J.R.R. Tolkien Puts a Ring on It

About this episode

This episode covers the life and work of J.R.R. Tolkien, focusing on his influential novels.

We go there and back again, covering the life and work of John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, noted Oxford philologist and author of the singularly influential novels: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

People in this episode

Hosts: Kevin Kautzman, Matt Taylor

Topics covered

• J.R.R. Tolkien
• The Hobbit
• The Lord of the Rings
• Oxford philology
• literature
• influence

Keywords

• J.R.R. Tolkien
• The Hobbit
• The Lord of the Rings
• Oxford
• philologist
• literature
• influence

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Oxford

Books & works: The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings

More episodes of Art of Darkness

• The Dark Room: Sean Murphy Talks Bukowski as Antidote to the Situation · April 26, 2026 · 58 min
• The Dark Room: Mark Vernon Talks Lewis, Barfield, the Inklings, and More · April 26, 2026 · 1h 1m
• The Dark Room: Kelby Losack Talks C.S. Lewis · April 19, 2026 · 1h 0m
• C.S. Lewis: A Jack in the Wardrobe · April 18, 2026 · 3h 30m
• 200th Episode Special · March 15, 2026 · 1h 15m
• The Dark Room: Stephen Pimentel Talks Jung, the Magus, Hesse, and More · March 15, 2026 · 60 min