Few authors in the history of fiction have woven entire worlds as complex and lasting as John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. A philologist, academic, and, above all else, an extraordinary storyteller, Tolkien’s works are way more than mere literature; they open readers to rich histories, languages, and cultures that he painstakingly crafted. His sagas of epic quests, ancient prophecies, and timeless battles between good and evil have enthralled generations and continue to shape the very landscape of modern fantasy. In that spirit, let’s explore all the major JRR Tolkien books you should read in order, including The Lord of the Rings.
What makes Tolkien unique is his ability to create a universe as real as our own through his fantasy novels. His most famous creation, Middle-earth, is the epic confluence of history, myth, and legend, world-building, and deep storytelling. It is a place where the apparently insignificant becomes the means to alter the course of fate, wherein ancient evils hide in shadows, and the hope of the world may rest upon the shoulders of the most unlikely heroes. But beyond all that, Tolkien’s books offer a deep, introspective look at themes of friendship, bravery, loss, and the relentless march of time.
The Lord of the Rings — his magnum opus — has been adapted by Peter Jackson in a trilogy of movies whose success defies description. The movies, featuring a huge ensemble cast, brought not only Tolkien’s world to the big screen but also set new standards in everything from visual effects to epic storytelling.
Amazon has adapted the material given in appendices about the events of the Second Age of Middle-earth in the LotR book to a five-season TV series called The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. It chronicles the first time Sauron rose to become the Dark Lord.
Without further ado, let’s dive into the best JRR Tolkien books in order.
‘The Lord of the Rings’ and beyond: Must-read JRR. Tolkien books in order
Jump To / Table of Contents
- The Hobbit (1937)
- The Lord of the Rings
- The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and Other Verses from the Red Book (1962)
- The Silmarillion (1977)
- Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth (1980)
- The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien
- The History of Middle-earth (1983-1996)
- The Children of Húrin
- The Fall of Gondolin
- Beren and Lúthien
The Hobbit (1937)
Synopsis: It was the first novel of Tolkien ever published. Set in Middle-earth, the story is a prequel to LotR and follows a humble hobbit Bilbo Baggins who goes on an epic journey with the wizard Gandalf and a company of Dwarves to help the latter reclaim their homeland and treasure horde from the dragon Smaug.
About the book: If that description does not immediately grip you, this novel is perhaps not for you. It is a classical adventure-fantasy tale set in a world that feels extremely vivid and lived-in.
(Image: Courtesy of Amazon)
Additional Information
The Lord of the Rings
Synopsis: Six decades after Bilbo Baggins left for his adventure, his nephew and heir, Frodo Baggins, embarks on his own quest: this one a lot darker. He has to destroy the One Ring, the source of all evil in Middle-earth. Unmaking the Ring will end the threat of Sauron once and for all. Along his epic journey, Frodo makes allies and enemies. He and other have to face dangers like a Balrog, the Ringwraiths, the Orcs and even a wizard turned to evil. It is a huge, thrilling tale that posits that to defeat big evil sometimes the most insignificant individuals are enough.
About the book: Contrary to the popular belief, The Lord of the Rings is not a trilogy of three novels — the movies do make up a trilogy. Instead, it is a single book that was released in three volumes because of economic reasons (readers will more likely buy a relatively inexpensive first entry in a series of books instead of a big expensive tome).
(Image: Courtesy of IMDb)
Additional Information
Synopsis: As any Tolkien-fanatic knows, apart from prose in his storytelling, the Professor was also fond of poetry. There are many poems and songs that pepper the narrative of LotR. They are, however, an acquired taste. If you like them, then this book is for you.
About the book: You will find the The Adventures of Tom Bombadil poem in this book, which is about the most enigmatic of Tolkien’s characters. Bombadil made his live-action debut in Rings of Power season 2.
(Image: Courtesy of Amazon)
Additional Information
The Silmarillion (1977)
Synopsis: Much more dense and less focussed than either The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion is a little like a holy book for the religion of Tolkienism. It is a collection of myths and stories of the First Age and even has a creation myth. It chronicles, among other things, the rise of Morgoth, basically Middle-earth’s version of Satan.
About the book: Like every other Middle-earth book save for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion was published posthumously and it was Tolkien’s son, Christopher Tolkien, and fantasy author Guy Gavriel Kay edited it enough to make it publishable.
(Image: Courtesy of Amazon)
Additional Information
Synopsis: Even more than The Silmarillion, this book is a collection of essays and stories that embellish the world Tolkien created. It is a reference book that is worth reading if you are a fan of Middle-earth and its stories.
(Image: Courtesy of Amazon)
Additional Information
Synopsis: As the title suggests, these are letters that Tolkien wrote during his lifetime. They range from his undergraduate days at Oxford to a few days before his death. They offer insight into his life, his nature, the things that inspired him to create one of the greatest tales ever written and more.
About the book: Like other books published after his death, this collection is also edited by Tolkien’s son, Christopher, along with Humphrey Carpenter.
(Image: Courtesy of Amazon)
Additional Information
Synopsis: Fictional histories do not get bigger than this. A 12-volume series of books, The History of Middle-earth (1983-1996) is a compilation of everything that led to the creation of Middle-earth, its fictional races, Elves, Men, Dwarves and more. It is not really an in-universe history, but instead goes in detail of Tolkien’s conception and development of this world, languages, cultures and stories within it. A decent companion book while you are watching LotR or Hobbit movies or Rings of Power TV series.
(Image: Courtesy of Amazon)
Additional Information
The Children of Húrin
Synopsis: This book tells one of the most powerful and tragic tales in Tolkien’s legendarium. It mainly follows Túrin Turambar and his sister Niënor, the titular children of Húrin. After Húrin is captured by Morgoth, he is cursed to witness the utter destruction of his family.
About the book: In Tolkien’s Legendarium, Morgoth is prophecised to return and it will be the spirit of Túrin who kills him, avenging the death of his family. This, The Fall of Gondolin and Beren and Lúthien make up the Great Tales of First Age of Middle-earth.
(Image: Courtesy of Amazon)
Additional Information
The Fall of Gondolin
Synopsis: This book chronicles the destruction of the Elvish city of Gondolin, situated in Beleriand, in the First Age, by Morgoth’s forces.
(Image: Courtesy of Amazon)
Additional Information
Beren and Lúthien
Synopsis: Beren and Lúthien is one of the most important stories from the legendarium of Tolkien, with it carrying along a sweet love story between the mortal man Beren and the elven maiden Lúthien. This is also one of the important stories in the First Age and as a precursor to the events of The Lord of the Rings.
About the book: This edition, again edited by Christopher Tolkien, presents several forms of the tale and its development from very early drafts into the final draft.
(Image: Courtesy of Amazon)
Additional Information
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
There is no specific order. You can read them all in any order you wish since they all tell a complete story. The three volumes of ‘The Lord of the Rings’, however, need to be read in this order: ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’, ‘The Two Towers’ and ‘The Return of the King’.
While ‘The Hobbit’ was quite a success when it was published in 1937, it was not until ‘The Lord of the Rings’ was published in mid-1950s that he became a globally renowned author.
He is primarily famous for writing the fantasy novel, ‘The Lord of the Rings’.
Yes, JK Rowling has said that she read ‘The Lord of the Rings’ in her teens.
Tags
Written by
Kshitij is a journalism graduate who did not initially intend to become a film critic, but such are the vagaries of destiny. Now, Kshitij is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic and a member of the Film Critics Guild, bringing expertise and experience in evaluating entertainment content with him. Additionally, he serves as a jury member on the Critics' Choice Awards in India. When he's not busy wielding words, catch him nose-deep in books or joyfully lost in the realms of gaming and photography.
Most Popular
