Probably the only Tolkien scholar to hail from Magnolia, Arkansas, John has at various times been a shoe-shine, library assistant, a long-time graduate student, fact-checker for a children’s books publisher, game editor, designer, and independent scholar. In addition to presenting papers on Tolkien and other fantasy writers at several conferences, he has helped organize two major Tolkien conferences and spent many years researching among Tolkien’s manuscripts at Marquette University, as well as other archives. Out of this work grew The History of The Hobbit, his two-volume edition of Tolkien’s original manuscript of The Hobbit. He has a special interest in the history of fantasy and likes to describe his Ph.D. as “a degree in fantasy”.
Books in order of publication:
The History of The Hobbit, Second Edition – 2007
The History of The Hobbit, Part 1: Mr. Baggins – 2007
The History of The Hobbit, Part 2: Return to Bag-End – 2007
Oak Lawn Library Friends 