The Bovadium Fragments: Together with ‘The Origin of Bovadium’
10 hours ago - By Trotter
The Bovadium Fragments: Together with ‘The Origin of Bovadium’ by Richard Ovenden O.B.E. Hardcover – 9 Oct. 2025
by J. R. R. Tolkien (Author), Christopher Tolkien (Editor)
World first publication of a previously unknown short satirical fantasy by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by his son, Christopher Tolkien, and accompanied by illustrations from the author together with an essay, The Origin of Bovadium, by Richard Ovenden OBE.
Publisher : HarperCollins (9 Oct. 2025)
Language : English
Hardcover : 144 pages
ISBN-13 : 978-0008737764
Dimensions : 14.9 x 1.2 x 22.8 cm
The story in referenced in J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography by Humphrey Carpenter
‘Mr Bliss’ was not the only composition by Tolkien owing its inspiration to motor transport. ‘The Bovadium Fragments’ (perhaps composed early in the nineteen-sixties) is a parable of the destruction of Oxford (Bovadium) by the motores manufactured by the Daemon of Vaccipratum (a reference to Lord Nuffield and his motor-works at Cowley) which block the streets, asphyxiate the inhabitants, and finally explode.
TolkienShop Video
1 May - By Trotter
onthetrail and myself sat down for a lovely chat with the fabulous René van Rossenberg, owner of https://www.tolkienshop.com/ and long-time fan and collector.
Book Release Day for Miriam Ellis - The Art of Mercy in Middle-earth
30 April - By Urulókë
J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium provides twenty-first century readers with a much-needed haven from the busy world around them. In his mercy, Tolkien generously balances scenes of high drama with unforgettable pauses for the refreshment of both characters and readers. His work remains true to the themes of “recovery, escape, and consolation” described in his seminal lecture and essay, “On Fairy-Stories.”
This book offers a visual portal to these three merciful themes, which form the central subject of Miriam Ellis’s body of Tolkien paintings. Ellis’s artwork strives for faithful accuracy to the texts which she has been reading since childhood. The quieter moments in Tolkien are sometimes neglected in portrayals, but in them resides the beauty of Middle-earth. Focusing on those moments, this book is a treasury with which readers can relax and enjoying both the paintings and the brief but evocative essays drawn from the artist’s contemplation of memorable scenes in the legendarium and the many details of the paintings. Like The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion, this book should be a source of recovery, escape, and consolation for the reader.
Miriam Ellis is a lifelong Tolkien reader, award-winning fine artist, and published illustrator whose art has appeared in magazines, major fandom YouTube channels, calendars, and the Tolkien Society’s publications.
Paperback:
Hardcover:
Myth and Legends unboxing
18 April - By Urulókë
Join Trotter, Mr. Underhill and Urulókë tomorrow at Sat, 19 Apr 2025 5:00 PM GMT as we take a look at the new four volume Tolkien boxed set just being released by HarperCollins, containing Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún, The Fall of Arthur, and Beowulf.
Happy Tolkien Reading Day!
25 March - By Urulókë
Mr. Underhill, Trotter and I are celebrating by giving away some Kindle books over on Bluesky. I hope you find some time today to relax and enjoy some reading (Tolkien or other)!
Trotter is giving away five copies of the UK Hobbit Kindle edition: https://bsky.app/profile/trotter.tolki ... de.com/post/3ll7qj252d22k
Mr. Underhill is giving away a full set of all twelve US History of Middle-earth volumes: https://bsky.app/profile/mr.underhill. ... de.com/post/3ll7sm6fdpc2g
Urulókë is giving away five copies of the US Illustrated Lord of the Rings edition: https://bsky.app/profile/tolkienguide.com/post/3ll7plmnvxk2z
4
318