Dragons, Victorians and Forests: Professor John Holmes on Performing Tolkien's Lecture, William Morris and Much More!

You certainly won't want to miss today’s episode of Mythmakers where Julia Golding is meeting with Professor John Holmes from Birmingham University.

John has made a name for himself by giving performances of Tolkien's 1938 lecture on dragons, complete with the magic lantern slides discovered in the archives of Oxford's Natural History Museum. Today, John and Julia will go on to discuss the fantasy writers of the Victorian period, Pre-Raphaelites, William Morris and Ruskin—all important influences on today’s modern fantasy, often mediated via Tolkien. In this discussion’s final lap, John talks about his work taking people into a very special forest—Ruskin Land—and researching their response to fantasy forests read in situ.

To learn more about Birmingham Institute for Forest Research (BIFoR), and to take a virtual tour of Ruskin Land, visit the links below:

https://canvas.bham.ac.uk/courses/52405/pages/cross-curricular-climate-change-education

https://www.thinglink.com/card/1803482248435991014

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(00:05) Exploring Tolkien's Dragons Lecture
(11:29) Exploring Tolkien's Creative Influence
(18:13) Exploring Influences on Tolkien's Fantasy
(30:57) Fantasy Authors' Shared Social Critique
(35:37) Enchanting Forests in Fantasy Literature

Mythmakers is the podcast for fantasy fans and creatives, brought to you by the Oxford Centre for Fantasy. In each episode, we embark on an exploration of the world of fantasy—both classic and contemporary. From the stories behind your favourite series to expert tips for aspiring writers, we dive into books, films, TV shows, and the creative process behind them.

Brought to you from the heart of Oxford—home to literary greats like J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Lewis Carroll—we continue the storytelling tradition in the very city where Narnia, Middle-earth, and even Wonderland took shape drawing on the city’s magical blend of ancient buildings, labyrinthine libraries, and gentle river meadows.

Ready to step into the Wardrobe with us into your next big adventure? Visit https://oxfordcentreforfantasy.org/ to learn more!