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[[Image:Jrrt 1972 pipe.jpg|right|thumb|J. R. R. Tolkien in 1972, in his study at Merton Street.]]
[[Image:Jrrt 1972 pipe.jpg|right|thumb|J. R. R. Tolkien in 1972, in his study at Merton Street.]]
'''John Ronald Reuel Tolkien''' (3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973) was an English writer, [[philology|philologist]] and university professor, best known as the author of several influential [[fantasy]] books such as ''[[The Hobbit]]'' and ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''.
'''John Ronald Reuel Tolkien''' (3 January 1892 [[Bloemfontein]], [[Orange Free State]] – 2 September 1973) was an English writer, [[philology|philologist]] and university professor, best known as the author of several influential [[fantasy]] books such as ''[[The Hobbit]]'' and ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''.
He had a lifelong interest in and love of language, and also created [[Tolkien's languages|several constructed languages]]. Tolkien also created the [[Middle-earth]] legendarium, a fantasy world with a detailed geography, history, and inhabited by Men, [[Elf (Middle-earth)|Elves]], [[Dwarves (Middle-earth)|Dwarves]], and [[Hobbit]]s.<ref>''The Hobbit'', first published by George Allen & Unwin Ltd. of London, on 21 September 1937. </ref>
He had a lifelong interest in and love of language, and also created [[Tolkien's languages|several constructed languages]]. Tolkien also created the [[Middle-earth]] legendarium, a fantasy world with a detailed geography, history, and inhabited by Men, [[Elf (Middle-earth)|Elves]], [[Dwarves (Middle-earth)|Dwarves]], and [[Hobbit]]s.<ref>''The Hobbit'', first published by George Allen & Unwin Ltd. of London, on 21 September 1937. </ref>
== Biography ==
== Early Life ==
Tolkien was born in [[Bloemfontein]], [[South Africa]], to English parents, Arthur Reuel Tolkien and Mabel, née Suffield. At the age of three he returned to England with his mother and younger brother, Hilary Arthur Reuel. His father died in Africa before he could rejoin them. Tolkien spent his early childhood in Sarehole, a [[Worcestershire]] village, which later influenced him in the creation of the [[Shire (Middle-earth)|Shire]]. Now living in [[Birmingham]], Mabel Tolkien and her children, converted to the [[Roman Catholic Church]] in 1900, which estranged her from her family. She died in 1904 of [[diabetes]], leaving her sons in the care of Father Francis Morgan. Tolkien grew up in the industrial Edgbaston area of Birmingham and attended King Edward's School. The urban sprawl of the industrial city of Birmingham which he witnessed is thought to have influenced his creation of Mordor. In 1916 Tolkien married Edith Mary Bratt, with whom he had four children: John, Michael, Christopher, and Priscilla. During that year he also fought at the Battle of the Somme but was eventually sent home due to illness. He became professor of [[Old English language|Anglo-Saxon]] and English language and literature at the [[University of Oxford]] in 1925 and remained in the post until 1959. After his death, the masses of his literary work he left behind were left in the care of his son Christopher Tolkien, who continued to organize and publish his father's writings.
Tolkien was born in [[Bloemfontein]], [[South Africa]], to British parents, Arthur Reuel Tolkien and the former Miss Mabel Suffield. At the age of three he returned to England with his mother and younger brother, Hilary Arthur Reuel. His father died in Africa before he could rejoin them. Tolkien spent his early childhood in Sarehole, a [[Worcestershire]] village, which later influenced him in the creation of the [[Shire (Middle-earth)|Shire]]. Now living in [[Birmingham]], Mabel Tolkien and her children, converted to the [[Roman Catholic Church]] in 1900, which enraged staunch Protestants on both sides of the family. In ther aftermath, Mabel Tolkien was left without any financial support. She died in 1904 of [[diabetes]], leaving her sons in the care of Father Francis Morgan, a priest of the [[Oratorian Order]].
==Marriage and [[World War I]]=
Tolkien grew up in the industrialized Edgbaston district of Birmingham and attended King Edward's School. The polluted sprawl of Birmingham is believed to have influenced his creation of [[Mordor]]. In 1916 Tolkien married Edith Mary Bratt, with whom he had four children: John, Michael, Christopher, and Priscilla. In October of the same year he was sent to the Western Front to serve as a signals officer at the [[Battle of the Somme]]. After coming down with [[trench fever]], he was invalided home and spent the remainder of the war as an emaciated patient in various military hospitals. His affliction was almost certainly caused by the flea bites suffered in captured German trenches at Thiepval Ridge.
==Later Life==
Tolkien became a professor of [[Old English language|Anglo-Saxon]] and English literature at the [[University of Oxford]] in 1925 and remained in the post until his retirement in 1959. After his death, the masses of his literary work he left behind were left in the care of his son Christopher Tolkien, who continues to organize and publish his father's writings.
==Friendships==
He and several others (among them [[C. S. Lewis]]) were members of a literary club called the [[Inklings]]. Tolkien and Lewis were good friends, and Tolkien had a large role in Lewis's eventual embracing of [[Christianity]]<ref>''Heroes of the Faith, C.S.Lewis'' by Sam Wellman, Barbour Publishing, Inc., 1997. </ref>
He and several others (among them [[C. S. Lewis]]) were members of a literary club called the [[Inklings]]. Tolkien and Lewis were good friends, and Tolkien had a large role in Lewis's eventual embracing of [[Christianity]]<ref>''Heroes of the Faith, C.S.Lewis'' by Sam Wellman, Barbour Publishing, Inc., 1997. </ref>