Tolkien: The author or the reader (No, this is not another canonicity thread)

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Ibrîniðilpathânezel

I do think that the question of whether Tolkien inspires your interests or your interests draw you to Tolkien depends a lot on what age you are when you first read his work. But perhaps not.

I think that is indeed the key, at least for me. I also read LOTR for the first time when I was around 10 or 11, though I'd been read The Hobbit when I was even younger.
In my case, I think Tolkien sparked the Anglophilia that has been with me ever since, as well as an interest in languages. His style of writing made such an impression that I find myself sometimes unconsciously imitating it, both here on the Downs and elsewhere.