‘A Secret Vice’: 85 Years On

In the following article, current Pembroke student Will Brockbank, MPhil English Studies (Medieval) (2015) and Dr Gabriel Schenk, who graduated from Pembroke in 2014 with a DPhil in English Literature (Arthurian 1839-1945) reflect on their recent event, ‘A Secret Vice: 85 Years On’, which took place in Pembroke College on 29th November, 2016.

‘On November 29th 1931, on a cold, dark evening in Oxford, J.R.R. Tolkien gave a lecture on the art of language invention and the relation between myth and language, entitled ‘A Secret Vice’, to the Johnson Society at Pembroke College.

85 years later to the day, Tolkien scholars Dr Dimitra Fimi and Dr Andrew Higgins came to Pembroke to give a talk on Tolkien’s essay and his time at the College.

Earlier this year Dimitra and Andrew published the first ever critical study of the essay, reproducing it alongside a new essay and drafts from Tolkien’s manuscripts, accompanied by detailed editorial notes and introductory material.

The Q&A afterwards covered a range of topics, including the importance of music and reading Tolkien’s poetry aloud; the influence of other writers on his theories; other invented languages such as Klingon and Dothraki; and whether Saruman would have invented Esperanto if he’d had a chance.

The conversation continued into the night, in true Oxford and Tolkien style, when everyone retired to the common room to discuss invented languages and mythology over wine and cheese (courtesy of the book’s publishers at HarperCollins), and mince pies (graciously provided by the MCR).

There was also the opportunity for attendees to see letters written by Tolkien from the College archive (kindly gathered and arranged by College librarian Laura Cracknell), as well as a first edition of The Hobbit and a signed menu from the Johnson society dinner of 1931, both generously lent by Andrew Ferguson.’

Click here to read more and watch a recording of the event.