a>, the first in our Word on Fire Academic line of titles, Dr. Holly Ordway reveals that Tolkien was a much broader reader than previously believed. He was quite familiar with contemporary writers and books, and those modern sources significantly shaped his Middle-earth stories.</p> <p>Today, Brandon Vogt interviews Holly about her new book and some of the modern writers Tolkien enjoyed.</p> <p>Pick up your copy of <em>Tolkien's Modern Reading: Middle-earth Beyond the Middle Ages</em> at <a href= "https://wordonfire.org/tolkien"><strong>wordonfire.org/tolkien</strong></a>.</p> <p><!-- /wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --></p> <p><strong><em>NOTE:</em></strong> <em>Do you like this podcast? <a href="https://www.patreon.com/bishopbarron">Become a patron</a> and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and <a href= "https://www.patreon.com/bishopbarron">join us today</a>!</em></p> <p><!-- /wp:paragraph --></p>