Neil Gaiman delivers the 2024 Tolkien Lecture

The lecture will take place on Wednesday, June 12 at Oxford Town Hall at 6 PM BST.

Neil Gaiman is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author and creator of books, graphic novels, short stories, film and television for all ages, including Norse Mythology, Neverwhere, Coraline, The Graveyard Book, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, and The View from the Cheap Seats. His fiction has received Newbery, Carnegie, Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, and Will Eisner Awards. American Gods, based on the 2001 novel, is a critically acclaimed, Emmy-nominated TV series, and he was the writer and showrunner for the mini-series adaptation of Good Omens, based on the book he co-authored with Sir Terry Pratchett. Gaiman was an Executive Producer and co-showrunner for Netflix’s TV adaptation of his Sandman comic book series. He is currently developing season 3 of Good Omens and a TV adaptation of Anansi Boys. In 2017 Gaiman became a Global Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. Originally from England, he now divides his time between Scotland, where Good Omens and Anansi Boys are filmed, and the United States, where he is a Professor in the Arts at Bard College. He is a fellow of The Royal Society of Literature.

FAQ

Is this event in-person or online?

The lecture will be in-person but a recording will be available on our Youtube channel.

Is the venue accessible?

Oxford Town Hall is an accessible building with lifts and an alternative access avoiding the main entrance steps. For more information, please see their website: https://www.oxfordtownhall.co.uk/about/accessibility/

Is this event open to people from outside Oxford University?

Absolutely! We look forward to welcoming everyone who wants to come.

Do I have to pay to attend?

No, the lecture is free to everyone. However, if you are able, please consider purchasing a ticket for £10 which will help us cover the costs of running the lecture this year and in the future. All donations are greatly appreciated.

How many tickets can be reserved at once?
Tickets may be reserved one at a time and must be associated with the name and email address of the ticket holder.

What happens if tickets run out?

Once tickets run out, there will be an option to join a waiting list. If tickets become available again – if people cancel nearer the time because they can no longer attend – then we will release tickets to those on the waiting list in the order they signed up.

How long does the event last?

The lecture will last one hour, including a Q&A.

Is the lecture about Tolkien?

The lecture series is held in honour of Tolkien, and the enormous contribution to fantasy he made whilst a Professor at Pembroke College, but the subject of each lecture is more broadly on fantasy literature. Lecturers may or may not speak about Tolkien directly.