Buzz
In J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic The Lord of the Rings, the malevolent Dark Lord Sauron seeks to reclaim the One Ring, a source of immense power that would grant him control over Middle-earth. The ring, now in the possession of the unassuming hobbit Frodo Baggins, must be destroyed in the fiery depths of Mount Doom, a perilous journey he undertakes with his loyal companions.
Upon its release in 1954, Fellowship of the Ring—the first installment of The Lord of the Rings trilogy—stood unparalleled. Tolkien’s masterful fusion of high fantasy and mythological elements introduced readers to a richly imagined world brimming with unique languages, cultures, and battles. Over six decades later, The Lord of the Rings remains a cornerstone of fantasy literature, influencing countless writers, filmmakers, and artists. Yet, the origins of this monumental work are surprisingly modest. Here are some lesser-known facts even the most devoted fans might find intriguing.
1. Tolkien initially proposed The Silmarillion as the sequel to The Hobbit.
Following the immense success of The Hobbit in 1937, which garnered critical praise and impressive sales for publisher George Allen & Unwin, Tolkien was urged to create a follow-up set in the same enchanting universe. The publisher hoped for another tale centered on hobbits, eager to capitalize on the popularity of his first work.
Instead, Tolkien proposed what would later become The Silmarillion, an intricate prequel exploring the origins of Middle-earth and its diverse civilizations. Hobbits were largely absent from this grand, cosmic narrative. The publisher dismissed the idea, prompting Tolkien to focus on a more direct sequel, The Lord of the Rings. Ultimately, The Silmarillion remained unpublished until four years after Tolkien’s death.
2. The Lord of the Rings was never intended to be a trilogy.
Tolkien started writing The Lord of the Rings in late 1937 at 45, and it took him 12 years to finish the novel, with publication following a few years later. Initially conceived as a single volume, the book’s massive scale—over 1000 pages and approximately 500,000 words—along with a post-war paper shortage in the UK, compelled the publisher to divide it into three parts: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. This was far from the straightforward sequel to a children’s book the publisher had envisioned.
3. The story nearly revolved around the adventures of Bingo Baggins.
When Tolkien began writing The Lord of the Rings, he was uncertain about the direction of the story. “I cannot think of anything more to say about hobbits,” Tolkien wrote in a 1937 letter to Stanley Unwin. However, aware of the audience’s desire for more hobbit tales, he persevered. Initially, the protagonist was Bingo Baggins, the son of The Hobbit’s Bilbo Baggins, with a loose concept of making the ring’s return a central theme. Eventually, Bingo was renamed Frodo, and a character named Trotter (later transformed into Aragorn) was introduced.
Initial drafts excluded Samwise Gamgee entirely but featured a hobbit named Odo, who eventually evolved into Pippin. At one point, Tolkien even considered bringing Bilbo back as the central character or revealing him to be Trotter in disguise.
4. The maps of Middle-earth were crafted by J.R.R. Tolkien’s son.
Art played a crucial role in Tolkien’s vision of Middle-earth. He created numerous paintings and illustrations for The Hobbit—including its first edition cover—and The Lord of the Rings. However, the most significant contributions were the maps designed by his son, Christopher, which brought the world to life.
Starting his work over a decade before the books were published, Christopher’s maps provided a tangible sense of geography for the Shire, Mordor, and other iconic locations. Several of these maps were included in the first editions of all The Lord of the Rings volumes. Later, Christopher created additional maps for The Silmarillion in 1977 and revised his original ones for Unfinished Tales in 1980.
5. The first U.S. paperback edition of The Lord of the Rings was an unauthorized copy.
In 1965, The Lord of the Rings was released in the U.S. as a paperback by sci-fi publisher Ace Books, but without Tolkien’s permission. Ace editor Donald A. Wollheim argued that the works lacked U.S. copyright protection, making them fair game for publication. Priced at 75 cents each, the Ace edition sold well, prompting Tolkien to revise his books to secure U.S. copyright.
Tolkien urged fans to avoid the Ace editions and instead purchase the updated, authorized paperbacks from Ballantine Books, despite their slightly higher price. Eventually, Ace ceased printing and agreed to pay Tolkien royalties for each copy sold. Together, the Ace and Ballantine versions sold 250,000 copies within 10 months.
6. The artist behind the Ballantine covers never read the books.
In a rush to release The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings paperbacks, Ballantine commissioned Barbara Remington, a painter familiar with their style, to create the cover art. However, Remington didn’t have time to read Tolkien’s works.
“I didn’t know what they were about,” she admitted in an interview years later. “I tried asking people who had read them, but the books were hard to find in the U.S., so I had limited information.” The result was a surreal, fantastical design featuring jagged mountains, swarming dragons, and vibrant colors that didn’t align with the Shire’s peaceful setting.
Despite the lack of direct inspiration, Remington’s artwork resonated with fans. The three covers she designed for The Lord of the Rings (later merged into a single elaborate piece) have since appeared on numerous posters and prints.
Tolkien did offer some feedback, particularly about her Hobbit cover, which included an inexplicable lion absent from the story. “He asked Ballantine to remove the lions, so they were painted over in later editions,” Remington explained. “The earliest prints still featured the lion covers.” These early editions have since become prized collector’s items.
7. Tolkien began drafting a genuine sequel to The Lord of the Rings.
Although Tolkien never released a true follow-up to The Lord of the Rings, he did start one, tentatively titled The New Shadow.
Set a century after Aragorn’s reign, the story would have revolved around a cult devoted to Sauron spreading darkness across Middle-earth. Tolkien abandoned the project after writing only two scenes, later stating, “I could have written a ’thriller’ about the plot’s discovery and defeat—but it would have been just that. Not worth doing.”
