This article is about the book.

For the film series, see The Lord of the Rings (film series). For other uses, see
The Lord of the Rings (disambiguation).

"War of the Ring" redirects here. For other uses, see War of the Ring (disambiguation).

The Lord of the Rings

The first single-volume edition (1968)

Author J. R. R. Tolkien
Country England
Language English
Genre  High Fantasy
 Adventure
Publisher Allen & Unwin
Publication date  29 July 1954 (The Fellowship of the Ring)
 11 November 1954 (The Two Towers)
 20 October 1955 (The Return of the King)
Media type Print (hardback & paperback)
OCLC 1487587
Preceded by The Hobbit
Followed by The Adventures of Tom Bombadil
The Lord of the Rings is an epic[1] high fantasy novel[a] by the English author and scholar J. R. R. Tolkien. Set
in Middle-earth, the world at some distant time in the past, the story began as a sequel to Tolkien's 1937
children's book The Hobbit, but eventually developed into a much larger work. Written in stages between
1937 and 1949, The Lord of the Rings is one of the best-selling books ever written, with over 150 million
copies sold.[2]

The title names the story's main antagonist, the Dark Lord Sauron, who had in an earlier age created the
One Ring to rule the other Rings of Power as the ultimate weapon in his campaign to conquer and rule all
of Middle-earth. From homely beginnings in the Shire, a hobbit land reminiscent of the English
countryside, the story ranges across Middle-earth, following the quest to destroy the One Ring mainly
through the eyes of the hobbits Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin.

Although generally known to readers as a trilogy, the work was initially intended by Tolkien to be one
volume of a two-volume set along with The Silmarillion, but this idea was dismissed by his publisher.[3][T 2]
For economic reasons, The Lord of the Rings was published in three volumes over the course of a year
from 29 July 1954 to 20 October 1955.[3][4] The three volumes were titled The Fellowship of the Ring, The
Two Towers and The Return of the King. Structurally, the work is divided internally into six books, two per
volume, with several appendices of background material at the end. Some editions print the entire work
into a single volume, following the author's original intent.

Tolkien's work, after an initially mixed reception by the literary establishment, has been the subject of
extensive analysis of its themes and origins. Influences on this earlier work, and on the story of The Lord
of the Rings, include philology, mythology, Christianity, earlier fantasy works, and his own experiences in
the First World War. The Lord of the Rings in its turn has had a great effect on modern fantasy.

The Lord of the Rings has since been reprinted many times and translated into at least 38 languages.[b] The
enduring popularity of The Lord of the Rings has led to numerous references in popular culture, the
founding of many societies by fans of Tolkien's works,[5] and the publication of many books about Tolkien
and his works. It has inspired numerous derivative works including artwork, music, films and television,
video games, board games, and subsequent literature. Award-winning adaptations of The Lord of the
Rings have been made for radio, theatre, and film. It has been named Britain's best novel of all time in
the BBC's The Big Read.