Changes

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]].  

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]]=

==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.

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.