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== Biography ==

== Biography ==

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]], he attended King Edward's School. 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, which later influenced his vision of [[Mordor]]. In 1916 Tolkien married Edith Mary Bratt, with whom he had four children: John, Michael, Christopher, and Priscilla. He was professor at the [[University of Oxford]] from 1925 to 1959, of [[Old English language|Anglo-Saxon]] and English language and literature. After his death, the masses of his literary work he left behind has been in the care of his son Christopher Tolkien, who continued to organize and publish Tolkien's writings.

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.

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>