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How to Read The Lord of
the Rings Books in Order
A chronological guide to Tolkien's Middle-earth literature.
BY JORDAN SIRANI UPDATED1 MAY 24, 2024 2143 AM
J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings saga is a seminal work of fantasy that
spawned one of the best film trilogies ever created. Tolkien's story of
good vs. evil is built around timeless themes of friendship and heroism,
and now, with Rings of Power heading into season 2 and new Lord of the
Rings movie announced for 2026, there's no better time to explore the rich
history of Middle-earth.
For those who’ve yet to read J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth saga (and its
companion books), we’ve put together this guide on how to read them in
order, chronologically or by release date. So bundle up, turn the lights
down and grab a reading lamp for one of the best adventures of all time.
How Many The Lord of the Rings Books
Are There in the Series?
There are four books in Tolkien’s main Middle-earth sagaO The Hobbit
and the three volumes of The Lord of the Rings QFellowship of the Ring,
Two Towers, Return of the King).
Several other collections and companion books have been published since
the author's death in 1973, and we’ve included the seven most relevant on
the list below.
Lord of the Rings Book Sets
Whether you're just diving into the LoTR books for the first time or are
looking to add additional books to your collection, there are a few great
book sets to add to your shelf. Our favorite option available is the leather-
bound version, but there are many different styles available.
Hardcover Edition The Hobbit and
Lord of the Rings Boxed Set
Immerse yourself in Middle-earth with J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic masterpieces behind
the films, in this pocket-sized boxed set.
$59.99 save 42%
$34.99 at Amazon
The Hobbit and
Dive into middle early with 4 books at paperback prices.
$35.96 save 42%
$20.77 at Amazon
The Lord of the Rings Books Reading
Order
Below we’ve split Tolkien’s Middle-earth works into two sections: The Lord
of the Rings saga and additional reading. The Hobbit and LotR books
chronicle the stories of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins and are listed by their
narrative chronology; the additional reading section contains Middle-
earth-related works published after the death of Tolkien and is ordered by
publication date.
With potential series newcomers in mind, these brief plot synopses
contain only mild spoilers such as broad plot points and character
introductions.
1. The Hobbit
The Hobbit is Tolkien’s first Middle-earth book by in-universe chronology
and real-world release date. The tale of Bilbo Baggins was first published
in 1937, 17 years before the first volume of The Lord of the Rings.
The Hobbit follows Thorin and Company ^ Bilbo, Gandalf, and 13 dwarves
led by Thorin Oakenshield — as they set off to reclaim the dwarves’
ancestral home beneath Lonely Mountain from the dragon Smaug. Along
the way, we’re introduced to Gollum and discover how Bilbo came into
possession of the One Ring. The adventure culminates in the Battle of Five
Armies, which lent its name to the final Hobbit film.
2. The Fellowship of the Ring
Nearly two decades after The Hobbit, Tolkien published the first volume of
The Lord of the Rings. The saga was conceived as a single story and
written across 9,250 pages between 1938 and 1955. It was edited down
and separated into three volumes for publication, with each volume
containing two books.
Fellowship kicks off in earnest during Bilbo’s 111th birthday, when the
hobbit bequeaths the One Ring to his cousin Frodo Baggins. Unlike in the
movie, there’s a 17-year gap between Bilbo’s birthday and the beginning of
Frodo’s adventure when Gandalf urges him to take the ring away from the
Shire.
Lord of the Rings q The Fellowship of the Ring | Book vs. Movie
11O40 Autoplay setting: On
Lord of the Rings / The Fellowship of the Ring | Book vs. Movie
Frodo is joined by various companions along the way, leading to the
formation of The Fellowship of the Ring. The members of the Fellowship —
Frodo, Samwise Gamgee, Pippin Took, Merry Brandybuck, Legolas, Gimli,
Aragorn, Boromir, and Gandalf — are tasked with destroying the One Ring
in the same place it was forged: the fires of Mount Doom in Mordor.
By the end of Fellowship, Frodo faces a betrayal and decides to set off
toward Mordor on his own, though he’s joined by a stubbornly loyal
Samwise.
3. The Two Towers
The Two Towers, the second volume of The Lord of the Rings, continues
the journey of the Fellowship, which is now split into two parties: Frodo
and Sam in one, the remaining members in the other. Part of the
Fellowship fends off orcs and confronts the corrupted wizard Saruman,
while Frodo and Sam encounter Gollum and continue their perilous quest
toward Mordor.
4. The Return of the King
The final volume of The Lord of the Rings concludes the Fellowship’s
journey to Mordor. Our heroes battle with the dark armies of Sauron, while
Sam and Frodo see their mission through. Following the climax, the
hobbits face one last adversary back at the Shire — a sequence omitted
from the film adaptation.
We learn the fates of each character and bid them farewell as Frodo's
journey reaches its end.
Additional LotR Reading
5. The Silmarillion
The Silmarillion
See it at Amazon
The Silmarillion is the first Middle-earth work published after Tolkien’s
death in 1973. The five-part collection of stories is described as a
legendarium of Arda, the world in which Middle-earth exists. The vast
collection of works was edited by Tolkien’s son, Christopher, and
published in 1977.
The myths and stories within The Silmarillion cover the history of Arda
from its creation through the Third Age (when The Hobbit and The Lord of
the Rings take place).
6. Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth
Unfinished Tales Of Númenor And
Middle-Earth
See it at Amazon
Unfinished Tales is a collection of over a dozen stories and Middle-earth
histories edited and published by Christopher Tolkien. The book is
separated into four parts and includes stories about the origins of Middle-
earth’s five wizards, the alliance between Gondor and Rohan, why Gandalf
orchestrated the events of The Hobbit, and Sauron’s search for the One
Ring preceding The Lord of the Rings.
7. The History of Middle-earth
The Complete History of Middle-
Earth
See it at Amazon
The History of Middle-earth is a twelve-volume series published between
1983 and 1996. The 5,400-page collection, again edited by Christopher
Tolkien, compiles and analyzes The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, and
other Middle-earth writings.
The younger Tolkien chose not to include analyses of The Hobbit in The
History of Middle-earth; that can be found in The History of The Hobbit, a
similar work edited by Tolkien scholar John D. Rateliff and published in
2007.
8. The Children of Húrin
The Children of Hurin
See it at Amazon
The Children of Húrin is the complete version of Of Túrin Turambar, one of
the stories published in The Silmarillion. Set during The First Age, The
Children of Húrin tells the story of Húrin Thalion and his children, Túrin and
Nienor. It’s a tragic tale that explores the fallout of Húrin’s defiance of
Morgoth, the main villain of Middle-earth before Sauron rose to power.
9. Beren and Lúthien
Beren And Lúthien
See it at Amazon
Beren and Lúthien, which first appeared in a reduced form within The
Silmarillion, is a love story set during the First Age. Christopher Tolkien
compiled various versions of the story to create a single narrative
following the adventures of the mortal man Beren and the immortal Elf
Lúthien.
Beren and Lúthien are said to be inspired by Tolkien’s real-life romance
with his wife Edith; the characters’ names are etched into the couple’s
gravestone beneath their birth names.
10. The Fall of Gondolin
The Fall Of Gondolin
See it at Amazon
The Fall of Gondolin is the complete version of a tale found within both
The Silmarillion QOf Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin) and Unfinished Tales QOf
Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin). It tells the story of Tuor, a man sent to
Gondolin on a divine quest. The subsequent series of events, orchestrated
by the god Ulmo, would lead to the defeat of Morgoth.
The Fall of Gondolin connects to The Lord of the Rings through Tuor's son
Eärendil, who’d go on to father Elrond, the half-elf Lord of Rivendell who
selects the nine members of Frodo’s party in Fellowship of the Ring.
The Fall of Gondolin is the last Middle-earth novel edited by Christopher
Tolkien.
11. The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Númenor
$40.00 save 46%
$21.54 at Amazon
The Fall of Númenor, published in November 2022, is a collection of
Tolkien’s works related to the Second Age of Middle-earth. The stories
within have appeared in The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, and The History
of Middle-earth, though here they are assembled in a single volume by
Brian Sibley, co-writer of the 1981 radio adaptation of The Lord of the
Rings and author of over a dozen Middle-earth-related works.
QChristopher Tolkien, long the steward of his father’s work, died in 2020.)
Like other post-Lord of the Rings publications, The Fall of Númenor is a
collection of writings rather than a single narrative. The stories cover the
rise and fall of Númenor, the forging of the Rings of Power, the rise of
Sauron, the building of Barad-dûr QSauron's tower), and the Last Alliance
of Elves and Men.
How to Read The Lord of the Rings By
Release Date
The Hobbit* Q1937l
The Fellowship of the Ring* Q1954l
The Two Towers* Q1954l
The Return of the King* Q1955l
The Silmarillion Q1977l
Unfinished Tales Q1980l
The History of Middle-earth Q1983m1996l
The Children of Húrin Q2007l
Beren and Lúthien Q2017l
The Fall of Gondolin Q2018l
The Fall of Númenor Q2022l
*Part of the main four-book Lord of the Rings saga
For Further Browsing:
New Fantasy and Sci-Fi Books
Best Books Like Lord of the Rings
How to Watch The Lord of the Rings Movies in Order
Jordan covers games, shows, and movies as a freelance writer for IGN.
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Conversation (22) 4
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Captain_Shmarvel
1y ago
Can you list the order of pages to read them in? Serious question.
Reply · 8 ·
ryokosong
29w ago
What these books meant, to 15yr old me way back when, cannot be overstated.
While listening to grunge and punk rock as background music, these books were
so amazing and immersive. We were so poor back then, if not for my state's
library b...
See more
Reply · 1 ·
poppapopper
1y ago
It's not too late to delete this
Reply · 5 ·
millipuss
29w ago
I'm sad IGN didn't take your advice back in June.
Reply · 1 ·
Show 1 more reply
Thelittlewoodenboy
1y ago
Just picked up a hardcover edition of The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, and they
don’t even have it listed here. For shame.
Reply · 2 ·
DarkXbox79
1y ago
Was there ever a reason given of why Tom wasn’t in the movies?
Reply · 1 ·
5 replies
Backcountry164
28w ago
So, the order they were published in. Gee, thanks. I'm not sure if I could have
figured that out on my own...
Reply · 1 ·
zeldaspimp
1y ago
Easy. Flip to page 264, second paragraph. Start at the eleventh word and read
every third word from bottom to top, right to left.
When you get to page 18, read every fourth word until you get 2 pages from the
end. Then read the rest of the...
See more
Reply · 1 ·
arctheforge
6w ago
Dude, if you seriously need someone to tell you how to read the Lord of the Rings
in order there is a seriously bigger underlying issue here than the books and you
should probably go see a professional.
Reply · 1 ·
vicsrealmsA
1y ago
Shoot, what was the name of that old movie? The guy held up a book in front of
class and said, "This is your textbook for the semester. They opens like this."
(Edited)
Reply · 1 ·
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