Tolkien's Tales

Did you enjoy the movie Lord of the Rings?
Want to know what order to read the Middle-earth books in?
Check this out......

J(ohn) R(onald) R(euel) Tolkien
(pronounced tohl-keen)
January 3, 1892 - September 2, 1973

Born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, J.R.R. Tolkien was the son of Arthur Reuel Tolkien, a bank manager,
and Mabel Suffield Tolkien. Following his father's death in Febraury 1896, he, his mother and his younger
brother Hilary returned to England. His mother died in October 1904 from diabetes, and left the boys
orphaned. Raised by family, friends and the local parish priest, Tolkien attended Exeter College in Oxford,
receiving a B.A. in 1915 and an M.A. in 1919. Tolkien also served in World War I, but not before marrying
Edith Mary Bratt, a pianist, on March 22, 1916. Edith and Tolkien had four children, John, Michael,
Christopher, and Priscilla. Edith passed away November 29, 1971 and Tolkien followed two years later.

Novels of Middle-earth

The Silmarillion, 1977.
The story of the creation of the world and of the First Age, this is the ancient drama to
which the characters in The Lord of the Rings look back and in whose events some of them,
such as Elrond and Galadriel, took part. The three Silmarils were jewels created by Fëanor,
most gifted of the Elves. Within them was imprisoned the Light of the Two Trees of Valinor
before the Trees themselves were destroyed by Morgoth, the first Dark Lord. Thereafter,
the unsullied Light of Valinor lived on only in the Silmarils, but they were seized by Morgoth
and set in his crown, which was guarded in the impenetrable fortress of Angband in the north
of Middle-earth. The Silmarillion is the history of the rebellion of Fëanor and his kindred
against the gods, their exile from Valinor and return to Middle-earth, and their war, hopeless
despite all their heroism, against the great Enemy.
(Published posthumously)

 

The Hobbit; or, There and Back Again, 1937.
If you care for journeys there and back, out of the comfortable Western world, over the edge
of the Wild, and home again, and can take an interest in a humble hero (blessed with a little
wisdom and a little courage and considerable good luck), here is a record of such a journey
and such a traveler. In following the path of this humble adventurer, you will learn by the way
(as he did) -- if you do not already know all about these things -- much about trolls, goblins,
dwarves, and elves. Mr. Bilbo Baggins visited various notable persons; conversed with the
dragon, Smaug the Magnificent; and was present, rather unwillingly, at the Battle of the Five
Armies. This is all the more remarkable, since he was a hobbit. Hobbits have hitherto been
passed over in history and legend, perhaps because they as a rule preferred comfort to
excitement. But this account, based on his personal memoirs, of the one exciting year in the
otherwise quiet life of Mr. Baggins will give you a fair idea of the estimable people
now (it is said) becoming rather rare.

 

The Lord of the Rings, Volume 1: The Fellowship of the Ring, 1954.
The dark, fearsome Ringwraiths were searching for a hobbit. Frodo Baggins knew they were
seeking him and the Ring he bore - the Ring of Power that would enable evil Sauron to
destroy all that was good in Middle-earth. Now, it is up to Frodo, and his faithful servant, Sam,
with a small band of companions, to carry the Ring to the one place it could be destroyed -
Mount Doom, in the very center of Sauron's dark kingdom.

 

The Lord of the Rings, Volume 2: The Two Towers, 1954.
The fellowship was scattered. Some were bracing hopelessly for war against the ancient evil
of Sauron. Some were contending with the treachery of the wizard Saruman. Only Frodo and
Sam were left to take the accursed Ring of Power to be destroyed in Mordor - the dark
kingdom where Sauron was supreme. Their guide was Gollum, deceitful and lust-filled,
slave to the corruption of the Ring.

 

The Lord of the Rings, Volume 3: The Return of the King, 1955.
While the evil might of the Dark Lord Sauron swarmed out to conquer all Middle-earth,
Frodo and Sam struggled deep into Mordor, seat of Sauron's power. To defeat the Dark
Lord, the accursed Ring of Power had to be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom. But the
way was impossibly hard, and Frodo was weakening. Weighed down by the compulsion of
the Ring, he began finally to despair.

 

Related Readings:

The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, 1962.

Bilbo's Last Song, 1990.
(Published posthumously)

 

For more about how Tolkien created Middle-earth, and the
writing of the stories, try:

The History of Middle-Earth series
(edited by Christopher Tolkien)
(Published posthumously)

Volume 1: The Book of Lost Tales, Part 1, 1983.
Volume 2: The Book of Lost Tales, Part 2, 1984.
Volume 3: The Lays of Beleriand, 1985.
Volume 4: The Shaping of Middle-earth: The Quenta, the Ambarkanta, and the Annals, 1986.
Volume 5: The Lost Road and Other Writings: Language and Legend before The Lord of the Rings, 1987.
Volume 6: The Return of the Shadow: The History of The Lord of the Rings, Part 1, 1988.
Volume 7: The Treason of Isengard: The History of The Lord of the Rings, Part 2, 1989.
Volume 8: The War of the Ring: The History of The Lord of the Rings, Part 3, 1990.
Volume 9: Sauron Defeated: The History of The Lord of the Rings, Part 4, 1992.
Volume 11: The War of the Jewels: The Later Silmarillion, Part Two, The Legends of Beleriand, 1994.
Volume 12: The Peoples of Middle-earth, 1996.

Miscellaneous Links

The Lord of the Rings
The home page for the most recent motion picture versions of Tolkien's classic
Middle-earth trilogy. Information on the cast, production of the films, soundtrack, and more.

The Encyclopedia of Arda
The Encyclopedia of Arda is an interactive guide to the works of J.R.R. Tolkien.
It is an illustrated hypertext encyclopedia of Tolkien's realms and peoples.

The Tolkien Archives
The New York Times' archives of articles on J.R.R. Tolkien, his works and the new films.
There is also a Tolkien Weekly Trivia Quiz available on this site.

The Tolkien Trail
The Tolkien Trail is a Lord of the Rings website in which you can explore Tolkien's fantasy
world of Middle-earth. As you discover each area of Middle-earth, you will be able to learn
about that place and also enjoy an interesting set of activities and information.

The Tolkien Society
The Tolkien Society is and interntaional organization whose aim is to encourage and further interest
in the life and works fo the late Professor J.R.R. Tolkien. This site has information about J.R.R. Tolkien,
the books he wrote, his life, books others have written about him, the Scoiety and its events, and lots more.

 

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02/01/02   9:01 am