The Lord of the Rings is one of the most influential and popular fantasy novels ever written. Millions of people around the world have been captivated by the story of Frodo Baggins and his quest to destroy the One Ring and save Middle Earth. But when was The Lord of the Rings written? The answer is surprisingly complicated.
When The Lord of the Rings was written
J.R.R. Tolkien began writing the story of The Lord of the Rings in 1937, but it wasn’t until 1954-1955 that the novel was published in three volumes.
- The Fellowship of the Ring: July 29th, 1954
- The Two Towers: November 11th, 1954
- The Return of the King: October 20th, 1955
Tolkien spent 17 years writing The Lord of the Rings, but much of that time was spent revising and editing the novel. He wrote several drafts, adding and subtracting characters and storylines, and making changes to the text. He also updated the novel in response to feedback from his publishers. Tolkien was a perfectionist to whom every word mattered.
The novel was originally imagined as a single novel by Tolkien, but publishers decided to split it into three separate books. The Fellowship of the Ring was published in 1954, followed by The Two Towers also in 1954, and The Return of the King in 1955.
The Lord of the Rings has gone on to become one of the most beloved and influential stories of all time selling over 150 million copies. The books have been adapted into several films, television shows, video games, and more, and its characters and themes have become a big part of pop culture.
So when was The Lord of the Rings written? The answer is 1937-1954, meaning it took Tolkien 17 years to craft this magnificent beloved epic.
