This week, the paradoxical comforts of the Shire. How did it come into being, and how did the hobbits settle there? How does if embody and reject the vision of a nostalgic, nationalist England? And how long is the High Hay anyway?

Show Notes

• The Pyrates (George MacDonald Fraser)
• The Return of the Shadow (The History of Middle-earth)
• Shire Reckoning
• "The Gods Return to Earth: C.S. Lewis’ Review of The Fellowship of the Ring"
• "Tolkien Tuesday: Tolkien, Landscape Archaeology, and the First Age of Middle-earth"
• “The Lady’s Gift! The Star-glass! A Light to You in Dark Places, She Said it Was To Be.”
• The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set

Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord.

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Music by Corvus from Pixabay.