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J R R Tolkien (1892 – 1973)
J R R Tolkien – Biography
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892–1973) was an English writer, philologist, and professor who created The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. A scholar of Old English and Norse mythology, he crafted Middle-earth, a richly detailed fantasy world inspired by European myths and languages. His works revolutionized modern fantasy literature, emphasizing heroism, friendship, and the battle between good and evil. His writings remain highly influential, inspiring countless adaptations, and cementing his place as the father of modern fantasy literature.
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Summaries of J R R Tolkien’s Books
The Hobbit (1937)
Country Setting: the mythical world of Middle-earth, mainly comprising of the Shire, Misty Mountains, Mirkwood, and the Lonely Mountain.
Themes Addressed: Heroism, personal growth, greed, fate, adventure, the power of wit over strength.
This is the fictional story of Bilbo Baggins, a peaceful hobbit from the Shire in Middle earth, who is thrust into an adventure when a wizard – Gandalf, and a company of dwarves, recruit him to help them reclaim their homeland from a dragon – Smaug. Along the way, Bilbo encounters trolls, goblins, and a creature called Gollum. It is from Gollum that Bilbo acquires a mysterious ring – the One Ring, that changes his life and that of his world. The story culminates in a’ Battle of the Five Armies’, after which Bilbo returns to his home in the Shire, forever changed by his experiences. This classic story is the forerunner to The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
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The Lord of the Rings (1954–1955)
Country Setting: The mythical world of Middle-earth, spanning the Shire, Rivendell, Rohan, Gondor, and Mordor.
Themes Addressed: The corrupting influence of power, friendship, duty, sacrifice, the triumph of hope over despair.
This book is the sequel to The Hobbit and comprises of three volumes, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. It tells the classic fictional story of Frodo Baggins, son of Bilbo Baggins, who inherits Bilbo’s mysterious ring – the One Ring. This ring is an artifact of immense power that Sauron – an evil Wizard, seeks to reclaim. Frodo, with his companions from Middle-earth, journey to Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring, thus hoping to save their world from the evil Sauron. Along the way Frodo and his companions encounter a multitude of adventures from which they mostly survive. Ultimately, Frodo, burdened by the Ring’s power and aided by the unlikely Gollum, prevails in his quest to reach Mount Doom and the ring is destroyed and Sauron is defeated. Middle-earth is nonetheless changed forever, and Frodo departs to the undying lands.
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The Silmarillion (1977, posthumous)
Country Setting: Early Ages of Middle-earth, including Valinor, Beleriand, and Númenor.
Themes Addressed: Fate, free will, hubris, loss, the struggle between light and darkness, the burden of immortality.
This book, written in most part before The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, sets out a mythic history of Middle-earth, It recounts the creation of that mythical world, the rise and fall of Elves and Men, and the long struggle against the dark lord Morgoth. The book details epic tales of heroism, betrayal, and loss, culminating in Morgoth’s defeat. This historical tale seeks to set the scene for later events detailed in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien sought to publish The Silmarillion in parallel with the publication of The Lord of the Rings but his publishers declined the book. It was subsequently published posthumously by his son, Christopher
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Full Length Feature Films
Both the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings have been made into a series of full length feature films that are available through Amazon in the form of a value for money DVD or BlueRay boxset. These boxsets can be accessed below.
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Other Suggested Travel Writers and Travel Related Story Tellers:
Suggested Travel Writers:
Jan Morris
Simon Winchester
William Dalrymple
Bruce Chatwin
Suggested Travel Related Story Tellers:
Graham Greene
Ernest Hemingway
Jack Kerouac
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