'Tolkien, taters and the Prittlewell Prince' - After Hours

February's instalment of our 'after hours' series is brought to you in collaboration with Southend Libraries' 'fantasy week'. Undoubtedly the most influential fantasy writer of all time, JRR Tolkien spent much of his career as the 'Professor of Anglo-Saxon' at Oxford University. As such, his extensive catalogue of genre-defining fiction is heavily influenced by his expert knowledge of Anglo- Saxon histories, legends, art and literature. From drawing character names directly from Old English and styling his peoples and places inspired by Saxon architecture and archaeology, to sharing central themes with myths and legends and aligning his own narrative style to Anglo-Saxon epics like Beowulf, Tolkien's in-depth knowledge and appreciation for the time period is very apparent throughout his works.

'Tolkien, taters and the Prittlewell Prince' will first explore Southend Museums' internationally significant Anglo-Saxon 'Prittlewell Princely Burial' collection, with particular focus on pieces relevant to Tolkien's own studies, before having a closer look at the Anglo-Saxon inspirations behind his writing and subsequent film adaptations of his work.

Doors open at 6pm, with half an hour for exploring the museum with a complementary glass of wine. The tour begins at 6:30pm, and the event finishes by 8pm.

Prebooking is essential. This event is 18+ only. FAQs below.

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Host or Publisher Southend Museums