Recognised as the most popular book of the 20th Century, the influence that Tolkien had on the fantasy genre was phenomenal.

It is interesting to note that the book was started when Tolkien was forty five and only completely published when he was sixty three, so G.R.R. Martin is in the same ballpark as far as time to completion goes.

The work has inspired so much but one down side that has been the number of imitators such as 'The Sword of Shannara', which Lin Carter called "the single most cold-blooded, complete rip-off of another book that I have ever read” - a statement we wholeheartedly concur with.

Whilst we love both 'The Hobbit' and LOTR the later works compiled by his son and others are for the truly devoted fan and not great reads.

There are any number of editions out there now and you can go from inexpensive to extremely pricey and still have a stunning book.

The Peter Jackson movies were great though!

J.R.R. Tolkien:

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover - 6th impression

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

First edition hardcover

Easton Press hardcover

Easton Press hardcover

Easton Press hardcover

Easton Press hardcover

Easton Press hardcover

Easton Press hardcover

Easton Press hardcover

Bookclub  hardcover

Oversized Trade paperback

Oversized Trade paperback

Oversized Trade paperback

Oversized Trade paperback

Oversized Trade paperback

Oversized Trade paperback

Oversized Trade paperback

Bookclub  hardcover

Bookclub  hardcover

First edition hardcover

Paperback

Paperback

Paperback

Paperback

Oversized Trade paperback

First edition hardcover