During his lifetime J.R.R. Tolkien was renowned in academic circles as an Oxford professor specializing in Old and Middle English literature. But he became world famous for the fantasy novels set on the continent of Middle-earth that were published during his life. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy have taken their place among the bestselling books of all time and were adapted into films, animation, and video games. New Line Cinema filmed each volume of the trilogy as a feature-length film and released them between 2001 and 2003. It later produced The Hobbit as a series of three films released between 2012 and 2014. In 2022, Amazon released a streaming series titled The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. It is based on the six Appendices to the trilogy included at the end of the third volume, The Return of the King. The Appendices are not necessary to understand the trilogy but elaborate on some stories and contain additional information about language and chronology.
When J.R.R. Tolkien died in 1973, his unpublished material—70 boxes, much of which was handwritten, some in notebooks but also on envelopes and napkins—passed to his literary executor, his youngest son Christopher, who had been a keen observer of his father’s writing since childhood. The Hobbit began as a bedtime story for the Tolkien children, and Christopher would point out inconsistencies in the plot. Later his father paid him for any mistakes he found in the published text. While Christopher served in the Royal Air Force, J.R.R. sent him chapters of the trilogy in draft for comment.
Christopher Tolkien was also a professor at Oxford specializing in Old and Middle English but retired from the University in 1975 to concentrate on his father’s legacy. He began with The Silmarillion, which J.R.R. started during World War I and worked on throughout his life. Christopher found it “more full of beginnings than of ends,” but with the assistance of Guy Gavriel Kay, who would later become a fantasy novelist in his own right, Christopher was able to put together a text from notes and drafts. He next turned his attention to editing and publishing his father’s letters along with additional tales of Middle-earth, retellings of myths and legends, and translations of medieval poetry. Discussing his father’s work with the Guardian, he said, “Looking back, it is strange to see how little was known of the whole conception of Middle-earth when he died. This also is for me an absolute justification for the work that I have done.”
This minibibiography puts together J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings, beginning with the tales published during his lifetime and going on to his posthumous publications including his letters and later writings about Middle-earth and medieval literature.
All titles in this minibibliography can be requested from your local cooperating library. The digital talking-book titles can be downloaded through BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download). Contact your local cooperating library to register for BARD. Registered users can also download titles on iOS and Android devices using the BARD Mobile app. To find your local cooperating library, go to www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/find-a-local-library or call toll-free 888-NLS-READ (888-657-7323).
Table of Contents
- Works J.R.R. Tolkien published during his lifetime
- Lord of the Rings trilogy
- Works published posthumously
- Works restored, edited, and introduced by Christopher Tolkien
- Background
- French language
- Spanish language
- Russian language
Works J.R.R. Tolkien published during his lifetime
The Hobbit, Or, There and Back Again
The wandering wizard Gandalf recruits Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit, to be the fourteenth member of an expedition. Hobbits prefer comfort to adventures, but Bilbo joins the quest and encounters many perils, including a dragon. For junior and senior high readers. 1937.
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Lord of the Rings trilogy
The Fellowship of the Ring: Being the First Part of the Lord of the Rings
Frodo, a home-loving hobbit, inherits the magic ring that his Uncle Bilbo brought back from his adventures in The Hobbit. To protect the ring from the powers of darkness, Frodo must make a long, dangerous journey. 1954.
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The Two Towers: Being the Second Part of the Lord of the Rings
The now-separated companions of the Ring meet Saruman the wizard, cross the Dead Marshes, and prepare for the war in which the power of the Ring will be undone. 1955.
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The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings
Frodo and Sam bear the ring to Mount Doom. The War of the Ring, fought between the forces for good and the Dark Lord of evil, is ended. Contains the Appendices, which are the source for the television series. 1955.
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Works published posthumously
The Fall of Númenor: And Other Tales from the Second Age of Middle-earth
"J.R.R. Tolkien famously described the Second Age of Middle-earth as a "dark age, and not very much of its history is (or need be) told." And for many years readers would need to be content with the tantalizing glimpses of it found within the pages of The Lord of the Rings and its Appendices, including the forging of the Rings of Power, the building of the Barad-dûr and the rise of Sauron. It was not until Christopher Tolkien published The Silmarillion after his father's death that a fuller story could be told. Although much of the book's content concerned the First Age of Middle-earth, there were at its close two key works that revealed the tumultuous events concerning the rise and fall of the island of Númenor. Raised out of the Great Sea and gifted to the Men of Middle-earth as a reward for aiding the angelic Valar and the Elves in the defeat and capture of the Dark Lord Morgoth, the kingdom became a seat of influence and wealth; but as the Númenóreans' power increased, the seed of their downfall would inevitably be sown, culminating in the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. Even greater insight into the Second Age would be revealed in subsequent publications, first in Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth, then expanded upon in Christopher Tolkien's magisterial twelve-volume The History of Middle-earth, in which he presented and discussed a wealth of further tales written by his father, many in draft form. Now, adhering to the timeline of "The Tale of Years" in the Appendices to The Lord of the Rings, editor Brian Sibley has assembled into one comprehensive volume a new chronicle of the Second Age of Middle-earth, told substantially in the words of Tolkien from the various published texts" -- Provided by publisher.; Some violence. Bestseller. 2022.
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Roverandom
A young and foolish dog is turned into a toy after biting a sorcerer. As a plaything, Roverandom is owned by a little boy named Two. After many adventures, Roverandom manages to be turned back into a real dog. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1998.
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Works restored, edited, and introduced by Christopher Tolkien
Middle-earth
Beren and Lúthien
The love story of Beren, a human man, and Lúthien, an elf maiden, set during the First Age of Middle-earth. Lúthien’s father’s consent to the couple’s marriage is contingent on Beren surviving a dangerous quest to retrieve a Silmaril jewel. 2017.
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The Book of Lost Tales, Part 1
In these tales the traveler Eriol comes to the Lonely Island, Tol Eressea, and is offered hospitality by its elven folk. From them he learns of the gods called Valar, how the world was created, and the early history of the Eldar themselves. 1983.
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The Book of Lost Tales, Part 2
Versions of six legends and myths invented by Tolkien as background for his early writing and reworked for later publications.1984.
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The Fall of Gondolin
Tuor is sent to Gondolin by the god Ulmo, only to fall in love with the elf king’s daughter, Idril. Their bliss is shattered when the evil Morgoth sends an army to destroy Gondolin. Bestseller. 2018.
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The Silmarillion
Collection of imaginative tales and legends and an account of the Elder Days, or the First Age of the World. Morgoth, the first Dark lord, dwells in Middle-earth, and the High Elves make war upon him for the recovery of the Silmarils. Bestseller. 1977.
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The Tale of the Children of Húrin: Narn i chîn Húrin
A tale of the Elder Days of Middle-earth, variations of which appear in Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-Earth and The Silmarillion. Describes the fates of Húrin—cursed lord of Dor-lómin—and his children Túrin and Niënor. Bestseller. 2007.
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Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-Earth
Explores the lore of Middle-earth. Includes accounts of Túrin, Galadriel, and the Black Riders’ hunt for the Ring, as well as other events from The Silmarillion and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. 1980.
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Medieval literature
The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún
Retelling in narrative verse of the epic Norse tales about Sigurd the Völsung and the fate of Gudrún’s family, the Niflungs. One of his Oxford lectures on Norse literature is included. 2009.
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Translations
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo
Three medieval poems from the age of Arthurian legend, translated into modern English. 1975.
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Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary, Together with “Sellic Spell”
Early prose translation from the Old English. Also contains extensive commentary on the text and its world, and includes “Sellic Spell,” a short text that reconstructs a lost folk tale. Some violence. 1926.
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Letters
Letters from Father Christmas
Collection of Christmas letters written by J.R.R. Tolkien and signed as Father Christmas that were sent to Tolkien’s children 1920–1943. Each recapped activities of the preceding year at the North Pole, including reindeer running amok and the North Polar Bear breaking the moon into four pieces. 2004.
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The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Collection of letters in which Tolkien writes about his personal and professional life to family, friends, colleagues, and fans. The letters, arranged chronologically, cover the period of his life from 1914 to 1973. 1981.
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Background
The Atlas of Middle-Earth
by Karen Wynn Fonstad
Maps illustrate the battles, journeys, cities, and territories described in Tolkien’s fantasy series, as well as that mythical land’s history, climate, population, and languages. Unrated. 1981.
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The Inklings
by Humphrey Carpenter
Discusses the group of friends called the Inklings, which was founded during the 1930s at Oxford and included renowned authors C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. The author, who also attended Oxford at the time, reconstructs the group’s meetings and friendships. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 1978.
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Tolkien: A Biography
by Humphrey Carpenter
J.R.R. Tolkien’s life, from his childhood in South Africa through the lonely period that followed the deaths of both parents and ended with his marriage. Recounts his years as a distinguished Oxford professor and recalls the acclaim he enjoyed as an author. 1977.
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The Fellowship
by Philip Zaleski
For three decades, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and their closest associates (namely, Owen Barfield and Charles Williams) formed the Inklings, a weekly literary club. Recounts the Inklings’ lives and work, along with the ideas, affections, and vexations that drove the group’s members. 2015
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French language
Bilbo Le Hobbit (The Hobbit)
Lors d’une belle matinée ensoleillée, Bilbo le hobbit voit sa petite vie paisible bouleversée lorsque treize nains font brutalement irruption chez lui, accompagnés du grand magicien Gandalf. Ce dernier ne lui donne en effet d’autre choix que de les accompagner dans leur quête visant à récupérer le trésor que leur a dérobé Smaug le dragon. French language. 1937. Marrakesh Treaty title.
(The wandering wizard Gandalf recruits Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit, to be the fourteenth member of an expedition. Hobbits prefer comfort to adventures, but Bilbo joins the quest and encounters many perils, including Smaug the dragon. For junior and senior high readers. French language. 1937. Marrakesh Treaty title.)
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Le Seigneur Des Anneaux: l’intégrale (Lord of the Rings books 1–3)
L’histoire de la communauté de l’anneau, qui doit affronter les périls de la guerre et surtout le seigneur des Ténèbres, Sauron, qui cherche à s’emparer de l’anneau. Frodon le hobbit est chargé de le détruire. 1954–55. Marrakesh Treaty title.
(“The title refers to the story’s main antagonist, the Dark Lord Sauron, who in an earlier age created the One Ring to rule the other Rings of Power given to Men, Dwarves, and Elves, in his campaign to conquer all of Middle-earth. From homely beginnings in the Shire, a hobbit land reminiscent of the English countryside, the story ranges across Middle-earth, following the quest to destroy the One Ring mainly through the eyes of the hobbits Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin.”—wikipedia.org. French language. 1954–55. Marrakesh Treaty title.)
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Le Conte Des Enfants De Húrin = Narn i chîn Húrin (The Tale of the Children of Húrin: Narn i chîn Húrin)
“Des milliers d’années avant Le Seigneur des Anneaux, la Terre du Milieu est en proie aux luttes entre Morgoth, le premier Seigneur Ténébreux, et les Elfes, alliés aux Hommes. C’est contre Turin et Niënor, les enfants de Hurin, que Morgoth va lancer une terrible malédiction, les contraignant à une vie malheureuse et errante, pour se venger du héros qui a osé le défier. Les Enfants de Hurin, œuvre entreprise par Tolkien au cours de la Première Guerre mondiale, s’adresse aux lecteurs du Seigneur des Anneaux, qui retrouveront le souffle de ce roman dans l’histoire de Turin, héros humain qui cherche sa place parmi les Elfes et les Hommes dans un monde en guerre trompé par le destin, il lutte de manière spectaculaire et tragique contre Morgoth, nous faisant découvrir un passé méconnu de la Terre du Milieu.”—Publisher’s Description. 2007. Marrakesh Treaty title.
(A tale of the Elder Days of Middle-earth, variations of which appeared in Unfinished Tales and The Silmarillion. Describes the fates of Húrin—cursed lord of Dor-lómin—and his children Túrin and Niënor. Bestseller. French language. 2007. Marrakesh Treaty title.)
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Le Silmarillion (The Silmarillion)
Les Premiers jours du Monde étaient à peine passés quand Fëanor, le plus doué des elfes, créa les trois Silmarils. Ces bijoux renfermaient la Lumière des Deux Arbres de Valinor. Morgoth, le premier Prince de la Nuit, était encore sur la Terre du Milieu, et il fut fâché d’apprendre que la Lumière allait se perpétuer. Alors il enleva les Silmarils, les fit sertir dans son diadème et garder dans la forteresse d’Angband. Les elfes prirent les armes pour reprendre les joyaux et ce fut la première de toutes les guerres. Longtemps, longtemps après, lors de la Guerre de l’Anneau, Elrond et Galadriel en parlaient encore. Bestseller. 1977. Marrakesh Treaty title.
(Collection of imaginative tales and legends, and an account of the Elder Days, or the First Age of the World. Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, dwells in Middle-earth, and the High Elves make war upon him for the recovery of the Silmarils. Bestseller. French language. 1977. Marrakesh Treaty title.)
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Spanish language
La Historia De Los Hijos De Húrin Narn i chîn Húrin (The Tale of the Children of Húrin)
Una historia de los Antiguos Días de la Tierra Media que cuenta las aventuras de Húrin—el afligido señor de Dor-lómin—y de sus hijos Túrin y Niënor, durante los tiempos que preceden las historias de El Señor de los Anillos. 2007.
(A tale of the Elder Days of Middle-earth that describes the fates of Húrin—cursed lord of Dor-lómin—and his children Túrin and Niënor, in the time preceding the age of El Señor de los Anillos. Spanish language. 2007.)
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El Hobbit (The Hobbit)
Gandalf, el mago errante, alista a Bilbo Bolsón como el miembro número catorce de una expedición. Bilbo es de los Hobbit, la gente pequeña, que prefiere gozarse de la comodidad del hogar. Pero Bilbo se junta a la banda en busca de aventuras, y pronto encuentra peligros, incluso un enorme dragón. Para alumnos de enseñanza secundaria y lectores mayores. 1937.
(The wandering wizard Gandalf recruits Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit, to be the fourteenth member of an expedition. Hobbits prefer comfort to adventures, but Bilbo joins the quest and encounters many perils, including a dragon. For junior and senior high readers. Spanish language. 1937.)
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La Comunidad Del Anillo (The Lord of the Rings book 1, The Fellowship of the Ring)
La aventura del anillo mágico, empieza en el país de la gente pequeña, los Hobbit. Frodo, un hobbit casero, hereda el anillo mágico de su tío Bilbo quién lo ganó en sus aventuras anteriores. Ahora, los poderes de la oscuridad siguen buscando el anillo, y a Frodo se le obliga proteger el anillo emprendiendo una larga odisea peligrosa. 1954.
(As the Lord of the Rings begins, Frodo, a home-loving hobbit, inherits the magic ring that his Uncle Bilbo brought back from his adventures. To protect the ring from the powers of darkness, Frodo must make a long, dangerous journey. Spanish language. 1954.)
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Las Dos Torres (The Lord of the Rings book 2, The Two Towers)
Ahora los amigos del Anillo están separados y su viaje les lleva al encuentro con el Mago Saruman y a través de las Ciénagas Muertas. Y al fin se encaran con la gran Guerra del Anillo que acabará con el poder del Anillo. 1955.
(The now-separated companions of the Ring meet Saruman the Wizard, cross the Dead Marshes, and prepare for the war in which the power of the Ring will be undone. Spanish language. 1955.)
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El Retorno Del Rey (The Lord of the Rings book 3, The Return of the King)
Frodo y Sam siguen adentrándose en el país de Mordor en su heroico viaje hacia el Monte del Destino para destruir el Anillo de Poder. Y se libra la última Guerra de el Anillo para acabar para siempre con el maléfico Señor Oscuro. Incluye appendices. 1955.
Frodo and Sam continue to bear the Ring toward Mount Doom. The War of the Ring, fought between the forces of good and the Dark Lord of evil, is ended. Contains the Appendices. Spanish language. 1955.)
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Russian language
Khobbit (The Hobbit)
“Книга всемирно известного английского писателя Дж.Р.Р.Толкина "Хоббит, или Туда и Обратно" по праву считается классикой детской литературы XX века. Невероятные приключения ее героя Бильбо Бэггинса и его друзей способны и рассмешить, и растрогать, и заставить ребенка задуматься о многих важных вещах. Уже несколько десятилетий история полного опасностей путешествия маленького отряда к заветной цели захватывает воображение детей и взрослых.”—Goodreads.
(A fantasy concerning a mythical kingdom and its inhabitants. A hobbit, a magician, and dwarves become involved in numerous adventures while searching for hidden treasure. For junior and senior high readers. Russian language. 1937.)
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