In late September 1914, J.R.R. Tolkien, his life in crisis, visited his Aunt Jane's Phoenix Farm in Gedling near Nottingham. The poem he wrote there on September 24th, "The Voyage of Earendel the Evening Star", was the spark that ignited the whole of his later mythology.Focussing on this single event, Andrew Morton and John Hayes set out to discover more about Phoenix Farm, Jane Neave and the poem. "Tolkien's Gedling", which contains over thirty previously unpublished photographs, explores the social changes in Gedling that gave birth to the Phoenix Farm project. It also contains much original material for the Tolkien enthusiast, including the fullest account so far of his influential Aunt Jane, whom many have taken to be the model for his famous wizard, Gandalf.

2008-05-17 Fascinating stuff!

Essential reading for all Tolkien fans. An interesting, beautifully written exploration. Highly recommended.