Writer John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892–1973) created the fantasy worlds of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, weaving a mythic tapestry of courage, friendship, and enduring hope.

Born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, and later a professor at Oxford, Tolkien drew from ancient legends, languages, and his love of words to breathe life into Middle-earth—home to elves, dwarves, dragons, and heroes with furry feet.

Bilbo Baggins, Frodo, and the Fellowship emerged from this world, forged with such vivid detail and meaning that the stories feel as real as history itself. “Fairy stories,” he once said, must be complete—so that they feel true.

A meticulous creator, he spent over ten years perfecting The Lord of the Rings trilogy: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. His son Christopher continued the journey, sharing posthumous works like The Silmarillion.

Though some found his writing dense, Tolkien explained, “I am told that I talk in shorthand and then smudge it.” Yet those who listen closely find the treasure: layers of truth and humanity.

In 2001, director Peter Jackson brought the books to the screen, and the world once more fell under Tolkien’s spell. The trilogy earned global acclaim and billions in ticket sales, reminding us why stories matter.

“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold,” Tolkien said, “it would be a much merrier world.”

Each year on January 3, fans raise a glass and toast “The Professor.” The Tolkien Society invites the world to remember him not just as an author—but as a lightbearer who helped us see the magic in the ordinary.