The Lord of the Rings
An epic high fantasy novel set in Middle-earth.
The Lord of the Rings is an epic high fantasy novel written by the English author and scholar J. R. R. Tolkien. Set in the fictional world of Middle-earth, the work began as a sequel to Tolkien’s 1937 children’s book The Hobbit but expanded into a far larger narrative, composed in stages between 1937 and 1949. It is one of the best-selling books ever written, with over 150 million copies sold. The title refers to the story’s primary antagonist, the Dark Lord Sauron, who long ago forged the One Ring to dominate the other Rings of Power given to men, dwarves, and elves, enabling his conquest of Middle-earth. The plot follows a quest to destroy the One Ring, beginning in the peaceful, countryside-like Shire and ranging across Middle-earth. The journey is seen mainly through the eyes of the hobbits Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin, who are aided by the wizard Gandalf, the men Aragorn and Boromir, the elf Legolas, and the dwarf Gimli. These characters unite as the Company of the Ring to rally the Free Peoples against Sauron’s armies, giving Frodo a chance to cast the Ring into the fires of Mount Doom. Tolkien drew inspiration from philology, mythology, Christianity, earlier fantasy works, and his experiences in the First World War. Though often called a trilogy, Tolkien intended it as a single volume in a two-volume set alongside The Silmarillion. For economic reasons, it was first published over a year, from July 1954 to October 1955, in three volumes: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. The work is internally divided into six books, two per volume, with appendices containing chronologies, genealogies, and linguistic data. It was later issued as a boxed set in 1957 and as a single volume in 1968, fulfilling Tolkien’s original intent. Initially receiving mixed literary reception, the novel has since been extensively analyzed for its themes and devices, and is considered one of the most influential fantasy books ever written, shaping the modern genre. It has been reprinted many times, translated into at least 38 languages, and inspired numerous derivative works, including paintings, music, films, television, video games, and board games. Award-winning adaptations have been made for radio, theatre, and film. In a 2003 BBC poll, it was named Britain’s best-loved novel of all time.
- Author
- J. R. R. Tolkien
- Genre
- Epic high fantasy
- Setting
- Middle-earth
- Copies sold
- Over 150 million
- Original language
- English
Lore & Background
The Lord of the Rings is an epic high fantasy novel by the English author and scholar J. R. R. Tolkien. The title refers to the story's main antagonist, the Dark Lord Sauron, who created the One Ring to rule the other Rings of Power given to men, dwarves, and elves. The story begins in the Shire, a hobbit land reminiscent of the English countryside, and ranges across the entire continent of Middle-earth. The defining quest is to destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom, where it was forged. The narrative is seen mainly through the eyes of the hobbits Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin, aided by the wizard Gandalf, the men Aragorn and Boromir, the elf Legolas, and the dwarf Gimli, who unite as the Company of the Ring to rally the Free Peoples against Sauron's armies. Tolkien drew inspiration from philology, mythology, Christianity, earlier fantasy works, and his own experiences in the First World War. The work was written in stages between 1937 and 1949, originally intended as a single volume in a two-volume set with *The Silmarillion*. For economic reasons, it was first published in three volumes from 1954 to 1955: *The Fellowship of the Ring*, *The Two Towers*, and *The Return of the King*. It is divided internally into six books, with several appendices of chronologies, genealogies, and linguistic information. It has sold over 150 million copies, been translated into at least 38 languages, and is considered one of the most influential fantasy books ever written, shaping the modern fantasy genre.
Reader's Guide
Although often called a trilogy, Tolkien intended The Lord of the Rings to be a single volume in a two-volume set, along with The Silmarillion. For economic reasons, it was first published over the course of a year in three volumes: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. The work is divided internally into six books, two per volume, with several appendices. After an initial mixed reception by the literary establishment, it has been the subject of extensive analysis and is considered one of the most influential fantasy books ever written, helping to create and shape the modern fantasy genre. It has been reprinted many times, translated into at least 38 languages, and inspired numerous derivative works including paintings, music, films, television, video games, and board games.
Did You Know?
- The work is divided internally into six books, two per volume.
- It has been translated into at least 38 languages.
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