This afternoon Beren and Lúthien were seen in the "hemlock glade" in Roos for the first time since Tolkien was inspired to write the original version of the tale 100 years ago.
Deluxe [left] and Standard "Beren and Lúthien" books in Roos Churchyard - photographed on the day of publication
Photographed in Dents Garth
At the base of the three-trunked linden-tree
Ditto
They also spent some time at the base of the three-trunked tree; a few minutes among the Cow Parsley; and they paid a short visit to the rear of Dents Garth - the woodland identified by John Garth - as the place where Edith sang and danced for Tolkien a century ago.
Unfortunately, it was difficult to find a suitable place to take some photographs. The Cow Parsley had been badly trampled in the one clearing in the woodland, and had been cut down and removed from large areas of the churchyard. In other areas it had stopped flowering and looked well past it best.
These indications of flowering add to the probability that Edith almost certainly danced for Tolkien sometime in May 1917, rather than June when Cow Parsley has lost the ethereal beauty associated with its white froth of flowers.
Despite this there was something strangely satisfying at seeing copies of the new book at the very location when the germ of the story was begun.
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