Tolkien Gleanings #85.

* The new online Guide to Tolkien’s Letters is starting to fill up.

* In Italy, the hill-village of Chianciano Terme rises from the hills about 40 miles south of Florence and 60 miles north of Rome. The place is set to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of J.R.R. Tolkien…

over three days, from 30th June to 2nd July 2023, offering insights from internationally renowned speakers, and multiple cultural events in Chianciano, from the Parco Fucoli and Parco Acqua Santa to the historic centre. “Chianciano Terra di Mezzo: Journey into Tolkien’s genius” was developed by the town with the ViviChianciano (‘Living Chianciano’) public-private network which is made up of over 50 companies from Chianciano, and which obtained the patronage of the national Ministry of Culture and the Associazione Italiana Studi Tolkieniani (‘Italian Association for Tolkien Studies – Tolkien Society of Italy’).”

* A talk by Tom Shippey on “Politics in Tolkien: What We Can Learn From Hobbits” (2015). As AI-cleaned audio, newly made from this almost un-listenable ‘big ballroom, massive echo’ recording on YouTube.

* New on Archive.org to borrow, a good scan of Essays And Studies: Collected for the English Association (1953, Vol. 6, New Series). With Tolkien’s “Beorhtnoth” as the lead item.

* The March 2023 issue of ICMA News had a review-report on the 2022 ‘J.R.R. Tolkien: The Art of the Manuscript’ exhibition.

* And finally, “The 16 types of graduate supervisor, by J.R.R. Tolkien”.