Shirebourn

J.R.R. Tolkien

Biography | Writings

Biography
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born on the 3rd of January 1892 in Bloemfontein, South Africa. He was born to English parents, Arthur Reuel Tolkien (1857-1896) and Mabel Suffield (1870-1904). Both of the parents were in South Africa due to business. When Tolkien was three years old, his mother moved him and his younger brother, Hilary Arthur Reuel, back to England. Soon afterwards, Tolkien's father died of rheumatic fever in South Africa. In 1896, the family moved to Sarehole right outside of Birmingham. Due to the Tolkien family's deep poverty, they were forced to move to Moseley, a town north west of Sarehole. When Tolkien was twelve years old, his mother died of complications due to diabetes. After her death, the two boys were raised by the family's Catholic Priest, Father Francis Xavier Morgan. When Tolkien was sixteen years old, he met Edith Mary Bratt who he fell in love with. Father Francis Morgan felt that Edith was a distraction to Tolkien's studies and made him promise not to correspond with the girl until he was twenty-one. Tolkien obeyed his gaurdian's wishes with one early exception which he was threatened for. In 1911, Tolkien attended King Edward's School in Birmingham where he excelled in classical and modern languages. Later, in the same year, Tolkien attended Exeter College in Oxford where he began creating his own languages. He became fascinated with the Finnish language and used it as the basis for Quenya; a language he would later give to his Elves. On his twenty-first birthday, Tolkien renewed his contact with Edith Bratt and proposed to her. At the time, she was betrothed to another man but Tolkien successfully persuaded her to change her mind and the two were engaged. After graduating in 1915 with a degree in English Language and Literature, he joined the British army. When he was on leave in 1916, he went back to England and married Edith. When he returned to the army, he fought in the Battle of the Somme but was discharged and sent to the hospital due to trench fever. During this time, he began writing his famous stories and in 1917, his first son, John Francis Reuel Tolkien, was born. Tolkien was in and out of the trenches and many of his close friends were killed in the war. After World War I, Tolkien got a job as a staff member of the Oxford English Dictionary. In 1920, his second son, Michael Hilary Reuel Tolkien, was born. During the same year, Tolkien became a reader at the University of Leeds. In 1924, he became an English Language professor at the University and his third son, Christopher John Reuel Tolkien, was born. In 1925, Tolkien and a collegue published a translation and analysis of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. This same year, Tolkien returned to Oxford to teach as a Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon. In 1926, Tolkien met C.S. Lewis (author of The Chronicles of Narnia) and the two became best friends. In 1929, Tolkien's fourth and final child, Priscilla Mary Anne Reuel Tolkien, was born. Soon after that, Tolkien began writing The Hobbit which was published in 1937. In the late 1930's he began writing The Lord of the Rings which got published in 1954 and 1955. In 1945, he became a professor of English Language and Literature at Merton College, Oxford. He remained there until he retired in 1959. Tolkien continued to write stories like The Adventures of Tom Bombadil in 1962, Smith of Wotton Major, and The Road Goes Ever On in 1967. To avoid publicity, Tolkien and Edith moved to Poole in 1968. Edith Tolkien, being ill for some time, died on the 29th of November 1971 at the age of 82. Tolkien had the name "Lúthien" engraved on her gravestone at Wolvercote Cemetery, Oxford. Tolkien died on the 2nd of September 1973 at the age of 81 due to pneumonia. He was buried in the same grave as his wife and the name "Beren" was added under his name. After Tolkien's death, his son Christopher completed his father's work. He edited The Silmarillion and got it published in 1977. In 1980, he began to publish the rest of his father's incomplete writings.

Writings
The Hobbit
This fantasy novel for children was written in the 1920's and it was first published in 1937. The hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, is whisked off on a dangerous journey away from the Shire. He is accompanied by Gandalf the wizard and thirteen dwarves. This story is the prologue to The Lord of the Rings.

The Lord of the Rings
The first series in the trilogy was published in 1954 and the other two were published in 1955. Each of the three books are subdivided making a total of six books.
1.The Fellowship of the Ring
Gandalf the Grey discovers that Bilbo Baggins is in possession of the One Ring that was forged by the Dark Lord Sauron. The ring is passed to Bilbo's nephew, Frodo Baggins who sets out on a quest to destroy the ring.
2.The Two Towers
Frodo continues on his journey with Samwise Gamgee to destroy the ring in the fires of Mount Doom. Along the way, they meet Gollum who guides them through enemy lands. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli help King Théoden in Rohan.
3.The Return of the King
Frodo and Sam inch closer to Mordor every day and the others must fight against Sauron's army.

The Adventures of Tom Bombadil
This is a collection of poems written by Tolkien. It contains 16 poems and was published in 1962.

The Road Goes Ever On
This is a songbook that was published in the early 1960's. The music was written by Donald Swann for many of Tolkien's poems.

The Silmarillion
This book was published in 1977. It is a story about the creation and early history of Middle-Earth and includes the tale of Beren and Lúthien.

Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien
This is a collection of illustrations drawn by Tolkien for his fantastical worlds.

Unfinished Tales
This is a collection of stories and essays written by Tolkien that were never completed but edited and published in 1980 by his son, Christoper. This book also contains stories about the early history of Middle-Earth.

Bilbo's Last Song
This is a poem written by Tolkien that was published in book form in 1990. It was illustrates by Pauline Baynes.

The Book of Lost Tales Part I
This is part I of The History of Middle-Earth and it was published in 1983. This could be considered an early version of The Silmarillion. This is the story about a mortal man named Eriol who visits the Isle of Tol Eressëa, home of the Elves. He listens to their stories about the early days of Middle-earth.

The Book of Lost Tales Part II
This is part II of The History of Middle-Earth and the second half of the early Silmarillion. It was published in 1984. In this part of the story, Eriol listens to the tales of Beren and Luthien, Turin Turambar, Gondolin, Eärendil, and more.

The Lays of Beleriand
This is part III of The History of Middle-Earth and it was published in 1985. This book includes two incomplete and long narrative poems. The Lay of the Children of Húrin is about Túrin Turambar and The Lay of Leithian is about Beren and Lúthien.

The Shaping of Middle-earth
This is part IV of The History of Middle-Earth and it was published in 1986. This book contains collections of maps and diagrams of the world described by Tolkien. It also include chronological works which began as timelines.

The Lost Road
This is part V of The History of Middle-Earth and it was published in 1987. This book includes stories such as the Tale of the Downfall of Númenor, the story of the Lost Road into the West, the Annals of Valinor, and many more.

The Return of the Shadow
This is part VI of The History of Middle-Earth and it was published in 1988. This is the first part of the history of The Lord of the Rings. It is a compilation of drafts and outlines up until the point where the fellowship enters the Mines of Moria.

The Treason of Isengard
This is part VII of The History of Middle-Earth and it was published in 1989. This is the second part of the history of The Lord of the Rings. This book continues the drafts from the trilogy to the point of the meeting with King Théoden of Rohan.

The War of the Ring
This is part VIII of The History of Middle-Earth and it was published in 1990. This is the third part of the history of The Lord of the Rings. This book also continues the drafts to the opening of the Black Gate.

Sauron Defeated
This is part IX of The History of Middle-Earth and it was published in 1992. This is the fourth and final part of the history of The Lord of the Rings. This book finishes the story and contains a rejected epilogue about Sam and his children.

Morgoth's Ring
This is part X of The History of Middle-Earth and the first half of The Later Silmarillion. This book contains detailed writings about The Silmarillion. It mostly deals with the first half of the story in Valinor and Tol Eressëa.

The War of the Jewels
This is part XI of The History of Middle-Earth and the second part of The Later Silmarillion. This books includes more commentary on The Silmarillion. This one mostly deals with the second half of the story in Beleriand.

The Peoples of Middle-earth
This is part XII of The History of Middle-Earth and it was published in 1996. This book contains drafts of the Appendices to The Lord of the Rings and other writings.

Farmer Giles of Ham
This novel was written in 1937 and published in 1949. This book is a children's book about an encounter between a farmer and a dragon.

Tree and Leaf
This small book was published in 1964. It contained two of Tolkien's works, On Fairy-Stories and Leaf by Niggle. On Fairy-Stories was a lecture given at the University of Leeds and Leaf by Niggle was a story about a painter named Niggle who "niggled" over details and feared he would never finish his work.

Smith of Wootton Major
This book is a short fairy-tale set in Anglo-Saxon times. It is the story of a man who is gifted with an enchanted “fay-star”. It was originally published in 1967.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo
This is a story translated by Tolkien about the quest of one of King Arthur's noble knights.

The Father Christmas Letters
This is a collection of letters that Tolkien wrote for his children between 1920 and 1942. They were filled with adventurous tales about Father Christmas and the North Pole. It was first published in 1976.

The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
This is a compilation of letters from Tolkien to his family, friends and fans. It contains 354 letters and was published in 1981.

Mr. Bliss
This is a children's picture book that Tolkien wrote for his own children. It is the story of a man and his adventures when he goes out to buy a car. It was published in 1982.

The Monsters and the Critics
This is a collection of Tolkien's essays on language and literature. The title is that from his Beowulf study.

Roverandom
This book is a children's story about a dog named Rover. Rover is turned into a toy by a wizard and must go on an adventure to change himself back. Tolkien wrote this story in order to comfort his son Michael when he lost his toy dog. It was published in 1998.

All content is ©Shirebourn unless stated otherwise. Nothing may be used without permission. Shirebourn is in no way affiliated with New Line Cinema or the Tolkien Estate. Photographs from The Lord of the Rings are the property of New Line Cinema. Design is ©Shirebourn.