Tracing Tolkien's life from his boyhood in South Africa to his formative school years in England, his college years at Oxford and his career as an influential scholar and revolutionary writer, this biography also discusses in detail his immensely popular books, from their inception as ideas through their publication and remarkable legacy. Tolkien's outer life was relatively calm, yet his scholarship and stories are remembered as one of the 20th century's most astonishing achievements. First as a student at Oxford University, then as a professor, Tolkien was fascinated by languages and philology and used the worlds he studies to shape the one he was creating. After years of nominal success, "The Hobbit" and the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy erupted into popularity, bringing fantasy to the forefront of popular culture. This biography should appeal to students who are fans of Tolkien's books, as well as those who are new to the world of Middle Earth. Included are an extensive bibliography of poems, fiction and scholarly work written by Tolkien and a further reading section listing important biographies, letter collections and critical studies of Tolkien's works. A timeline provides the reader with a comprehensive list of the events of his life and career.