354 – Fight Fire With Northmen

The story of Cirion and Eorl begins with an introduction to the Northmen; the story of Alan and Matt begins with Matt having to pronounce hard words. Join us as the Northmen have nothing to lose ‘cause it’s already lost, as we begin our six-episode sidebar on Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan — can we just call it Cirion & Eorl? Narmacil II loses badly, the Northmen form the Éothéod, and the Great Plague sets everyone back a century. We learn that about Tolkien’s trench fever, talk about the importance of rearguard actions, and explain the Undeeps. Also, Alan admits he’s pedantic.

Recommended Reading


The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings
Tolkien, J. R. R. (Mariner Books, paperback)

Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth 
Tolkien, J. R. R. (Christopher Tolkien, ed.) (Mariner Books, paperback)

The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Carpenter, Humphrey ed. (William Morrow, paperback)

The Lord of the Rings: A Reader’s Companion
Scull, Christina & Wayne Hammond (William Morrow, hardcover)

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