Lord of the Rings Books in Order
Read The Hobbit first, then The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King. The Lord of the Rings is one long novel that was published in three volumes.
The Hobbit (1937) comes first in both publication order and story order.
| Book | Published | Contains |
|---|---|---|
| The Hobbit | 1937 | Prequel; stands alone |
| The Fellowship of the Ring | 29 July 1954 | Books I and II |
| The Two Towers | 11 November 1954 | Books III and IV |
| The Return of the King | 20 October 1955 | Books V and VI, plus appendices |
| The Silmarillion | After Tolkien's death | Older history of Middle-earth |
In what order should you read them?
The simplest order is the order Tolkien published them. Begin with The Hobbit, which is shorter and lighter and sets up the Ring. Then read The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King. You can read the three volumes straight through, since they form one story.
↑ Back to the topCan you start with The Fellowship of the Ring?
Yes. The Lord of the Rings explains what it needs. But it is a sequel set about sixty years after The Hobbit, and it picks up Bilbo's story, so the Ring and Gollum will mean more if you know where they came from.
↑ Back to the topIs The Lord of the Rings a trilogy?
It is usually called one, but Tolkien wrote a single novel. It was published in three volumes for cost, and the story is divided into six internal books, two per volume. The appendices and the index are in the last volume.
↑ Back to the topWhat about The Silmarillion?
The Silmarillion collects older tales of Middle-earth and was published after Tolkien's death. It is for readers who want more of the world, after finishing the main story, not before it.
↑ Back to the topMore about The Fellowship of the Ring
This guide covers the book only. Film and TV versions differ in places.