Main content
How WWI Inspired The Lord of the Rings
How did the First World War shape Middle-earth?
J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth is perhaps the most captivating fantasy world ever created. He developed the idea during the First World War, and built his world to examine the fear and courage, despair and hope that he witnessed.
So how exactly did this brutal, bloody war help to shape Middle-earth? Dan is joined today by John Garth, an award-winning Tolkien biographer, to tell us about Tolkien's life and how the conflict influenced his writing.
Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore.
All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 Media.
Dan Snow's History Hit is a History Hit podcast.
