Who is J.R.R. Tolkien?

J.R.R. Tolkien, known as John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was a famous author, writing books mainly about fantasies. His most famous series ‘Lord of the Rings’ sold over one hundred and fifty million copies worldwide! Another famous series, ‘The Hobbit’, with over one hundred million copies sold. But before Tolkien became one of the worlds best authors. Before becoming an author, he was a poet, philologist and professor at Oxford University.

His Early life

Tolkien was born and raised in Bloemfontein, South Africa. That was until he moved to England at the age of three. He was eventually sent to king Edward’s School. By then, the family had moved to King’s Heath, where behind their house was a railway line.

His family generally lived on the genteel side of poverty, However, it got worse in 1904, Mabel Tolkien (Tolkien’s Mother) was diagnosed with diabetes. Due to not good enough technology and medicine back then, she died shortly after in November that year. Leaving Tolkien and his brother alone. Father Francis took them in, although they were boarded with a cruel aunt-by-marriage, Beatrice Suffield, along with Father Francis’ wife; Mrs Faulkner.

When he was twenty-one, he went up to Exeter college, Oxford where he immersed himself into the Classics, Old English, The Germanic languages (especially Gothic), Welsh and Finnish.

In the summer of 1913 he took a job as a tutor and escort two Mexican boys in Dinard, France, a job that ended in tragedy. Meanwhile his relationship with Edith a girl he knew since he was sixteen), was going more smoothly. She turned to Catholicism and moved to Warwick. They happily got married eventually in Warwick, 22nd of March 1906.

3) Achievements/ Accomplishments

Throughout Tolkien’s life, he’s gotten many awards. Starting from a young age, he got a scholarship to Oxford University. He then graduated from Oxford with a first class honours degree in English. Going on to write many books like The Hobbit, Lord of the rings and Silmarillion.

In the meantime, he also created two Elvish languages that he used in poems of his and the Lord of the Rings related items. After his books (The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings) were published, he went on to take on major awards like the International fantasy award, in that case he got a nomination and won Prometheus awards (eight nominations; one win).

In total Tolkien has one major award, one locus award, career and special award and ten other awards the total number of Award wins and nominations is 34.

4) Tolkien’s Net Worth

From becoming one of the world’s best authors of some of the world’s best-selling books, with a whopping two hundred and fifty million copies sold in total, his net worth is twice as much as that, two hundred and fifty million). But, he didn’t get all that money when alive.

At the time of his death, his total net worth was only $50 million, compared to now; two hundred and fifty million dollars. In the decades since his death, Tolkien’s works have made tens of billions dollars in revenue from movies, tickets, DUOS, merchandise and more. His heirs (family), have earned at least $500 million in royalties from many streams.

Conclusion

Taking his last breath on the 2nd of September 1973 while his wife Edith died a bit earlier on the 29th of November 1971. He and Edith are buried together in a single grave in the Catholic section of Wolvercote cemetery in the northern suburbs of Oxford. He had four amazing children. One of them being Christopher Tolkien; has continued and published some of his fathers yet—to —finish stories, Following and honouring J.R.R Tolkien’s legacy; being one of the world’s best authors ever.