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J. R. R. Tolkien

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born in South Africa in 1892 and moved to England with his family while still a child. Both his parents died when Tolkien was young and he and his brother lived with a relative and later on, in boarding houses. Tolkien studied at Exeter College, and went on to teach at Oxford. It was during this time that he published The Hobbit (1937, Folio 1976) and The Lord of the Rings trilogy (1954-55, Folio 1977). He continued to work as a professor until 1959 and he died in 1973, aged 81.

Photograph © John Wyatt

Books by J. R. R. Tolkien

The Tolkien Collection

Discover J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth with The Folio Society’s exquisite collection of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion. Each beautifully illustrated volume is a testament to storytelling and craftsmanship, making this set a must-have for Tolkien enthusiasts.

The Hobbit

A beautiful edition of Tolkien’s classic children’s story. Leaving his comfortable hobbit hole Bilbo Baggins goes on a reluctant adventure to defeat a dragon, and along the way he encounters the vile, but pathetic Gollum, and his ‘Precious’ – a ring to rule them all.

The Lord of the Rings

Successive generations have been spellbound by the exploits of Frodo, Gandalf and their comrades as they journey towards Mordor to do battle with the Dark Lord Sauron.

The Silmarillion

Before The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit came The Silmarillion – a rich tapestry of tales and legends which tells the story of Middle-earth.

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J. R. R. Tolkien