Who wrote The Lord of the Rings?
J.R.R. Tolkien, an English writer and Oxford professor, wrote The Lord of the Rings. It was published in three volumes in 1954 and 1955.
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was a professor of Old English who loved ancient languages and myths. He created his own languages, such as the Elvish tongues Quenya and Sindarin, and invented the world of Middle-earth for them.
The Lord of the Rings was a sequel to his 1937 children's book The Hobbit. Tolkien wrote it as one long novel, but the publisher split it into three parts: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King.
Films and legacy
Peter Jackson's film trilogy, released from 2001 to 2003, was a huge success. The Return of the King won 11 Oscars, including Best Picture. Tolkien's work shaped modern fantasy, influencing countless books and games.
Tolkien spent about 12 years writing The Lord of the Rings, working on it through World War II. The books have sold more than 150 million copies and have been translated into dozens of languages.
Did You Know?
Tolkien was a member of an informal Oxford writing group called the Inklings, which also included C.S. Lewis, author of The Chronicles of Narnia.