Barliman Butterbur

2009-12-07T20:32:17Z

71.173.178.237: minor spell correction

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[[Image:John Howe - Barliman Butterbur.jpg|thumb|''Barliman Butterbur'' by [[John Howe]]]]
'''Barliman Butterbur''' (late [[Third Age]] – early [[Fourth Age]]) was the owner of the Inn known as [[The Prancing Pony]] in [[Bree]].

==History==
Barliman appeared to have had a rather bad memory, "One thing drives out another" he says. He forgot to send [[Gandalf]]'s letter to [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]], leaving Frodo uncertain as to Gandalf's fate and causing him to start his journey much later than the letter indicated. He did not remember it until Frodo and his companions arrived to stay at the inn, and even then it was long before the connection was made. He did, however, remember to produce [[Aragorn II|Strider]]'s credentials.

When Gandalf finally arrived at The Prancing Pony, he was furious with Barliman's forgetfulness, but quickly forgave him when he found out the Hobbits are alive. He even went so far as to put a blessing on his beer.

After the [[War of the Ring]], Barliman was amazed to learn that Strider, a former patron of the Prancing Pony, had become king of [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]].

Barliman was a [[Men|Man]], but as Bree was inhabited by both Men and [[Hobbits]], he had two hobbit employees: [[Bob]], who worked in the stables, and [[Nob]], a servant.

== Portrayal in Adaptations ==
<gallery>
Image:Ralph Bakshi's Barliman Butterbur.jpg|''[[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings]]''
Image:Peter Jackson's Barliman Butterbur.jpg|''[[Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring]]''
Image:Barliman viv lotr.JPG|''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)]]''
Image:Barliman Butterbur lotro.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
</gallery>

'''1978: ''[[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:Barliman was voiced by [[Alan Tilvern]].

'''2001: ''[[Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:He is played by [[David Weatherley]], although the character is not named and most of his scenes from the book (including the reference to Gandalf's letter) are not in the film.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Barliman is a non-playable character that can be found at the [[Prancing Pony]]. The player meets with him during Volume I ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar|Shadows of Angmar]]'', Book I: ''[[Stirrings in the Darkness]]'', Foreword: "An Unwanted Guest".

[[Category:Bree-men]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[de:Gerstenmann Butterblume]]
[[fi:Viljami Voivalvatti]]

Tolkien Gateway - User contributions [en]

Barliman Butterbur