The
Inklings is one of the most famous groups of
authors in the
fantasy genre, mainly because of some of its
legendary members:
-J. R. R.
Tolkien: arguably the most famous
fantasy writer ever, author of
The Hobbit and
Lord of the Rings.
-
Clive Staples Lewis: better known as C. S. Lewis, author of the
Chronicles of Narnia.
-
Charles Williams:
writer,
editor and
poet, a major figure in
Christian fantasy.
Meetings of the
Inklings took place in Lewis's rooms at Magdalen College in
Oxford, mainly between 1939 and 1949 (right before the completion of
Lord of the Rings). The members read works in progress out loud for each other. These works were then analyzed and criticized by the members. The meetings of the Inklings were a major
influence on both
Lord of the Rings and the
Chronicles of Narnia.