What was the name of J.R.R. Tolkien’s close literary group with C.S. Lewis?

The Inklings was the close literary group associated with J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.

The Inklings were an informal Oxford discussion group rather than a formal society with membership rules or published proceedings. Writers and scholars met to read works in progress aloud, discuss literature, and offer criticism. Tolkien and Lewis were among its best-known members.

Meetings took place in Oxford rooms and at local pubs, including the Eagle and Child, commonly nicknamed the Bird and Baby. Tolkien read portions of works such as The Lord of the Rings to friends, allowing him to hear reactions while the manuscript developed.

The group included other writers, notably Charles Williams and Owen Barfield. The Inklings should not be confused with the Bloomsbury Group, a different British literary and artistic circle centered mainly in London. Its influence on Tolkien was social and critical rather than an official publishing partnership.