J.R.R. Tolkien

J.R.R. Tolkien
Born	John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-01-03)January 3, 1892 Bloemfontein, Orange Free State, South Africa
Died	September 2, 1973(1973-09-02) (aged 81) Bournemouth, England
Occupation	Writer, philologist, professor
Nationality	British
Alma mater	Exeter College, Oxford
Genre	Fantasy, high fantasy, adventure
Notable works	The Hobbit The Lord of the Rings The Silmarillion
Spouse	Edith Bratt (m. 1916; d. 1971)
Children	4

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973) was an English writer, poet, philologist, and academic, best known for his classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion. His writings have inspired a vast body of literature, games, films, and artwork across the globe.

Biography

Early life

Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein in the Orange Free State (now South Africa) to Arthur Tolkien, a bank manager, and his wife Mabel, née Suffield. The family moved back to England when Tolkien was three, settling in Sarehole (now in Birmingham). He was orphaned at a young age, his father dying in South Africa of rheumatic fever and his mother succumbing to diabetes when he was 12.

Education

Tolkien was educated at King Edward's School, Birmingham, and later at Exeter College, Oxford, where he studied Classics but later switched to English Language and Literature, graduating with first-class honours.

Career

After graduating, Tolkien served as a lieutenant in the First World War, experiencing the horrors of the Battle of the Somme. Post-war, he embarked on a career in academia, becoming a professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University. It was during this time that he began developing his own languages and the foundational elements of his Middle-earth mythology.

Literary work

Tolkien's passion for language and mythology crystallized into his literary works. The Hobbit, published in 1937, was followed by The Lord of the Rings, published in three volumes between 1954 and 1955. These works, set within the same universe, received widespread acclaim and have since become seminal texts in the fantasy genre.

Themes and legacy

Tolkien's work is noted for its themes of heroism, redemption, and the struggle against evil. His detailed world-building and the complex mythology of Middle-earth have had a profound impact on fantasy literature, influencing countless other works and adaptations.

Personal life

Tolkien married Edith Bratt in 1916, with whom he had four children. His experiences in the war and his academic background deeply influenced his writing and beliefs.

Death and posthumous publications

Tolkien died on 2 September 1973. Posthumously, his son Christopher Tolkien edited and published many of his father's unfinished works, most notably The Silmarillion in 1977.

In popular culture

Tolkien's novels have been adapted into highly successful films by director Peter Jackson, significantly raising the profile of his work in the 21st century.