The Lord of the Rings (The Lord of the Rings) by J. R. R. Tolkien

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Description

Comprising three oversized hardback volumes housed in a full-colour slipcase, this edition of Tolkien's classic masterpiece is fully illustrated in watercolour throughout by the acclaimed and award-winning artist, Alan Lee. Since it was first published in 1954, The Lord of the Rings has been... read more

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis

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Summary

The novel begins with the departure of Bilbo Baggins, the hero of The Hobbit, from the Shire as he leaves his home for the last time to visit old friends. In his wake, his nephew and heir, Frodo, discovers that the ring he has inherited is the One Ring, forged by the Dark Lord Sauron, thought... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Cast of Characters/Important People

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Frodo Baggins: Hobbit; Son of Drogo; Bilbo Baggins' nephew and heir; the Ringbearer.
Samwise Gamgee: Hobbit; Son of Hamfast; Frodo Baggins' gardener.
Meriadoc Brandybuck: Hobbit; Frodo Baggins' kinsman.
Peregrin Took: Hobbit; Frodo Baggins' kinsman.
Bilbo Baggins: Hobbit who retrieved the One Ring, later inherited by Frodo.
Gandalf: Wizard who aids the Fellowship; the Enemy of Sauron.
Aragorn: Man; called Strider, Longshanks, Elessar; a Ranger of Eriador.
Legolas Greenleaf: Elf; son of Thranduil, Elvenking of Mirkwood.
Gimli: Dwarf; son of Glóin (one of the thirteen dwarves who were Bilbo's companions).
Boromir: Man; son of Denethor, steward of Gondor.

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Memorable Quotes

“Good and ill have not changed since yesteryear; nor are they one thing among Elves and Dwarves and another among Men.”
Aragorn
“It must often be so, when things are in danger: some one has to give them up, lose them, so that others may keep them.”
Frodo
“He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom.”
Gandalf
“Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.”
Gandalf
“Such is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere.”
Elrond
“Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.”
Gimli
“The Road goes ever on and on Down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, And I must follow, if I can, Pursuing it with eager feet, Until it joins some larger way Where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say.”
Bilbo Baggins
“All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken: The crownless again shall be king.”
Bilbo Baggins

First Sentence

When Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday with a party of special magnificence, there was much talk and excitement in Hobbiton.

Note on the Text
Note on the 50th Anniversary Edition
Forward to the Second Edition
Prologue: Concerning Hobbits, and other matters

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING
BOOK ONE
I. A Long-expected Party
II. The Shadow of the Past
III. Three is Company
IV. A Short Cut to Mushrooms
V. A Conspiracy Unmasked
VI. The Old Forest
VII. In the House of Tom Bombadil
VIII. Fog on the Barrow-downs
IX. At the Sign of the Prancing Pony
X. Strider
XI. A Knife in the Dark
XII. Flight to the Ford

BOOK TWO
I. Many Meetings
II. The Council of Elrond
III. The Ring Goes South
IV. A Journey in the Dark
V. The Bridge of Khazad-dûm
VI. Lothlórien
VII. The Mirror of Galadriel
VIII. Farwell to Lórien
IX. The Great River
X. The Breaking of the Fellowship

THE TWO TOWERS
BOOK THREE
I. The Departure of Boromir
II. The Riders of Rohan
III. The Uruk-hai
IV. Treebeard
V. The White Rider
VI. The King of the Golden Hall
VII. Helm's Deep
VIII. The Road to Isengard
IX. Flotsam and Jetsam
X. The Voice of Saruman
XI. The Palantír

BOOK FOUR
I. The Taming of Sméagol
II. The Passage of the Marshes
III. The Black Gate is Closed
IV. Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit
V. The Window on the West
VI. The Forbidden Pool
VII. Journey to the Cross-roads
VIII. The Stairs of Cirith Ungol
IX. Shelob's Lair
X. The Choices of Master Samwise

THE RETURN OF THE KING
BOOK FIVE
I. Minas Tirith
II. The Passing of the Grey Company
III. The Muster of Rohan
IV. The Siege of Gondor
V. The Ride of the Rohirrim
VI. The Battle of Pelennor Fields
VII. The Pyre of Denethor
VIII. The Houses of Healing
IX. The Last Debate
X. The Black Gate Opens

BOOK SIX
I. The Tower of Cirith Ungol
II. The Land of Shadow
III. Mount Doom
IV. The Field of Cormallen
V. The Steward and the King
VI. Many Partings
VII. Homeward Bound
VIII. The Scouring of the Shire
IX. The Grey Havens

APPENDICES
A. Annals of the Kings and Rulers
I. The Númenórean Kings
II. The House of Eorl
III. Durin's Folk
B. The Tale of Years (Chronology of the Westlands)
C. Family Trees (Hobbits)
D. Calendars
E. Writings and Spellings
I. Pronunciation of Words and Names
II. Writing
F.
I. The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age
II. On Translation

INDEXES
I. Poems and Songs
II. Poems and Phrases in Languages Other than Common Speech
III. Persons, Places, and Things