Links to Bibliography Pages
1910-1937 - The Early Years
1937 - The Hobbit
1938-1953 - The Middle Years
1954-1955 - The Lord of the Rings
1955-1973 - The Later Years
1974-1990 - After Tolkien Part 1
1991 Onwards - After Tolkien Part 2
Boxed Sets & Books in Slipcases
Prior to the publication of The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien was largely unknown outside of his chosen field of Philology. During this period he produced the academic works on which his reputation was founded - his edition of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and his landmark lecture: Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics.
Tolkien was also writing and publishing poetry - some of which was published in school, university and small press publications. Middle-earth sprang into being during the First World War, and quickly flourished - many of the tales that would after his death be published as The Silmarillion were first written during or soon after the War.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Beowulf: The Monsters & the Critics
The illustration opposite is "And the padding feet of many gnomes a-coming!" by Warwick Goble, taken from The Book of Fairy Poetry edited by Dora Owen. This represents the first time Tolkien's published writings were illustrated.