Join Bewdley Museum on Friday 21 August at 7pm for a fascinating evening with Shaun Gunner, chief executive of The Tolkien Society, as he explores the life, inspirations and extraordinary legacy of J.R.R. Tolkien, widely regarded as the father of modern fantasy.
Running alongside the museum’s summer exhibition, The Magic of Middle-earth, the talk looks at the influences that shaped Tolkien’s imagination, from the English countryside and his faith to Scandinavian sagas and ancient mythology. It considers how he changed storytelling through his approach to world-building, creating the richly detailed and internally consistent world of Middle-earth, complete with its own languages, geography, histories and genealogies.
Tolkien’s vision has become the blueprint for countless fantasy writers, artists and filmmakers, and his influence is still felt across popular culture today. Shaun Gunner looks not only at what inspired Tolkien, but at the generations of creators Tolkien has inspired in return. Whether you are a lifelong admirer of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings or simply curious about one of the most influential authors of the twentieth century, it promises to be an illuminating and entertaining evening.
Tickets are £15, and a paying adult must accompany under 16s. Book your place through the Wyre Forest box office.
