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[[Image:Mhjfjfr7.jpg|thumb|350px|The covers for the three volumes of ''The Lord of the Rings'', designed by Tolkien.{{fact}}]]

[[Image:Mhjfjfr7.jpg|thumb|350px|The covers for the three volumes of ''The Lord of the Rings'', designed by Tolkien.{{fact}}]]

'''''The Lord of the Rings''''' is a fantasy book written by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]. It was published in three parts in the years 1954 and 1955. ''The Lord of the Rings'' is considered one of the most influential works on the fantasy genre in modern times. It is the best-selling work of fantasy literature of the twentieth century.  

'''''The Lord of the Rings''''' is a fantasy book written by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]. It was published in three parts in the years 1954 and 1955. ''The Lord of the Rings'' is considered one of the most influential works of the fantasy genre in modern times. It is the best-selling work of fantasy literature in the twentieth century.  

The story of ''The Lord of the Rings'' is about the war of the peoples of Middle-earth against a dark lord, the eponymic "Lord of the Rings". At the same time a small group of people are sent to destroy a magic Ring which would return power to their enemy, but the only way to destroy the Ring lies deep into enemy territory.

The story of ''The Lord of the Rings'' is about the war of the peoples of Middle-earth against a dark lord, the eponymous "Lord of the Rings". At the same time a small group of people are sent to destroy the magic Ring which would return power to their enemy, but the only way to destroy the Ring lies deep in enemy territory.

== Creation ==

== Creation ==

=== Writing ===

=== Writing ===

After the success of his earlier book ''[[The Hobbit]]'', Tolkien's publishers persuaded him to write a sequel. He began writing in December of 1937, but the first drafts were still far away from the later version. After writing and re-writing the beginning several times, Tolkien realized the role of the [[One Ring (Middle-earth)|One Ring]] and the quest it entailed in the spring of 1938, while writing the discussion between Gildor Inglorion and the later [[Frodo Baggins]]. This was the point upon which the backstory and central quest that would be ''The Lord of the Rings'' came together in his mind. It was also the point that he firmly set the book's plot into his already existing [[Middle-earth]] legendarium. Whereas the ''The Hobbit'' had before been separate from his Middle-earth mythology, while still borrowing ideas, names, and persons from it, Tolkien now consciously moved it and its sequel into the Middle-earth setting. This resulted in the changes in tone, and in the meaning of formerly unimportant things as the 'magic ring' and the Necromancer, who both literally gained importance in the sequel. While the ''The Hobbit'' was written as a story intended for his children, ''The Lord of the Rings'' due to the realization of the later plot, soon became an epic tale of much greater proportions, both in plot and in length.  

After the success of his earlier book ''[[The Hobbit]]'', Tolkien's publishers persuaded him to write a sequel. He began writing in December of 1937, but the first drafts were still far away from the finished version. After writing and re-writing the beginning several times, Tolkien realized the role of the [[One Ring (Middle-earth)|One Ring]] and the quest it entailed in the spring of 1938, while writing the discussion between Gildor Inglorion and the later [[Frodo Baggins]]. This was the point upon which the back story and central quest that would be ''The Lord of the Rings'' came together in his mind. It was also the point that he firmly set the book's plot into his already existing [[Middle-earth]] legendarium. Whereas the ''The Hobbit'' had before been separate from his Middle-earth mythology, while still borrowing ideas, names, and persons from it, Tolkien now consciously moved it and its sequel into the Middle-earth setting. This resulted in the changes in tone, and in the meaning of formerly unimportant things as the 'magic ring' and the Necromancer, who both literally gained importance in the sequel. While the ''The Hobbit'' was written as a story intended for his children, ''The Lord of the Rings'' due to the realization of the later plot, soon became an epic tale of much greater proportions, both in plot and in length.  

The earlier drafts and versions of ''The Lord of the Rings'' were published posthumously by his son Christopher Tolkien in ''The History of The Lord of the Rings'' (1988-1992), which are volumes VI–IX of ''The History of Middle-earth''.

The earlier drafts and versions of ''The Lord of the Rings'' were published posthumously by his son Christopher Tolkien in ''The History of The Lord of the Rings'' (1988-1992), which are volumes VI–IX of ''The History of Middle-earth''.

=== Publication ===

=== Publication ===

Although often wrongly thought to be a [[trilogy]], ''The Lord of the Rings'' was conceived by the author as a single work. Its internal structure divides it into six 'books', named Book I-VI, according to the plot, and has added several appendices and an index. Because of the amount of paper needed and to reduce financial risk, it was released by the publisher [[Allen & Unwin]] in three volumes, each containing two Books:  

Although often wrongly thought to be a [[trilogy]], ''The Lord of the Rings'' was conceived by the author as a single work. Its internal structure divides it into six 'books', named Book I-VI, according to the plot, with several appendices and an index. Because of the amount of paper needed and to reduce financial risk, it was released by the publisher [[Allen & Unwin]] in three volumes, each containing two Books:  

#''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]''<br>

#''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]''<br>

#''[[The Two Towers]]''<br>

#''[[The Two Towers]]''<br>

== Story ==

== Story ==

=== Background story ===

=== Background story ===

In the [[Second Age (Middle-earth)|Second Age]] the Dark Lord [[Sauron]] created the [[One Ring (Middle-earth)|One Ring]] to help him conquer the peoples of Middle-earth. The [[Quendi|Elves]] and [[Man (Middle-earth)|Men]] of Middle-earth, led by High King Gil-galad of the [[Noldor]] and King Elendil of the [[Arnor|Dúnedain]], formed the ''[[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]]'' to fight him. Sauron was defeated and the Ring cut from his hand, and the ''[[War of the Last Alliance]]'' ended, beginning the [[Third Age (Middle-earth)|Third Age]].  

In the [[Second Age (Middle-earth)|Second Age]] the Dark Lord [[Sauron]] created the [[One Ring (Middle-earth)|One Ring]] to help him conquer the peoples of Middle-earth. The [[Quendi|Elves]] and [[Man (Middle-earth)|Men]] of Middle-earth, led by High King Gil-galad of the [[Noldor]] and King Elendil of the [[Arnor|Dúnedain]], formed the ''[[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]]'' to fight him. Sauron was defeated and the Ring cut from his hand, thus the ''[[War of the Last Alliance]]'' ended, beginning the [[Third Age (Middle-earth)|Third Age]].  

The story takes place at a time when the Elves, immortal and fairest of all beings in the world, are leaving the war-weary world to sail to the blessed realm of [[Valinor]].  With the departure of the Elves, the Age of Men has come. But the Dark Lord [[Sauron]], not truly killed at the end of the last Age, has been regaining power over the millenia since his defeat. Instrumental in his survival was the [[One Ring (Middle-earth)|One Ring]], which had kept him alive, and for which he now searches. This Ring, which had been lost for millenia, fell by chance into the hands of the [[hobbit]] [[Bilbo Baggins]], the story of which is told in ''[[The Hobbit]]''. At the beginning of ''The Lord of the Rings'', sixty years have passed since Bilbo found the One Ring.

The story takes place at a time when the Elves, immortal and fairest of all beings in the world, are leaving the war-weary world to sail to the blessed realm of [[Valinor]].  With the departure of the Elves, the Age of Men has come. But the Dark Lord [[Sauron]], not truly killed at the end of the last Age, has been regaining power over the millennia since his defeat. Instrumental in his survival was the [[One Ring (Middle-earth)|One Ring]], which had kept him alive, and for which he now searches. This Ring, which had been lost for centuries, fell by chance into the hands of the [[hobbit]] [[Bilbo Baggins]], the story of which is told in ''[[The Hobbit]]''. At the beginning of ''The Lord of the Rings'', sixty years have passed since Bilbo found the One Ring.

=== The Fellowship of the Ring ===

=== The Fellowship of the Ring ===

=== The Lord of the Rings film trilogy ===

=== The Lord of the Rings film trilogy ===

'''''The Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy''' were three films based on the book, directed by [[Peter Jackson]] and produced by New Line Cinema. The film titles were derived from the three volumes: ''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (2001), ''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (2002) and ''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (2003).  

'''''The Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy''' were three films based on the book, all directed by [[Peter Jackson]], produced by New Line Cinema and filmed in New Zealand. The film titles were derived from the three volumes: ''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (2001), ''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (2002) and ''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (2003).  

All were directed by Peter Jackson.<ref>''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', Directed by Peter Jackson, Produced by Barrie M. Osborne, Peter Jackson 2001.</ref> The films were filmed in [[New Zealand]]. The films were released annually in cinemas from December 2001 to 2003. DVD releases of the cinema version and Special Extended Editions have also been released for each film. Each set includes four discs, two of bonus material.

The films were released annually in cinemas from December 2001 to 2003. DVD releases of the cinema version and Special Extended Editions have also been released for each film. Each extended edition includes four discs, two of bonus material.

== References ==

== References ==