Today's Tolkien Times
Episodes
Week 054 - Middle-earth Map Monday: While Their Realm Lasted
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he kicks off another week of Today’s Tolkien Times with a map visit to Lindon and the Grey Havens. Learn more about your...
Week 053 - Second Age Saturday: Madman and Churl
24 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as King Meneldur finalizes his decision to hand the Sceptre to his son, and Erendis sees the choice as an attack by her estra...
Week 053 - Fandom Friday: The Middle Page
24 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Man of the West continues his SDCC focus for the rest of Series 7, welcoming Kelly @themiddlepage from Instagram to talk about her channel, and Th...
Week 053 - Third Age Thursday: A Mug of Beer Inside This Took
24 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is not a line in any of the three of Tolkien’s poems we’ll look at today. But if you think The Man of the West can avoid humming this tune, you co...
Week 053 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Hey Now, You’re an All Star
24 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Man of the West engages in a little star-gazing as he breaks down the names of the regions of the island of Númenor in this week’s Word-nerd We...
Week 053 - Tolkien Tuesday: I’m Not Accurate
24 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
While today’s episode title could reflect The Man of the West on nearly any given day, this time it’s a self-deprecating quote from C.S. Lewis, as...
Week 053 - Middle-earth Map Monday: An Old Name… in an Older Language
24 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he begins another week of the TTT with a close look at the town not at all named for a soft, spreadable cheese. Learn more...
Week 052 - Second Age Saturday: Myself as a Tame Hound
24 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as Aldarion shares his unfiltered opinion with his father, King Meneldur — just as the king is about to make a major announ...
Week 052 - Fandom Friday: The Dwarf of the Year Returns
24 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Man of the West changes up Fandom Fridays for the rest of Series 7, with a focus on Tolkien content creators who were at San Diego ComicCon, getti...
Week 052 - Third Age Thursday: Tree-Tangled Middle-Lands
24 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as the hobbits encounter Noldorin Exiles in the Shire, singing a beautiful Hymn to Elbereth. We also wonder about Gildor’s ...
Week 052 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Snow White is Very Inadequate
24 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Look, I’m just saying what Tolkien says, okay? Sure, he means the translation of Fanuilos, and not the Disney princess, but maybe that’s true as w...
Week 052 - Tolkien Tuesday: Scant Resemblance
24 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Man of the West returns to Carpenter’s book on the Inklings, this time to seriously question the notion of Tolkien, Lewis, Williams, and Barfiel...
Week 052 - Middle-earth Map Monday: The Forefathers of the Edain
12 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he begins the week with a return to the new segment on Middle-earth Map Monday. Also, linguistic changes are unpredictable...
Week 051 - Second Age Saturday: Of What Worth Is Choice?
10 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s time to return to our readings in Númenor as King Meneldur thinks through a no-win situation and makes a momentous decision regarding the futu...
Week 051 - Fandom Friday: It’s Complicated
09 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he welcomes Inklings scholar Sørina Higgins to Fandom Friday to talk about the Oddest Inkling, Charles Williams, and expl...
Week 051 - Third Age Thursday: Round the Next Corner
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We continue our look at poetry and songs in The Lord of the Rings by taking a deep dive into one of Bilbo’s songs, set to a tune “as old as the hi...
Week 051 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Shout, Shout, Let It All Out
07 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West for a closer look at the name of Gil-galad’s father… or, maybe his father, or maybe not. Where’s Maury Povich when you ...
Week 051 - Tolkien Tuesday: Your Laugh In My Heart Echoes
06 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We continue in our time in Humphrey Carpenter’s book, The Inklings, as we look more closely at the conflicted nature of Tolkien’s friendship with ...
Week 051 - Middle-earth Map Monday: The Memory of Many Injuries
05 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West for another week of Today’s Tolkien Times as he returns to a new Monday segment looking at places in Middle-earth. This tim...
Week 050 - Second Age Saturday: Manwë Keep You Under the One
03 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Man of the West returns to the story of Aldarion and Erendis for another set of Second Age Saturdays. In today’s episode, we look over the shoul...
Week 050 - Fandom Friday: Because It Was About Time
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In a TTT first, The Man of the West has a co-host: Sara Brown, the Shield-maiden of Rohan. Join them as they interview the man behind the Welsh transl...
Week 050 - Third Age Thursday: My Evening-Rest
01 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he begins a series of readings through the poetry and songs of The Lord of the Rings… by starting with a song from The H...
Week 050 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Scion of Kings
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s time for another return to Word-nerd Wednesday, with today’s episode looking closely at the several names of the last High King of the Eldar....
Week 050 - Tolkien Tuesday: We All Agree So
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Man of the West returns to Humphrey Carpenter’s book, The Inklings, for more on Tolkien and his circle of friends. Today, a closer look at the o...
Week 050 - Map Monday: The Land Was Rich and Kindly
29 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he begins a new series with a new Monday segment: Middle-earth Map Monday! In the first of this new segment, we learn the ...
Week 049 - Second Age Saturday: Steel Hard to Break
13 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as Aldarion all too briefly speaks with the daughter he abandoned years ago and coldly ignores her mother. Learn more about y...
Week 049 - First Age Friday: Master of Wolves
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Finrod and his faithful followers accompany Beren north, and come up with one possible way to get by the Master of Wolves himself. Learn more about yo...
Week 049 - Third Age Thursday: Even as Oromë the Great
11 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s time for the last of our Théoden Thursday specials as The Man of the West takes us through the King of Rohan’s finest moments. Learn more ab...
Week 049 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Golden-Haired Champion
10 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he takes a closer look at the names of his favorite Elf from the First Age, including one that might have just been a deri...
Week 049 - Tolkien Tuesday: Our Revered Hobbit-Ancestors
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s time for another few letters in the Revised and Expanded edition, this time as we accompany Professor Tolkien on a trip to Rotterdam for maggot...
Week 049 - Mailbag Monday: With Vigour, Please
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West for the last week of Series 6 of Today’s Tolkien Times as he answers a question — okay, five questions — about the Dún...
Week 048 - Second Age Saturday: I Am Mistaken, It Seems
06 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s time for another heartbreaking episode in the tragic tale of Aldarion and Erendis as the King’s Heir finally returns home and meets the conse...
Week 048 - First Age Friday: Yours Ye May Break
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as we meet the best Elf ever, Finrod Felagund, and find him in quite the conundrum. Also, thanks a lot Fëanor. Learn more ab...
Week 048 - Third Age Thursday: Maybe We Shall Cleave a Road
04 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s time for another inspirational passage on Théoden, King of Rohan as The Man of the West continues reading his favorite moments in the life of ...
Week 048 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Here We Come A-Wassailing
03 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West for a dive into Old English as we look at some of the names and words from our Third Age Thursday readings about Théoden. Le...
Week 048 - Tolkien Tuesday: Stupidities and Vulgarities
02 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You know that Professor Tolkien never minced words; now, so does Zimmerman. The Man of the West talks about some letters Tolkien wrote revealing his t...
Week 048 - Mailbag Monday: Until the Rising of the Star
01 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he answers a question about inevitability, and speculates what might have happened to Turgon and the people of Gondolin ha...
Week 047 - Second Age Saturday: Breakers and Eaters
29 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The noisy thing known as The Man of the West reads another passage in the tale of Aldarion and Erendis, as — surprise! — Aldarion doesn’t make i...
Week 047 - First Age Friday: Terrible and Blasphemous
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Some might say that describes The Man of the West, but thankfully Tolkien was speaking about the Oath of Fëanor and his sons, featured in this week’...
Week 047 - Third Age Thursday: It Is Not So Dark Here
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he spends the final three Third Age Thursdays of the series reading his favorite passages on Théoden, King of Rohan. Lear...
Week 047 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Friend, Enchantress, or Flower-daughter?
26 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s time for another exciting etymological excursion as The Man of the West looks at a name you’ve heard dozens of times and hopes to bring you s...
Week 047 - Tolkien Tuesday: Philological Harpies
25 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s time for another visit to The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien as we see Tolkien’s growing frustration with the work of translators and the lack of ...
Week 047 - Mailbag Monday: Very Unprolific
24 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of The West as he answers a question about Durin, Dwarven prophecy, and reincarnation with a deep dive into Tolkien’s early drafts. Lea...
Week 046 - Second Age Saturday: No Place For Such Joy
22 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Disappointment turns to bitterness in today’s reading of the story of Aldarion and Erendis. The king prefers the company of his sailors, and his wif...
Week 046 - First Age Friday: And Away, Away She Danced
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he continues reading the Lay of Leithian, as Lúthien gets clever and weaves her most powerful magic yet. Learn more about...
Week 046 - Third Age Thursday: Which Story, I Wonder
20 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Wonder no more as The Man of the West finishes our time reading through A Long-Expected Party as Gandalf leaves Frodo with some vague advice. Learn mo...
Week 046 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Far Older and More Reverend
19 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
No, that title isn’t a description of The Man of the West. Join us for Word-nerd Wednesday as we take a closer look at the Shire-word that often jus...
Week 046 - Tolkien Tuesday: Bless the Little People!
18 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s time for Tolkien Tuesday as we dive deep into new content about The Silmarillion, Tolkien’s academic obligations, Middle-earth maps, book sal...
Week 046 - Mailbag Monday: Excuse Me, Sur
17 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he fails to answer a question for which there is no answer, then speculates what happens after an extended time-out. Learn...
Week 045 - Second Age Saturday: A Man Long-sighted
15 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West for another reading in How Not to Build a Successful Marriage, as the sometimes-happy couple welcome their daughter, Ancalimë...
Week 045 - First Age Friday: She Wanted a Treehouse…
14 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When she was a kid, sure. Thingol continues his efforts to defeat Denethor as Best Father in the Legendarium in our next reading in The Lay of Leithia...
Week 045 - Third Age Thursday: Fiddlesticks!
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Watch as Otho twirls his villainous mustache and laments how he might have gotten away with it if it weren’t for you meddling kids. Or something lik...
Week 045 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Númenórean Aramotherapy
12 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West for a look at the beautiful flowers that the Eldar brought to Númenor to celebrate Erendis’ wedding, including one that so...
Week 045 - Tolkien Tuesday: At Whatever Cost of Sleep
11 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tolkien offers to pull an all-nighter to mark up print proofs in this week’s Tolkien Tuesday; so long as he still gets to Heathrow in time for his f...
Week 045 - Mailbag Monday: And Therefore Stupid
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he speculates on whether Saruman and Sauron worked the same shift at ‘The Forge of Aulë: Miners, not Minors’. Also, i...
Week 044 - Second Age Saturday: Heart’s Ease
08 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Aldarion returns to Erendis’ welcome, and the wedding of the century. The Eldar arrive with gifts and flowers, and all is as it should be. Finally. ...
Week 044 - First Age Friday: A Flower That Grows Beneath the Sky
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We continue our readings in the Lay of Leithian as Beren faces off against Thingol in the halls of Menegroth. And still, no one listens to Melian. Lea...
Week 044 - Third Age Thursday: Hearses at Daybreak
06 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West for another reading in A Long-Expected Party, this time as Frodo passes along Bilbo’s “messages” to a young social medi...
Week 044 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Maybe Thou Shalt Find These Words
05 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Time for another visit to our Second Age Saturday readings as The Man of the West explores three more words from Aldarion and Erendis. Learn more abou...
Week 044 - Tolkien Tuesday: Make #NotATrilogy Trend
04 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We revisit the revised and updated edition of Tolkien’s Letters and learn Tolkien’s thoughts on piecemeal publication and patronizing reviews. Als...
Week 044 - Mailbag Monday: The Valar Already Know This Question
03 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he begins week 44 of Today’s Tolkien Times by answering a question about the Valar’s knowledge: who would win Valerin ...
Week 043 - Second Age Saturday: And Hid Her Tears
01 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We continue our reading through the sorrowful tale of Aldarion and Erendis, as the King’s Heir continues to be of two minds — and Erendis offers t...
Week 043 - First Age Friday: Love It Is Hath Here Me Bound
31 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he continues his readings in The Lay of Leithian, this time as Lúthien brings Beren home for a chat — and Thingol has q...
Week 043 - Third Age Thursday: Well, That’s That
30 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We return to Bag End and Gandalf’s chat with the disappearing Bilbo only to see the old hobbit do something no one has ever managed to do before. Le...
Week 043 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Gandalf, Formula 1, and Firefly
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West for an interesting — if rather disturbing — exploration of word-nerdery as we look at a word used to describe Gandalf’s...
Week 043 - Tolkien Tuesday: There Will Be Not a Few
28 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We continue in the Revised and Expanded edition of Tolkien’s Letters and learn that the Professor just couldn’t catch a break in the autumn of 195...
Week 043 - Mailbag Monday: Yes, With an If… No, With a But
27 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he starts week 43 of the TTT by quoting Reverend Lovejoy to answer a question about Fëanor. No, you read that correctly. ...
Week 042 - Second Age Saturday: At War Within Himself
25 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he wraps up the first week of Series 6 of the TTT by continuing his reading through the story of Aldarion and Erendis. A t...
Week 042 - First Age Friday: Of Living Love and Mortal Pain
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Man of the West has heard your pleas, and will return to the forests of Doriath for another series in The Lay of Leithian. Today’s episode featu...
Week 042 - Third Age Thursday: I Had to Badger You
23 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There is no need to get angry: The Man of the West will continue the TTT’s readings in A Long-Expected Party. This time, Bilbo gets silly, while Gan...
Week 042 - Word-nerd Wednesday: The Greatest Delight of Númenor
22 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Stop and smell the Nísimaldar as The Man of the West dives into some word-nerdery from last season’s read-through of Aldarion and Erendis. Any excu...
Week 042 - Tolkien Tuesday: Sympathetic Review
21 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We open up the Revised and Expanded edition of Tolkien’s Letters again this series, as we focus on new content about The Lord of the Rings. Today, d...
Week 042 - Mailbag Monday: Gandalf Was a Rollin’ Stone
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he begins Series 6 of Today’s Tolkien Times with a question about two very old people. And no, neither of them are The M...
Week 041 - Second Age Saturday: Now, And In All Nows
04 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Erendis offers some words of wisdom; will Aldarion hear them? Join The Man of the West as he wraps up Series 6 of the TTT with one more passage from T...
Week 041 - First Age Friday: Soft a Kiss She Placed Upon His Muted Lips
03 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s time for one more reading in The Lay of Leithian before we (hopefully) return to Fandom Fridays in Series 6. Poor Beren is going to have to wai...
Week 041 - Third Age Thursday: Interfering Old Busybody
02 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
No, not The Man of the West: no one would call him busy. It’s time for the last reading of this Series in A Long-expected Party, as Bilbo and Gandal...
Week 041 - Word-nerd Wednesday: An Andoran Anthology
01 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s time for a lingering look at a number of Númenórean names as we examine the etymology of… oh, I’m out of alliteration. Enjoy! Learn more ...
Week 041 - Tolkien Tuesday: Nothing Godlike or Angelic About Him
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We continue our readings in Carpenter’s book, The Inklings, as we learn about C.S. Lewis’ good friend, Charles Williams — and what Tolkien thoug...
Week 041 - Mailbag Monday: Maybe It’s the Mediterranean Diet?
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he begins the final week of Series 5 of the TTT with a question about the Rings of Power and longevity. Or maybe it’s th...
Week 040 - Second Age Saturday: Rather is She My Foe
27 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Erendis makes her position quite clear, as she and Aldarion are reunited after his 14-year long journey. Aldarion appears to turn a new leaf, but will...
Week 040 - First Age Friday: Like a Silver Jewel Set in the Heavens
26 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We return for another long reading from The Lay of Leithian as Daeron the minstrel plays for the lovely Lúthien as she dances, and a rough-looking st...
Week 040 - Third Age Thursday: Why Worry? He Hasn’t Taken the Vittles!
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Old Rory Brandybuck has a point, after all. We return to the Long-expected Party just in time to see Bilbo disappear. Plus, what’s a party without a...
Week 040 - Word-nerd Wednesday: We Interrupt This Regularly Scheduled Wednesday
24 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Man of the West steps away from The Lord of the Rings for a week as we look at a place mentioned in the Second Age Saturday readings this series. ...
Week 040 - Tolkien Tuesday: The Old ‘Dying God’ Story
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We continue our time in Carpenter’s The Inklings and talk about Tolkien’s belief in the inherent truths of myth, and the effect his arguments had ...
Week 040 - Mailbag Monday: And I Was Meant to Answer This Question
22 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he starts week 40 of Today’s Tolkien Times with a question about what Gandalf knew, and when he knew it. Learn more ab...
Week 039 - Second Age Saturday: Unwilling To Be Bound
20 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Aldarion manages to drive Erendis away from Armenolos even while he’s away for nearly 15 years. Just imagine what will happen when he returns. Learn...
Week 039 - First Age Friday: Starlit Years On Earth Go By
19 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We all know that Thingol married up, but our time in The Lay of Leithian today really gives us some insight as to why. Also, we meet Daeron — forgot...
Week 039 - Third Age Thursday: Immensely Fond Of You All
18 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
True of Bilbo and his guests, as well as The Man of the West and his listeners. More time at A Long-expected Party, a discussion about fireworks and w...
Week 039 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Base 12 For the Win
17 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s time to break out your Old English and even Old Norse as we look at Bilbo’s age of eleventy-one, and learn that abandoning the long hundred m...
Week 039 - Tolkien Tuesday: Things You Can Never Say Again
16 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We continue our study on the Inklings with a look at ‘The Great War’ between C.S. Lewis and Owen Barfield, as well as a stroll on Addison’s Walk...
Week 039 - Mailbag Monday: What About Their LinkedIn Profiles?
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he starts week 39 of the TTT with a question about the jobs of the five ‘chief’ wizards. Also: a follow-up on Fëanor ...
Week 038 - Second Age Saturday: Amid the Coldness of Others
13 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s time for the continuing adventures of Aldarion as he finally has eyes for Erendis. As he sails off for distant shores. Plus, the Green Bough of...
Week 038 - First Age Friday: Or Flee the Land of Barahir
12 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Beren is really good at killing Orcs and other bad guys; maybe too good. Join The Man of the West for his continued readings through The Lay of Leithi...
Week 038 - Third Age Thursday: The Art of Gandalf Improved With Age
11 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Let us all hope that the art of The Man of the West does the same. Join him today for our continuing read through A Long-Expected Party, this time wit...
Week 038 - Word-nerd Wednesday: I Don’t Think It Means What You Think It Means
10 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Well, actually, it does — but it also means a half-dozen other things or so. Join The Man of the West for a look at a word that has offended the Sac...
Week 038 - Tolkien Tuesday: Frightful 18th Century!!!
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Don’t blame me: the punctuation is in the original. Time for another close look at the budding friendship between C.S. Lewis and Tolkien; so long as...
Week 038 - Mailbag Monday: Not the Family Reunion You’re Looking For
08 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Man of the West as he starts the week off talking about one of his favorite characters in the legendarium. And his unfortunate cousin. Lear...
Week 037 - Second Age Saturday: Cold is the Life of a Mariner’s Wife
06 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
So, Aldarion: maybe, I don’t know, stop being a mariner? We continue with the tale of Aldarion and Erendis, the former of whom is beginning to show ...
Week 037 - First Age Friday: Of Will Defeated, Broken Faith
05 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We return to the tale of Beren as Gorlim visits him in a dream, and he returns to utter devastation. A vow of vengeance follows, and one bad guy defin...
Week 037 - Third Age Thursday: Stop Even Pretending, Gaffer
04 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We return to Hobbiton just as preparations for a massive party are underway: we’re reminded of how important the postal service is, and get a glimps...