Prof. Dimitra Fimi
@dimitrafimi.bsky.social
#Tolkien expert, Professor of #Fantasy and Children’s Literature at the University of Glasgow. Substack: https://dimitrafimi.substack.com
Website: http://dimitrafimi.com
Website: http://dimitrafimi.com
Yesterday and today I taught C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe alongside Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi. These two books spoke to each other beautifully - there are clear allusions in the latter to the former, of course, but there is so much more that links them!
February 11, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Yesterday and today I taught C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe alongside Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi. These two books spoke to each other beautifully - there are clear allusions in the latter to the former, of course, but there is so much more that links them!
Reposted by Prof. Dimitra Fimi
We've just sent out proposal decisions for Fantasy's Present Pasts (Glasgow, 23rd-25th June 2026) - if you submitted a proposal, check your inbox! If you haven't heard from us and think you should have done, please drop us an email (using the Centre address, arts-fantasy@glasgow.ac.uk).
February 9, 2026 at 8:53 PM
We've just sent out proposal decisions for Fantasy's Present Pasts (Glasgow, 23rd-25th June 2026) - if you submitted a proposal, check your inbox! If you haven't heard from us and think you should have done, please drop us an email (using the Centre address, arts-fantasy@glasgow.ac.uk).
Reposted by Prof. Dimitra Fimi
Latest piece, in which I’m trying to puzzle out Tolkien’s strange little reference in a draft of “On Fairy-stories” to a plate his daughter Priscilla had been given. Featuring fairies and other insectoid beings!
dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/why-did-to...
@tolkiensociety.org @uofgfantasy.bsky.social
dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/why-did-to...
@tolkiensociety.org @uofgfantasy.bsky.social
February 8, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Latest piece, in which I’m trying to puzzle out Tolkien’s strange little reference in a draft of “On Fairy-stories” to a plate his daughter Priscilla had been given. Featuring fairies and other insectoid beings!
dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/why-did-to...
@tolkiensociety.org @uofgfantasy.bsky.social
dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/why-did-to...
@tolkiensociety.org @uofgfantasy.bsky.social
Latest piece, in which I’m trying to puzzle out Tolkien’s strange little reference in a draft of “On Fairy-stories” to a plate his daughter Priscilla had been given. Featuring fairies and other insectoid beings!
dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/why-did-to...
@tolkiensociety.org @uofgfantasy.bsky.social
dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/why-did-to...
@tolkiensociety.org @uofgfantasy.bsky.social
February 8, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Latest piece, in which I’m trying to puzzle out Tolkien’s strange little reference in a draft of “On Fairy-stories” to a plate his daughter Priscilla had been given. Featuring fairies and other insectoid beings!
dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/why-did-to...
@tolkiensociety.org @uofgfantasy.bsky.social
dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/why-did-to...
@tolkiensociety.org @uofgfantasy.bsky.social
In this piece I’m ruminating on the Mirror of Galadriel, and how this memorable scene in The Lord of the Rings may have come out of the “leaf-mould” of Tolkien’s mind, resurfacing out of his own early creative invention.
dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/tracing-a-...
dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/tracing-a-...
February 1, 2026 at 11:14 AM
In this piece I’m ruminating on the Mirror of Galadriel, and how this memorable scene in The Lord of the Rings may have come out of the “leaf-mould” of Tolkien’s mind, resurfacing out of his own early creative invention.
dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/tracing-a-...
dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/tracing-a-...
Submitted today! Following a few years of rigorous peer-review and working with my co-editor @lukebshelton.bsky.social and many Tolkienists!
- 44 chapters
- 46 Tolkien scholars globally
- over 280K words overall
Still tons of work to do as proofs arrive, but feels like a moment to celebrate. ☺️
- 44 chapters
- 46 Tolkien scholars globally
- over 280K words overall
Still tons of work to do as proofs arrive, but feels like a moment to celebrate. ☺️
January 30, 2026 at 12:28 PM
Submitted today! Following a few years of rigorous peer-review and working with my co-editor @lukebshelton.bsky.social and many Tolkienists!
- 44 chapters
- 46 Tolkien scholars globally
- over 280K words overall
Still tons of work to do as proofs arrive, but feels like a moment to celebrate. ☺️
- 44 chapters
- 46 Tolkien scholars globally
- over 280K words overall
Still tons of work to do as proofs arrive, but feels like a moment to celebrate. ☺️
Thread: 🧵
Today’s Children’s Fantasy class was held at the Special Collections seminar room, Glasgow University Library. Among other rare books, we looked at:
a first edition of Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There (1871), with fifty illustrations by Tenniel, 1/3
Today’s Children’s Fantasy class was held at the Special Collections seminar room, Glasgow University Library. Among other rare books, we looked at:
a first edition of Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There (1871), with fifty illustrations by Tenniel, 1/3
January 29, 2026 at 5:16 PM
Thread: 🧵
Today’s Children’s Fantasy class was held at the Special Collections seminar room, Glasgow University Library. Among other rare books, we looked at:
a first edition of Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There (1871), with fifty illustrations by Tenniel, 1/3
Today’s Children’s Fantasy class was held at the Special Collections seminar room, Glasgow University Library. Among other rare books, we looked at:
a first edition of Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There (1871), with fifty illustrations by Tenniel, 1/3
This week I’ve taught Diana Wynne Jones’ Howl's Moving Castle, set in the fairy-tale world of Ingary with occasional visits to Wales! (and yes, my classes sang “Calcifer’s silly saucepan song” in Welsh! 🏴)
Art by Lulu Chen, Kateřina Čupová, Alejo and Vivian de los Rios Marietta, and Anna Wojtczak.
Art by Lulu Chen, Kateřina Čupová, Alejo and Vivian de los Rios Marietta, and Anna Wojtczak.
January 28, 2026 at 8:29 PM
This week I’ve taught Diana Wynne Jones’ Howl's Moving Castle, set in the fairy-tale world of Ingary with occasional visits to Wales! (and yes, my classes sang “Calcifer’s silly saucepan song” in Welsh! 🏴)
Art by Lulu Chen, Kateřina Čupová, Alejo and Vivian de los Rios Marietta, and Anna Wojtczak.
Art by Lulu Chen, Kateřina Čupová, Alejo and Vivian de los Rios Marietta, and Anna Wojtczak.
Some of the gorgeous cats at Meow Cat Cafe in Glasgow’s West End!
🐈⬛ 🐈 🐾
🐈⬛ 🐈 🐾
January 25, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Some of the gorgeous cats at Meow Cat Cafe in Glasgow’s West End!
🐈⬛ 🐈 🐾
🐈⬛ 🐈 🐾
First snowdrops spotted in the garden! Spring can’t be too far away!
January 24, 2026 at 11:03 AM
First snowdrops spotted in the garden! Spring can’t be too far away!
In this new piece I’m ruminating on J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan and the complexities of Neverland: Is it a magical land or a construct of the imagination? And how does the idea of a window as a portal complicate things?
dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/where-or-w...
dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/where-or-w...
January 24, 2026 at 8:28 AM
In this new piece I’m ruminating on J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan and the complexities of Neverland: Is it a magical land or a construct of the imagination? And how does the idea of a window as a portal complicate things?
dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/where-or-w...
dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/where-or-w...
No spoilers please, but…
…lovely reference to the Doors of Durin in Stranger Things, S5E7!
If you know, you know!
#StrangerThings5 #Tolkien
…lovely reference to the Doors of Durin in Stranger Things, S5E7!
If you know, you know!
#StrangerThings5 #Tolkien
January 21, 2026 at 9:19 PM
No spoilers please, but…
…lovely reference to the Doors of Durin in Stranger Things, S5E7!
If you know, you know!
#StrangerThings5 #Tolkien
…lovely reference to the Doors of Durin in Stranger Things, S5E7!
If you know, you know!
#StrangerThings5 #Tolkien
Watching Meriadoc Brandybuck as a juvenile delinquent turned assistant detective wasn’t quite on my Bingo card this evening! (What a great concept for a series, though! We need more intergenerational stuff on TV!)
#HettyWainthroppInvestigates
#HettyWainthroppInvestigates
January 16, 2026 at 9:49 PM
Watching Meriadoc Brandybuck as a juvenile delinquent turned assistant detective wasn’t quite on my Bingo card this evening! (What a great concept for a series, though! We need more intergenerational stuff on TV!)
#HettyWainthroppInvestigates
#HettyWainthroppInvestigates
I taught Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Tombs of Atuan this week - here are some of the many covers over the years. It’s interesting what each of them chooses to depict, isn’t it?
January 15, 2026 at 5:19 PM
I taught Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Tombs of Atuan this week - here are some of the many covers over the years. It’s interesting what each of them chooses to depict, isn’t it?
The #Tolkien Family Album was published 34 years ago this week. Here are a few gems from this rare book:
dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/a-few-gems...
Included are some thoughts about the early years of the @tolkiensociety.org and an absent friend…
dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/a-few-gems...
Included are some thoughts about the early years of the @tolkiensociety.org and an absent friend…
January 11, 2026 at 9:05 AM
The #Tolkien Family Album was published 34 years ago this week. Here are a few gems from this rare book:
dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/a-few-gems...
Included are some thoughts about the early years of the @tolkiensociety.org and an absent friend…
dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/a-few-gems...
Included are some thoughts about the early years of the @tolkiensociety.org and an absent friend…
Happy birthday J.R.R. Tolkien! Here’s my latest tribute to “On Fairy-stories” and the way it shaped the thinking (and writing!) of later fantasy authors.
dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/in-tolkien...
@tolkiensociety.org @uofgfantasy.bsky.social @uofgartshums.bsky.social
dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/in-tolkien...
@tolkiensociety.org @uofgfantasy.bsky.social @uofgartshums.bsky.social
January 3, 2026 at 8:33 AM
Happy birthday J.R.R. Tolkien! Here’s my latest tribute to “On Fairy-stories” and the way it shaped the thinking (and writing!) of later fantasy authors.
dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/in-tolkien...
@tolkiensociety.org @uofgfantasy.bsky.social @uofgartshums.bsky.social
dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/in-tolkien...
@tolkiensociety.org @uofgfantasy.bsky.social @uofgartshums.bsky.social
Tree on fire 🌳 🔥
(Seriously, 2026 has been treating us to some amazing skies so far!)
(Seriously, 2026 has been treating us to some amazing skies so far!)
January 2, 2026 at 7:43 PM
Tree on fire 🌳 🔥
(Seriously, 2026 has been treating us to some amazing skies so far!)
(Seriously, 2026 has been treating us to some amazing skies so far!)
First sunrise of the year! Happy New Year everyone! 🔔❄️☀️
January 1, 2026 at 8:47 AM
First sunrise of the year! Happy New Year everyone! 🔔❄️☀️
Reflections
(Forth and Clyde Canal)
(Forth and Clyde Canal)
December 28, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Reflections
(Forth and Clyde Canal)
(Forth and Clyde Canal)
Lovely Boxing Day walk. Cold but sunny! Somewhere in there is our house, with the Campsie Fells in the background. 🏴🌞🎄
December 26, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Lovely Boxing Day walk. Cold but sunny! Somewhere in there is our house, with the Campsie Fells in the background. 🏴🌞🎄
Christmas sunset for you all 🎄
December 25, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Christmas sunset for you all 🎄
“Twas the Night before Christmas” (aka “A Visit from St. Nicholas”) by Clement Clarke Moore, illustrated by Douglas Gorsline, Arthur Rackham, Jessie Willcox Smith, and P.J. Lynch.
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
🎅🎄
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
🎅🎄
December 24, 2025 at 5:58 PM
“Twas the Night before Christmas” (aka “A Visit from St. Nicholas”) by Clement Clarke Moore, illustrated by Douglas Gorsline, Arthur Rackham, Jessie Willcox Smith, and P.J. Lynch.
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
🎅🎄
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
🎅🎄
General Christmas sugar business by my amazing husband @andyd99.bsky.social! 🎄❄️🧁
December 22, 2025 at 3:15 PM
General Christmas sugar business by my amazing husband @andyd99.bsky.social! 🎄❄️🧁
Reposted by Prof. Dimitra Fimi
And yet another book review at the Journal of Tolkien Research before the end of the year! This time it's The High Hallow: Tolkien's Liturgical Imagination (Ben Reinhard, 2025). A day may come when I stop writing article-length reviews, but it is not this day.
The High Hallow: Tolkien’s Liturgical Imagination (2025) by Ben Reinhard.
Book review, by Tom Emanuel, of The High Hallow: Tolkien’s Liturgical Imagination (2025) by Ben Reinhard.
scholar.valpo.edu
December 20, 2025 at 10:12 PM
And yet another book review at the Journal of Tolkien Research before the end of the year! This time it's The High Hallow: Tolkien's Liturgical Imagination (Ben Reinhard, 2025). A day may come when I stop writing article-length reviews, but it is not this day.
He’s had another hard day… 🐈⬛ 🐾
December 19, 2025 at 5:42 PM
He’s had another hard day… 🐈⬛ 🐾