Tolkien Lecture on Fantasy Literature
From 1925-1945 J.R.R. Tolkien served as the Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College, Oxford. During this time he wrote The Hobbit and the majority of The Lord of the Rings.
Since 2013 the students of Pembroke College have organised an annual public lecture in honour of J.R.R. Tolkien. The purpose of the lecture series is to promote speculative fiction — including, but not limited to, the fantasy genre — as literature worthy of study and scrutiny, and to advance our understanding of it by hearing from some of the most influential and talented people working in the field today.
We are very grateful to our speakers for taking the time to visit the college and give their thoughts, and for the Pembroke College Annual Fund for helping to fund the series.

Zen Cho, "The Uses of Fantasy," Tolkien Lecture 2025

Neil Gaiman, "Hand Grenade Pins: On Libraries and the Fantastic," Tolkien Lecture 2024

Maria Dahvana Headley, "Tell Me A Story," Tolkien Lecture 2023

Rebecca F. Kuang, "Goodness, Beauty, and Truth: The Value of Art in Times of Crisis," 2022

Marlon James, "Our Myths, Our Selves," Tolkien Lecture 2019

V.E. Schwab, "In Search of Doors," Tolkien Lecture 2018

Susan Cooper, "A Catch of the Breath," Tolkien Lecture 2017

J.R.R. Tolkien's "A Secret Vice": 85 Years On

Terri Windling 2016 Lecture: Q&A

Terri Windling, "Reflections on Fantasy Literature in the Post-Tolkien Era," Tolkien Lecture 2016

Lev Grossman, "Fear and Loathing in Aslan’s Land," Tolkien Lecture 2015