John Ronald Reuel Tolkien CBE FRSL ( 3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973) was an English writer and philologist. He was the author of the high fantasy works The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.He wrote over 29 books, some of which were published posthumously. He also contributed to or translated over 36 other books. The Hobbit, a children’s book that tells the story of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who goes on an adventure with a group of dwarves and a wizard to reclaim a treasure from a dragon.The Lord of the Rings, a three-volume epic that follows the quest of Frodo Baggins, a hobbit who inherits a powerful ring from his uncle Bilbo and must destroy it in the fires of Mount Doom to prevent the Dark Lord Sauron from conquering the world.The Silmarillion, a collection of myths and legends that describe the creation and history of Middle-earth and its peoples, especially the elves.The Children of Húrin, a tragic tale of the hero Túrin Turambar and his sister Nienor, who are cursed by the evil Morgoth and doomed to a fate of sorrow and death. The Fall of Gondolin, a story of the hidden city of Gondolin, the last stronghold of the elves against Morgoth, and its fall to his armies of orcs and dragons. Tolkien also wrote many poems, essays, and letters, some of which are related to his fictional works. He was a master of languages, both real and invented, and created several languages for his stories, such as Quenya and Sindarin, the languages of the elves.Tolkien’s works have inspired millions of readers and influenced many writers, artists, and filmmakers. His books have been translated into over 50 languages and have sold over 250 million copies worldwide. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential authors of all time.