A vast fantasy epic, written as a single novel and published in three volumes. It follows the hobbit Frodo Baggins, who is entrusted with a ring of terrible power that the Dark Lord Sauron seeks in order to dominate the world. With a band of companions, Frodo sets out on a long and dangerous quest to destroy it, while wars gather across Middle-earth. Drawing on myth, legend and Tolkien's deep knowledge of languages and early literature, the book creates a richly detailed world with its own histories, peoples and songs. It explores friendship, power, mercy and courage, and shaped modern fantasy.
Quotes
The prime motive was the desire of a tale-teller to try his hand at a really long story that would hold the attention of readers, amuse them, delight them, and at times maybe excite them or deeply move them.
Some who have read the book, or at any rate have reviewed it, have found it boring, absurd, or contemptible; and I have no cause to complain, since I have similar opinions of their works, or of the kinds of writing that they evidently prefer.
In the highest and most complimentary sense, this is escapist fiction at its finest, yet at the same time it has profound relevance to our troubled age."
The most critical reader of all, myself, now finds many defects, minor and major, but being fortunately under no obligation either to review the book or to write it again, he will pass over these in silence, except one that has been noted by others: the book is too short.