Oxford. Hobbits and Dragons and Magic and Art and Stuff

The Bodleian Library in Oxford has been holding an exhibition of J.R.R.Tolkein's work, including original art, manuscripts, doodles, letters which he wrote for his children, as well as including copies of the many editions of his works,  fan letters from (mainly famous) fans of his, including Terry Pratchett, and personal items and information about Tolkein's childhood and youth.

Exhibition poster

It was very interesting, and I loved some of the smaller doodles and drawings, such as 'Owlamoo', a sketch done for his son, to help him cope with fears of a monster under his bed, and the paisley-style doodles which Tolkien drew on the newspapers around the crosswords!

The exhibition was, however, very overcrowded, despite having issued pre-booked timed tickets (I ended up queuing for about 45 minutes to get in, despite the timed ticket) Possibly earlier in the run it was less crowded. 

Bodleian Library

As well as visiting the exhibition, I wandered around some of the more decorative parts of Oxford, and visited the (extremely small) exhibit they had about Wilfred Owen, which included some family photos, and some of his original, handwritten draft poems, and notebooks from his student days, and from his time as a patient during the war. 

Bridge of Sighs, Oxford

There was also a small exhibition at the Bodleian 'Sappho to Suffrage: Women who Dared' (which is on until February) which included a fragment of one of Sappho's poems, some illuminated books showing learned women, a  book with a cover embroidered by Elizabeth I at the age of 11, for Katherine Parr, as well as more modern items such as pamflets and games produced by the women's suffrage movement to raise money. 

Finally, I spent part of the day visiting the Ashmolean Museum, including visiting their Spellbound exhibition, which is about witchcraft and magic in England, its got some interesting elements, including transcripts of  some 17th C witness statements relating to allegations of witchcraft, but I felt that it was a little underwhelming n general, with very little which was new or unexpected.

I did however enjoy some of the other exhibits in the museum, particularly some of the Islamic ceramics and carvings.

I also enjoyed the installation in the entry way, which was made of light and reflections and as such was in perpetual motion, and change.

It was a long, but enjoyable day.