In literary history, who or what were the "Inklings"?

The "Inklings" were formed at Oxford University, England, in the 1930s, and dedicated themselves to the importance of narrative and the role of fantasy in fiction. Far and away their most famous members were JRR Tolkien, the author of "The Lord of the Rings" and CS Lewis, the author of the "Chronicles of Narnia", though others drifted in and out of the group, including members of their families.

Meetings of the society were largely informal, and often held in Lewis's rooms at Magdalen College, although get-togethers in local hostelries were also frequent.

Their legacy continues to be felt today, and not only due to the renewed popularity of Lewis's and Tolkien's work due to successful movie adaptations. The Mythopoetic Society is devoted to the work of the Inklings and their like, and there are still Inkling societies all over the world, including one in Aachen, Germany, and one in Oxford (!) Ohio, USA, who follow the tradition of the Thursday night meeting.

The Inklings have also become fictional characters themselves, in the fantasy novels of James A Owen - and the name is also used for characters in a Nintendo game. One can only muse on what the original Inklings may have made of that!