The relationship between G.B. Smith and J.R.R. Tolkien had enormous influence on their human and artistic development during their school and university years, and also played an important role in the development of Tolkien's imagination and legendarium after Smith's death. However, the nature, development and implications of this 'meaningful friendship' (Garth) have often been neglected by scholars (with due exceptions) and not yet fully explored. Topics that will be discussed in this exploratory workshop include the sources, content and style of Smith's poetry, Tolkien's editorial work on Spring Harvest, biographical aspects of their relationship, (literary) influence on Tolkien's work (early and later), and others.

To watch the video recordings of the papers, click here

Programme:

Tuesday 21 March

15-15.15 Welcome and introduction

Session 1
15.15-15.45 John Garth, ‘A Perfect Genius’: G.B. Smith among Family and Friends
15.45-16.15 Grace Khuri, ‘Geoffrey Bache Smith at Oxford and at War: A Lost History?’
16.15-16.45 Questions and discussion
16.45-17.15 Coffee

Session 2
17.15-17.45 Oronzo Cilli, ‘A thousand leaves from one tree: The History of G.B. Smith's poetry’
17.45-18.15 Doug Anderson, ‘The Editing, Publication and Reception of A Spring Harvest’
18.15-18.45 Questions and discussion

Conference dinner

Wednesday 22 March

Session 3
9.15-9.45 Allan Turner, ‘GBS, Apprentice Poet of his Time’ 
9.45-10.15 Stuart Lee, ‘Smith, Tolkien, and the Poetry of the First World War’
10.15-10.45 Questions and discussion
10.45-11.15 Coffee

Session 4
11.15-11.45 Kris Swank, ‘The Monk and the Bird’s Song’: An archetype in poems by Longfellow, Smith, and Tolkien’ 
11.45-12.15 Federica Calabrese, ‘From the “dawns” to the “tides of time”. Smith and Tolkien in the mists of Glastonbury legends’
12.15-12.45 Questions and discussion
12.45-14.15 Lunch

Session 5
14.15-14.45 Beppe Pezzini, ‘That we may do the things undone’: GB Smith, Tolkien’s Lost Tales and the Classics’
14.45-15.15 Mark Atherton, 'O scholar grey with quiet eyes': Smith's poem 'Rime' and its influence on Tolkien's work 
15.15-15.45 Questions and discussion
15.45-16.15 Coffee

Session 6
16.15-16.45 Ivano Sassanelli, ‘The TCBS was destined to testify for God and Truth”: on Tolkien’s letter n. 5 to G.B. Smith’
16.45-17.15 Lucia Simonson, ‘The Challenges of Translating a Spring Harvest into Spanish’
17.15-17.45 Questions and discussion
17.45-18.00 Conclusions