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The World of J.R.R. Tolkien

Image by David Flam/Creative Commons via flickr;

The tale of Bilbo Baggins chronicled in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit often lives in the shadow of the popular writer’s masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings. Corey Olsen, the self-described “Tolkien Professor,” thinks that’s a shame. With both books, Tolkien created a stunningly complex myth that Olsen says addresses themes all too relevant in the real world: the nature of evil, the corrupting power of greed and the ease with which good people can be drawn into destructive conflict. Olsen joins us on Thursday to talk about the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien.

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Corey Olsen is the author of the new book Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit." He's also a professor of English at Washington College in Maryland and the host of the podcast "The Tolkien Professor."

Doug Fabrizio has been reporting for KUER News since 1987, and became News Director in 1993. In 2001, he became host and executive producer of KUER's RadioWest, a one hour conversation/call-in show on KUER 90.1 in Salt Lake City. He has gained a reputation for his thoughtful style. He has interviewed everyone from Isabel Allende to the Dalai Lama, and from Madeleine Albright to Desmond Tutu. His interview skills landed him a spot as a guest host of the national NPR program, "Talk of the Nation." He has won numerous awards for his reporting and for his work with RadioWest and KUED's Utah NOW from such organizations as the Society of Professional Journalists, the Utah Broadcasters Association, the Public Radio News Directors Association and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.