Welcome to the central hub of the Tolkien Professor world! There are several different kinds of recordings I’m working on. Click on the links below to check out my offerings so far. If you need a good copy of the Tolkien’s books in order to help you follow along, check out my Bookstore.

If you are new to my lectures and discussions, I recommend that you begin with my introduction to Tolkien studies: “How to Read Tolkien and Why.”

The centerpiece of the TP site, my lectures on Tolkien’s major works offer a careful and in-depth audio commentary on Tolkien’s major works, chapter by chapter. I have begun with The Hobbit, and I hope to complete it and move on to the Lord of the Rings later in 2010.

In the Spring 2010 semester, I am recording and uploading every session of my undergraduate Tolkien course at Washington College. In this course, I will work through all of Tolkien’s major works plus some of his important minor works. These discussions are not as detailed as the lecture series, but they will provide a good overview and introduction to most of Tolkien’s writings, including the hard-to-tackle Silmarillion.

I love to sit and discuss or debate ideas raised in Tolkien’s fiction. Occasionally, I get the opportunity to record some of these conversations that I have with my fellow Tolkien enthusiasts (other scholars, former students, and others) on some topic of interest in Tolkien’s works.

From time to time, I announce a time slot in which I will be available by Skype to answer listeners’ questions. Call-in times will be announced in an audio episode and listed on the home page of this site.

I receive many questions from listeners about Tolkien’s books by email, Facebook, Twitter, and my Discussion Board. When I get the chance, I record sessions in which I address questions I get from listeners. I also, when possible, post recordings of some of my public lectures.