J.R.R. Tolkien

J.R.R. Tolkien is an author and professor. The author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. This page is a short guide for parents, teachers and young readers: who they are, which of their books we recommend and where to start.

About J.R.R. Tolkien

J.R.R. Tolkien was born John Ronald Reuel Tolkien on 3 January 1892 in Bloemfontein, South Africa, and died on 2 September 1973. He was a professor at Oxford.

The Hobbit was published in 1937, and he went on to write The Lord of the Rings (1954 to 1955). The Silmarillion was published after his death.

J.R.R. Tolkien’s books in our all-time classics list

• The Hobbit (1937): number 13 in our best children’s books of all time. A small, comfort-loving hobbit is swept into a quest to win back a treasure from a dragon.

Other well-known books and work

• The Hobbit (1937)
• The Lord of the Rings (1954 to 1955)
• The Silmarillion (published 1977)

Where to start

Start with The Hobbit.

Frequently asked questions about J.R.R. Tolkien

Who is J.R.R. Tolkien?

J.R.R. Tolkien was born John Ronald Reuel Tolkien on 3 January 1892 in Bloemfontein, South Africa, and died on 2 September 1973. He was a professor at Oxford.

Which books by J.R.R. Tolkien are on your all-time list?

The Hobbit (number 13). See our best children’s books of all time.

Where should I start with J.R.R. Tolkien?

Start with The Hobbit.

Biographical details are drawn from publisher biographies, reference works and the author’s own site, and may have changed. The illustration is our own and is not a likeness of the author. See all the authors.