A Hobbit's Tale

:: The life of Tolkien, year by year ::

NB : Pic on the right side. Background painted by John Howe.

J.R.R. Tolkien has worked his lifetime in creating his fantastic and epic Middle-Earth stories. The creatures, beings and landscapes that he conceived became the setting for his best selling books "The Lord Of The Rings." As an expert in Middle English, he extended our knowledge in linguistics and he developed real languages which one can speak (based on Latin, Anglo and West-Saxon, also called Old English.)

Tolkien's whole work is not listed below. We just mean to relate you the big lines of the author's life.

NB : in chronologic order

1892

Tolkien was born on January 3 in Bloemfontain, South Africa.

1895

Tolkien travelled to England with his mother and his younger brother.

1896

His father died on February 15, his mother and the boys stayed in England.

1900

Visiting the King Edward's School, Tolkien developed a big interest in literatur and languages.

1904

Death of his mother at on November 14. Father Francis Morgan took care of the boys afterwards.

1908

Tolkien started his studies at the Exeter College in Oxford.

1916

Marriage with Edith Bratt on March 22.

1916

During the First World War Tolkien fought in France.

1917

His first son, John, was born.

1920

His second son, Michael, was born.

1921

Tolkien became a professor at the University of Leeds. His third son, Christopher, was born.

1925

Tolkien was called to the University of Oxford.

1929

His daughter, Priscilla, was born.

1936

Tolkien began to work at "The Lord Of The Rings".

1937

"The Hobbit" (also called "There And Back Again") was published.

1954

"The Lord Of The Rings" was published.

1954

"The Two Towers" was published.

1955

Publication of "The Return Of The King".

1967

Tolkien recorded "Poems and Songs of Middle Earth".

1968

After Tolkien retired, he moved to Bournemouth.

1971

His wife Edith died on November 29. Tolkien moved back to Oxford.

1973

Tolkien dies on Septermber 2.

1977

"The Silmarillion", posthumous work, was published by Tolkien's son, Christopher.