14 Oct JRR Tolkien

JRR Tolkien is famous for his fantasy novels The Hobbit (1937) and The Lord of the Rings (1954-55). The latter – published in three volumes: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King – is one of the best-selling novels of all time (over 150 million copies). It was brilliantly adapted as three movies by Peter Jackson: The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-03) won numerous awards, including the Best Picture Oscar for the final episode. Jackson also directed the three-part adaptation of The Hobbit (2012-2014).

Tolkien studied English language and literature at Exeter College, Oxford and in 1925 he returned to Oxford to teach at Pembroke College. From 1945 until he retired in 1959 he was Professor of English Language and Literature at Merton College. Tolkien died in 1973 at the age of 81 and was buried in Wolvercote Cemetery, Oxford. Your Tolkien-inspired literary tour of England should include the bust in the chapel of Exeter College, the plaque and sculpture outside his former rooms at Pembroke College and the memorial bench in the University Parks.