Tolkien and the Great War

Celebrated as ‘the finest book on Tolkien,’ this award-winning biography delves into J.R.R. Tolkien’s experiences during the Great War and how they shaped his life and inspired The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

Reflecting on the devastating impact, Tolkien said, “To be caught in youth by 1914 was no less hideous an experience than in 1939 … by 1918 all but one of my close friends were dead.” This powerful narrative offers profound insight into the man behind the literary legend.