2008 Seminar: Freedom, Fate and Choice in Middle-earth

As announced in the last Amon Hen, this year's Seminar will be held on Saturday 28th June at Parkstead House, in the grounds of Whitelands College, Roehampton University, London. The venue is accessible by road and public transport (directions are sent to those who book), and onsite parking is available for those attending the conference. Accommodation information is also available on request, including contact details to book a room at the venue itself.

The timetable for the event is 9am to 5pm. A booking form was sent out with the last Amon Hen, and is also available on the website or from Tolkien Society Bookings (contact details at the back of Amon Hen). Many thanks to everyone who has booked so far, or has indicated that they are thinking of booking. For those who have not yet booked, but would like to attend, the closing date for bookings is 7th June, so please get your bookings to us before that date.

Some of the titles accepted so far include:

Venue and Date

This year's Seminar will be held on Saturday 28th June at Parkstead House, a Grade I listed Georgian villa and conferencing venue situated in the grounds of Whitelands College, Roehampton University, London.

The venue can be reached by public transport, and onsite parking is available for those attending the conference. A map and travel directions will be sent to those who book, and accommodation information and booking is available on request.

The timetable for the event is 9am-5pm. Lunch and tea and coffee is provided and is included in the registration fee, which has been set at £30 for Tolkien Society members and £34 for non-members.

Online Booking

There is now an online booking form. You only need to provide your date of birth if you will be under 18 years old at the seminar. There is however, no special price for those under 18. Please mention if you are vegetarian or have any other special dietary requirements, as a lunch will be provided.

There are plans to arrange extra events on Friday evening and Sunday for those who express an interest on the booking form. Friday evening's event will be a visit to a restaurant and/or pub nearby. As well as the nearby Richmond Park, the largest of the Royal Parks in London, other attractions within a short driving distance include the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Hampton Court Palace.

Bookings for the Seminar must be received by 7th June 2008. Please e-mail booking enquiries to bookings AT tolkiensociety DOT org.

Here is the booking form.

 

Call for Papers

The theme for this year's seminar is "Freedom, Fate and Choice in the Middle-earth writings of J. R. R. Tolkien". Papers are sought on a wide range of topics related to this theme, including concepts such as free will and doom. The Middle-earth material ranges from The Silmarillion and The Children of Hurin through the twelve volumes of the History of Middle-earth and Tolkien's Letters to The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

There is still room in the timetable for more papers. If you want to offer a paper, please contact me (Christopher Kreuzer) as soon as possible. E-mail: seminar@tolkiensociety.org