Tolkien Loved His Pipe Weed

"I am in fact a hobbit in all but size. I like gardens, trees, and unmechanized farmlands; I smoke a pipe, and like good plain food (unrefrigerated), but detest French cooking; I like, and even dare to wear in these dull days, ornamental waistcoats. I am fond of mushrooms (out of a field); have a very simple sense of humour (which even my appreciative critics find tiresome); I go to bed late and get up late (when possible). I do not travel much."

-J. R. R. Tolkien

J. R. R. Tolkien was a man who loved his pipe and his tobacco. Anyone who has read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings could attest to that.  Here are a couple of videos of Tolkien with pipe in action.

Note in this first video that Tolkien uses his pipe as a rhetorical device. One can imagine him sitting in his study at Oxford, engaged with a handful of his students, waving his pipe vociferously about as he makes his point.







This second video is footage of Tolkien lighting his pipe. He gets a thick rich smoke going, and even casually blows off a smoke ring. Note the tiny bend to the stem of his billiard-style pipe.





Comments

  1. The second video is classic Tolkien pipe and beer stuff. Interesting how the trend now is moving toward bigger pipes...I think you've commented on this a few times in your videos. I'm coveting his glass beer pitcher; I'm pretty sure that was draught.

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  2. Me too. I was just thinking today that I should've asked Kimberly for a keg for Christmas.

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