The Inklings were a literary group that during the 1930’s and 40’s met for drinks and discussion at various places in Oxford, England, most notably at The Eagle and Child pub (aka The Bird and Baby). Informal weekly meetings featured readings and discussions of unfinished literary works by members of the group. By far the two most famous members of the group were J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. The next most prolific author was Charles Williams.
For more information
HarperCollins 2006 (1978)
The Inklings: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Williams, and Their Friends by Humphrey Carpenter.
Carpenter writes the definitive and acclaimed account of the literary group that reads as part history and part biography.
Find it:
Urbana Theological Seminary Library (forthcoming)
Your local library
Goodreads
Chalice Press, 2001
The Inklings Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to the Live, Thought and Writings of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Williams, Owen Barfield, and Their Friends by Colin Duriez and David Porter.
Duriez and Porter provide a brief introduction to the Inklings and a series of alphabetized entries on figures, works, themes, and publications surrounding the group.
Find it:
Urbana Theological Seminary Library (forthcoming)
Your local library
Goodreads
Kent State UP, 2007
The Company They Keep: C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien as Writers in Community by Diana Pavlac Glyer.
This engaging academic work reveals for the reader how Inklings meetings functioned and how they impacted the members and their works.
Find it:
Urbana Theological Seminary Library (forthcoming)
Your local library
Goodreads
The Marion E. Wade Center
“The Marion E. Wade Center of Wheaton College, Illinois is a major research collection of materials by and about seven British authors: Owen Barfield, G.K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, George MacDonald, Dorothy L. Sayers, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Charles Williams.” (Source: Main page)
Mythopoeic Society: About the Inklings
“The Mythopoeic Society is a non-profit organization devoted to the study of mythopoeic literature, particularly the works of members of the informal Oxford literary circle known as the ‘Inklings.'” (Source: Main page)
References
Emma Plaskitt, ‘Inklings (act. 1930–1960)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press. [http://www.oxforddnb.com.proxy2.library.illinois.edu/view/theme/92544, accessed 14 April 2014]
Book covers from Goodreads.com