J.R.R. Tolkien, full name John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the high fantasy works “The Hobbit,” “The Lord of the Rings,” and “The Silmarillion.” Tolkien was born on January 3, 1892, in Bloemfontein, Orange Free State (modern-day South Africa). He moved to England with his mother and brother after his father’s death when he was three years old. As a child, Tolkien showed an early interest in languages and storytelling, creating his own languages and fantasy stories.
He studied at Exeter College, Oxford, where he specialised in philology and Old and Middle English. Later, he became an Anglo-Saxon professor at Oxford University and then the Merton Professor of English Language and Literature. Tolkien’s first significant work was “The Hobbit,” published in 1937. It introduced readers to the world of Middle-earth and the character of Bilbo Baggins. He followed up with “The Lord of the Rings,” a sequel to “The Hobbit,” published in three volumes between 1954 and 1955. Tolkien’s works are renowned for their detailed world-building, complex characters, and rich mythology. His works have profoundly influenced fantasy and garnered a massive following worldwide. “The Lord of the Rings” has been adapted into successful films directed by Peter Jackson, further popularizing Tolkien’s work. Tolkien passed away on September 2, 1973, in Bournemouth, England, leaving behind a rich literary legacy that inspires readers and writers today. His impact on literature and popular culture is significant, and his works are considered classics in the fantasy genre.
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