Barliman Butterbur is the proprietor of inn called The Prancing Pony, in the town of Bree. The Pony boasts the best ale in the area, and many Brandybucks from the Shire make excursions there just for the ale. It is no simple task maintaining an inn with such repute, especially in troubled times, but Butterbur is equal to the task ? with the help of his hobbit-assistants, Nob and Bob.
Absent-minded and distracted, Butterbur is always in a rush, often forgetting what he is about. To some this makes him appear a dullard, but nothing could be further from the truth. He has a shrewd mind and sharp wit, though it sometimes takes a little longer for him to catch on than it might for others.
Barliman Butterbur is introduced to readers of J.R.R. Tolkien?s The Lord of the Rings when Frodo and his companions arrive at The Prancing Pony, seeking Gandalf. He lends aid to the hobbits and the mysterious Ranger called Strider when the Nazg?l of Sauron come calling. In The Lord of the Rings Online?: Shadows of Angmar?, Butterbur can be found at The Prancing Pony in Bree, where he introduces players to Strider and offers them tasks. Players of LOTRO can also speak with him if they wish to buy a nice, rich, foamy ale.
Barliman Butterbur
Quick Facts
| Timeline: |
|
||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dates: | Born some time before the War of the Ring1; lived at least until III 3018 | ||||||||||||||
| Race: | Men | ||||||||||||||
| Culture: | Bree-landers | ||||||||||||||
| Family: | Butterbur | ||||||||||||||
| Meaning: | 'Barliman' comes from 'Barley-man', meaning a brewer or innkeeper 'Butterbur' is the name of a plant, one of the typically botanical names used by the Men of Bree |
||||||||||||||
| Other names: | Barley | ||||||||||||||
The keeper of the Prancing Pony
A Man of Bree, the keeper of the Prancing Pony inn where Frodo Baggins met Aragorn for the first time.
Footnotes
| 1 | Barliman's dates of birth and death are not recorded, but he's often referred to as 'old Barliman' or 'old Butterbur'. On that basis, it's probably fair to assume he was born no later than about III 2968 (that is, he would be fifty or more years old when he first encountered Frodo Baggins - who would have been around the same age - in III 3018). |
|---|
