Tolkien's life, works, etc.
 

I'm writing a report on our beloved Professor, and I thought: 'Why don't I post something on the Barrow-Downs about this? I'm likely to be flooded with information!' So...I welcome the flood! ;)

'Tis highly likely that you all know a lot of interesting things about Tolkien that are not likely to be found without searching far and wide. I welcome this as well!

Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated. <hopeful, anticipatory smile>

while I would be happy to offer you a few gems, I can only feel that reading his Bio by H. Carpenter is pretty much essential for anyone who wishes to say much about his life and work.

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that being said...

He is as far as I know the only person ever to do all [or even more than 1]of the following:
1- Tanslate a book for the Bible [ THe 1966 Jerusalem Bible - Doubleday],
2 -contribute to the Oxford English Dictionary
3- Write on of the most important peices of Fiction ever.
4-As did G. I. Gurdjieff, create an entire Mythology.

hope that helps.
Good luck!

Off the top of my head...
 

let's see

-he realized he wanted to be a poet just before WWII
-the death of a friend (from the war) blessed/burdened him with the grand task of writing more poetry and of Middle Earth
-great friend of C.S. Lewis
-THE INKLINGS

i remember other things but the names might be distorted - i'll probably come back later - hope this helps!

A good starting point ...
 

... if you have not seen it already is the JRR Tolkien Theme on the main site. :)

Thanks, Saucy, I hadn't seen that. And thanks to everybody!