The Tolkien Road

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through the Fall of Númenor by exploring the chapter c1000 SAURON CHOOSES MORDER. After our deep dive in to the story of Númenor’s pivotal 6th king, Tar-Aldarion, we return now to Sauron, and take a look at the founding of Mordor and the building of Barad-dûr. Watch On YouTube » https://youtu.be/Lkjvn-3A1SE Ad-Free Audio » https://www.patreon.com/posts...

In this episode, we’ll conclude our journey through Tolkien’s life story as we examine the years from the publication and massive success of The Lord of the Rings to Tolkien’s death in 1973. LINKS: Show Notes: https://www.tolkienroad.com/e0226 Watch This Episode:  https://youtu.be/icLzmq1xdow Listen Ad-Free: https://www.patreon.com/posts/46293806 Shop True Myths Press: https://truemythspress.com/...

In episode 4 of our epic, chapter-by-chapter Silmarillion journey, we’ll explore the first half of Chapter 1, “Of The Beginning of Days”. LINKS: Show Notes: https://www.tolkienroad.com/e0277 SilmGuide Page: https://www.tolkienroad.com/silmguide/sg04/ Watch This Episode:  https://youtu.be/Xx9zh7c6zyo Watch Ad-Free: https://www.patreon.com/posts/121803352 Listen Ad-Free: https://www.patreon.com/post...

This chapter concludes the era of Aldarion, one of the most important kings in the history of Númenor. As we learned in the last episode, his father, Tar-Meneldur, chose to turn the rule of Númenor over to Aldarion earlier than was normal, due to a letter from the Elven High-King Gil-galad. asking for Númenor’s aid amidst the increasingly dire situation in Middle-earth. In this chapter, we’ll expl...

Tolkien was born on January 3, 1892, so given we are in his birth month, we’ll be revisiting our four-part series on his life story over the next few Fridays. In this episode, we’ll revisit part three, as we examine the years from 1937 to 1949, as Tolkien struggles to surpass The Hobbit with a far more ambitious sequel while enduring the uncertainties of World War II in Great Britain. LINKS: Show...

In episode 3 of our epic, chapter-by-chapter Silmarillion journey, we’ll explore Valaquenta, an account and description of the gods of Middle-earth, including the first inklings of Gandalf’s origin story. LINKS: Show Notes: https://www.tolkienroad.com/e0274 SilmGuide Page: https://www.tolkienroad.com/silmguide/sg03/ Watch This Episode:  https://youtu.be/wtRxezDytYo Watch Ad-Free: https://www.patre...

This chapter continues the story of Aldarion, destined to be Númenor’s 6th King. While it begins with the wedding, long-expected, of Aldarion and Erendis, it concludes with many events unexpected, including word from Gil-galad to the King of Númenor regarding “ a new shadow arising in the East”. This is a long chapter dense with nuance and character development, perhaps the richest glimpse we get...

Tolkien was born on January 3, 1892, so given we are in his birth month, we’ll be revisiting our four-part series on his life story over the next few Fridays. In this episode, we’ll revisit part two, as we examine Tolkien's adult life immediately following World War I, from 1917 to 1936, leading up to the publication of The Hobbit …  LINKS: Show Notes: https://www.tolkienroad.com/e0220 Watch This...

In episode 2 of our epic, chapter-by-chapter Silmarillion journey, we’ll explore the creation story of Middle-earth, Ainulindalë, aka The Music of the Ainur. In this chapter, we’ll meet the powers behind the great events of Middle-earth’s history, including Ilúvatar, Manwë, and the ultimate villain, Melkor. LINKS: Show Notes: https://www.tolkienroad.com/e0273 SilmGuide Page: https://www.tolkienroa...

Over the next 3 episodes in our Fall of Númenor series, we’ll return to the story of Aldarion, whom we met 2 episodes ago.   Aldarion is the son of Tar-Meneldur and the expectant heir to Númenor’s throne. But as we will learn, he is a man torn between a deep longing for the sea and his destiny as Númenor’s king.   We have in fact covered this story before, in great detail, in episodes 183, 185, 18...

Tolkien was born on January 3, 1892, so given we are in his birth month, we’ll be revisiting our four-part series on his life story over the next few Fridays. In this episode, we’ll revisit part one, as we explore his early life, from his birth in South Africa to his World War I experience…  LINKS: Show Notes: https://www.tolkienroad.com/e0219 Watch This Episode:  https://youtu.be/b8CZyJc0XQg List...

Hey there, Fellowship! Welcome to The Tolkien Road. Every new year brings new resolutions—and for many Tolkien readers, one challenge stands above the rest: The Silmarillion. It’s a book admired, feared, and often postponed. But here at The Tolkien Road, we believe it’s the very heart of Tolkien’s legendarium—and the key to truly understanding Middle-earth. Starting today, and continuing every Wed...

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through The Fall of Númenor by exploring the founding of Eregion, the Elvish city that eventually gives birth to the Rings of Power! 750 years into the Second Age, things are relatively peaceful. Númenor’s benevolent influence is extending into the lands once ruled by Morgoth’s minions, and there is little news of war or misery. However, with the shado...

Hey there fellow travellers! As we get closer and closer to Christmas, I thought it would be a great time to return to one of my favorite topics: Tolkien's controversial assertion that Lord of the Rings is religious and Catholic! Just what did he mean by that? How much does it matter for deepening our appreciation of Lord of the Rings and of Middle-earth? And how does this all connect to Christmas...

Hey there fellow travellers! This week we'll be revisiting episode 269, which focused on Tolkien's EPIC Christmas poem NOEL. Visit TolkienRoad.com/noel for plenty of resources related to it! Also, visit TrueMythsPress.com to for Tolkien Road gear like Two Trees coffee mugs, Tolkien Road t-shirts, and signed copies of my books (which are almost gone!). Use promo code NOEL20 to take 20% off your pur...

In this episode, we're concluding our two part journey through Tolkien's Letters from Father Christmas, focusing on The Goblin Wars! Join us as we explore how the “Other Fellowship” of Father Nicholas Christmas, the North Polar Bear, the Red Gnomes, and others join forces to save Christmas!   By the way, if you're looking for some fun Tolkien-themed merch, head on over to TrueMythsPress.com. That'...

Well, Thanksgiving 2025 has come and gone, and now the big lead up to Christmas is upon us! To that end, in the next few episodes, we're taking a look back at our series on Tolkien's Letters from Father Christmas, a compilation of Christmas-themed legends he wrote for his young children from 1920 thru 1943. These letters are a ton of fun, so we're excited to revisit them with you. We'll hope you'l...

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through The Fall of Númenor by exploring The Voyages of Aldarion, the grandson of Vëantur, and future King of Númenor. This will begin a multi-episode arc on this important figure in Númenor's history - join us! And as a reminder: I’ve got a brand-new book on the way,  Tolkien’s Tragedy: Concerning Númenor, The Rings of Power, and the Second Age . It’s...

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through The Fall of Númenor by examining Númenor’s return to Middle-earth in the year 600 of the Second Age, led by the intrepid sea-captain Vëantur. Join us! And as a reminder: I’ve got a brand-new book on the way,  Tolkien’s Tragedy: Concerning Númenor, The Rings of Power, and the Second Age . It’s the culmination of years of study, and I believe it’...

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through The Fall of Númenor by considering the curious case of Silmariën and the origin of the Lords of Andúnië, the forebears of Elendil, Isildur, and eventually Aragorn himself. Join us! And as a reminder: I’ve got a brand-new book on the way,  Tolkien’s Tragedy: Concerning Númenor, The Rings of Power, and the Second Age . It’s the culmination of yea...

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through The Fall of Númenor by examining the return of Sauron around the year 500 of the Second Age! Join us! And as a reminder: I’ve got a brand-new book on the way,  Tolkien’s Tragedy: Concerning Númenor, The Rings of Power, and the Second Age . It’s the culmination of years of study, and I believe it’ll change the way you look at Tolkien’s legendari...

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through The Fall of Númenor by considering the state of Dwarf-dom at the beginning of the Second Age, the founding of Moria / Khazad-dûm, and well as the death of Númenor’s first king. Join us! And as a reminder: I’ve got a brand-new book on the way,  Tolkien’s Tragedy: Concerning Númenor, The Rings of Power, and the Second Age . It’s the culmination o...

In this episode, we continue our journey through The Fall of Númenor as we explore “The Life of Númenoreans.” In this section, we’ll learn about the every day life of the men and women of the Star-Land, according to Tolkien! Join us! And as a reminder: I’ve got a brand-new book on the way,  Tolkien’s Tragedy: Concerning Númenor, The Rings of Power, and the Second Age . It’s the culmination of year...

In this episode, we continue our journey through The Fall of Númenor as we explore “The Natural Life of Númenor.” In this section, we’ll learn about the beasts, birds, plants, and other natural phenomena of Númenor, according to Tolkien! Join us! And as a reminder: I’ve got a brand-new book on the way,  Tolkien’s Tragedy: Concerning Númenor, The Rings of Power, and the Second Age . It’s the culmin...

In this episode, we continue our journey through The Fall of Númenor with "The Geography of Númenor". How big was the Land of Gift? What was it like? Did it have any cities? In the latest episode, we’re going to cover everything you ever wanted to know about the Star-Land itself. Join us! And here’s the really exciting part: I’ve got a brand-new book on the way, Tolkien’s Tragedy: Concerning Númen...