Hansson is probably best known for his musical interpretation of Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings", entitled 'Music Inspired by Lord Of The Rings. Released on Charisma Records after gaining a cult following in Britain due to import copies filtering over from Sweden, the album was his biggest success, reaching the Top 20 on the UK [...]

This is a new essay by Michael Drout on Tolkien's seminal work.  I've only skimmed it so far, but it looks good.http://www.lotrplaza.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=237825&PN=1
- wellinghall

"A Birmingham beauty spot that was the inspiration for JRR Tolkien classics The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit was today granted a £376,500 cash injection to preserve it for future generations."
http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2010/03/30/376000-joy-for-hobbit-land/
http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/2010/03/30/tolkien-inspiration-moseley-bog-awarded-lottery-grant-65233-26139012/

 - wellinghall

David Storr Unwin, 91, who wrote children's novels as David Severn, died February 11, 2010 in London. Unwin, the son of publisher Sir Stanley Unwin, was born in London on March 12, 1918. He published over 30 children's books in the UK, some with SF and fantasy elements, including Dream Gold (1949), Drumbeats! (1953), and [...]

"The Bodleian Library is taking part in World Book Day 2010 by exhibiting a selection of JRR Tolkien’s original artwork which was used to illustrate The Hobbit. A unique manuscript of Hobbit doodles and a rare first edition of the book will also be on display. The free-of-charge one-day display will take place in the [...]

"He became a Fellow of St Edmund Hall in 1955, recommended by JRR Tolkien, who wrote that Mitchell 'would prove a very suitable person to fill the lectureship . . . although he is an Australian'."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article7041454.ece
- wellinghall