Wednesday, August 10, 2011

When in Oxford

Recently, I wrote about my trip to England where I had the thrill of finding some wonderful antique books to add to my collection.  Well, my husband got his big book thrill too - in a sense.  If you are a J.R.R. Tolkien fan, then you know that a visit to Oxford, England will draw you into Tolkien heaven.

Tolkien taught at Oxford University from the mid-1920s until 1959.  He, his close friend, C.S. Lewis, and a few other writers formed a writing group known as "The Inklings."  They'd meet once a week or so at various pubs around Oxford.  "The Eagle and Child" is the pub most people associate with this group so of course we had to stop there for lunch.  The Inklings met in the back of the pub in a room (really, just the back end, not a room) known as the "Rabbit Room."  The pub has since been expanded and the Rabbit Room is now more towards the front of the pub, with most customers working their way past this area, in this rather narrow pub, to roomier seating areas in the new back of the pub.





My husband enjoyed every minute.  There are several photos on the wall around the table where the Inklings met commemorating the group.  And hey, the food was pretty good too!



Looking to the front of the pub-The Rabbit Room is near the front, off to the right

1 comment:

  1. Looks like a lot of fun! Pubs in England, fun, fun, fun!

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