Article abstract: An Oxford professor’s epic fantasy became an unexpected best-seller and sparked a long-term resurgence of fantasy literature.
Summary of Event
The first publication of The Lord of the Rings in three volumes was preceded by a long gestation period. The book’s origins can be traced as far back as 1917, when Tolkien was invalided out of active combat duty toward the end of World War I. An early fascination with languages (Old and Middle English, Norse, Welsh, and Finnish, among others) led him to create two languages of his...
Source: Great Events from History II: Arts and Culture Series, ©1993 Salem Press, Inc.. All Rights Reserved.
(The entire page is 2444 words.)
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