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The Lord of the Rings Hardback -
by J. R. Tolkien
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About this book
The Lord of the Rings is an epic high fantasy novel written by philologist and Oxford University professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit (1937), but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in stages between 1937 and 1954, much of it during World War II.
After the success of The Hobbit, Tolkien’s publisher asked that he produce a sequel. Although written as one big work comprised of six books, The Lord of the Rings was broken into three separate volumes because of post-World War II paper shortages and size and price considerations. The print run of the first editions was very small: 3,000 copies for The Fellowship of the Ring (1954), 3,250 copies for The Two Towers (1954), and 7,000 copies for The Return of the King (1955). The Lord of the Rings went on to become one of the best-selling novels ever, with more than 150 million copies sold.
After the success of The Hobbit, Tolkien’s publisher asked that he produce a sequel. Although written as one big work comprised of six books, The Lord of the Rings was broken into three separate volumes because of post-World War II paper shortages and size and price considerations. The print run of the first editions was very small: 3,000 copies for The Fellowship of the Ring (1954), 3,250 copies for The Two Towers (1954), and 7,000 copies for The Return of the King (1955). The Lord of the Rings went on to become one of the best-selling novels ever, with more than 150 million copies sold.
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First edition identification
The Lord of the Rings was published in three parts by George Allen and Unwin, and in the US by Houghton Mifflin.
The Fellowship of the Ring (1954), The Two Towers (1954), and The Return of the King (1955).
The Uk editions have 21s net to the front flap.
The first American edition has cover illustration by Walter Lorraine.
The Fellowship of the Ring (1954), The Two Towers (1954), and The Return of the King (1955).
The Uk editions have 21s net to the front flap.
The first American edition has cover illustration by Walter Lorraine.
Details
- Title The Lord of the Rings
- Author J. R. Tolkien
- Binding Hardback
- Pages 1248
- Volumes 1
- Language ENG
- Publisher HarperCollins
- ISBN 9780008471286 / 0008471282
- Category Fiction - Fantasy
- Dewey Decimal Code FIC
