Who Were the Inklings?

Happy 8^th birthday to Past Watchful Dragons! It was February 28, 2018, when I first posted in this space about my love of reading and writing. It’s been a long and wonderful journey, and there’s plenty more to come. For those of you who have been with me all along, thank you! For those who have found me more recently, thank you! And for those just popping by, welcome!

Another Year of Wonderful

Last year’s posts focused on poetry of all sorts. I chose that theme because, while I do love poetry, it’s not usually my first choice for leisure reading. Ferreting out a year’s worth of great poems was fun and helpful for me as a lifelong reader. I hope you enjoyed it too!

But this year, my friends, it’s all about the Inklings.

If you’re thinking, “Huzzah! The Inklings!” then you’re in the right place. If you’re thinking, “Huh? What are inklings?” then you’re in the right place too! I’m a real nerd about a select few members of the Inklings (and a few, shall we say, “Inklings-adjacent” writers), but I’m still a complete novice about others in the group. This year, you and I can learn together!

Who on Earth Were the Inklings?

Before I get ahead of myself here, let me describe who I mean when I say “Inklings.” That’s the name of a group of writers in mid-20^th century England who met together for encouragement, criticism, pipes, and spirits (both Holy and otherwise) for about 20 years. It started small as a few friends meeting together regularly for literary discussions, but the group was constantly growing and changing. They met most often in the Eagle and Child pub in Oxford—a modern-day Mecca for nerds of my stripe.

The Inklings included such notables as C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles William, and Owen Barfield. While time and gender forbid the inclusion of a few Inklings-adjacent writers, I’m going to include them in this year’s posts (and defend my choice in said posts). These include George MacDonald, G.K. Chesterton, and Dorothy Sayers.

Critique Groups Are Great

All right, so we know who the Inklings were and what they did, but what’s the big deal? So what if a few authors hung out over pints and argued about their works in progress? Surely that sort of thing  happens all the time.

Well, yes and no. For example, I happen to be part of a delightful critique group that meets every month to discuss our current projects. We have a fantastic mix of perspectives, strengths, styles, and personalities, so the feedback is invaluable. Plus, each meeting is a mini-deadline. During busy seasons, I need a good deadline to help me sit down and write. My critique group provides me with all that and more, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

The Inklings Were Magical

And yet…

There are only a few times throughout literary history where the whole of a writing group is way, way, way more than the sum of its parts. Some of England’s Romantic Period writers, like Shelley and Byron or Wordsworth and Coleridge, thought more deeply and wrote more prolifically because of their friendships. American Transcendental literature enjoyed the same benefit from the friendship between Emerson and Thoreau. But to me, the Inklings had something even better—something magical.

It wasn’t a perfect group. There were disagreements, ruffled feathers, and fractured friendships now and then.  But without the encouragement of the group, the world would never have been blessed with Tolkien’s The Hobbit orThe Lord of the Rings, not to mention Lewis’s science fiction trilogy and probably a few other Lewis works. These books changed the face of fiction during their time, and the impact continues today. That’s magic indeed!

Far Better Things Ahead

To be honest, those are the only two real Inklings I’m passionate about (yet), so I’m excited to learn more as I progress in my year of Inklings deep dive. If you’re even half as excited as I am, then beware of spontaneous combustion!

I’ve got a list of books and biographies that I can’t wait to discuss with you this year, but if  there’s a particular work you’d love to see on the Past Watchful Dragons blog, comment here and I’ll definitely check it out. Until next time, my friends, keep on reading!