Are these the fifty you would have chosen?

[Bêthberry]

28) The governing body of Merton College - Gave Tolkien a home after his wife died.

Hmmm. They omitted the man who drove the car Tolkien hired for transport on family holidays.

There seems to be great confusion in this list between those who popularise Tolkien, those whose work creates greater understanding of Tolkien, and those whose work is inspired by Tolkien, to say nothing of Son of Númenor's point about the literary influences on Tolkien himself or even the historical events in his life which molded the Legendarium.

I can see the Downs holding two Bookish polls: 1) most important works which inspired or influenced the writing ofLotR/the Legendarium and 2)works and/or writers most influenced by Tolkien.

"Influences Five-Oh". As Helen suggests, "Book 'em, Child."