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J.R.R. Tolkien

Everything you wanted to know but didn't have the time to find out!

1892. Born 3rd of January, in Bloemfontein (South Africa). He was born there due to his father taking a job with a South African Bank. His parents were English.

1896. On the 15th February, Tolkiens father dies in Bloemfontein, whilst he, his mother and younger brother are in England, visiting family. The family decide to move perminently back to England.

1900. Tolkiens mother is received into the Catholic Church.

1901. The family move house to Kings Heath district of Birmingham.

1902. The family moves to Edgbaston district of Birmingham.

1903. Tolkien wins schoralship to King Edwards School and returns there in the autumn.

1904. Tolkien's mother dies from diabetes aged 34.

1905, Tolkien brothers move to Aunt Beatrice's house.

1908, The brothers move to the Faulkner's house.

1909, Tolkien meets and falls in love with Edith Bratt in the spring. In the autumn, he fails the "Oxbridge" Entrance Examination. Enforced seperation from Edith.

1910. Tolkien succeeds in his second attempt to pass the Oxbridge Entrance Examination and is offered an "Exhibition" (type of scolarship) to Exeter College, Oxford.

1911. Visits Switzerland before begining college.

1913. January - reunited with Edith. Summer: after getting a Second Class for his Honour Moderations, Tolkien changes course to read English Language and Literature.

1914. January Edith is received into the Catholic Church and the couple are engaged to be married. 4th August Britain declares war on Germany and the First World War begins. In October, Tolkien returns to a near deserted college to resume his studies.

1915. Awarded First Class Degree.

1916. Edith and Ronald Tolkien married in Warwick (22nd March). Tokien embarks for France with the British Army (4th June). Battle of Somme begins (1st July). Tolkien sees action on the Front Line (14th July). Shipped home with trench fever (November).

1917. Tolkiens first son, John is born (November).

1918. First World War ends (11th November). Tolkien moves his family to Oxford, so he can work on The New Oxford Dictionary.

1919. Family moves to another house in Oxford, starts giving private tuition.

1920. Tolkien accepts job of Reader in English Language at Leeds University. Moves to Leeds. Second son, Michael is born (October). At christmas Tolkien writes the first "Father Christmas Letter."

1924. In October Tolkien is appointed Professor of English Language at Leeds University. The next month his third son Christopher is born.

1925. In October, Tolkien is appointed Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University, so another move is needed. Tolkien meets and becomes friends with C.S. Lewis.

1926. Tolkiens move to a larger house in Oxford.

1929. Tolkien's wife Edith is delighted when their daughter Princilla is born.

1930. Tolkiens move house, but this time to the nextdoor property.

1931. Tolkien believed to have started writing The Hobbit.

1937. The Hobbit is published. Tolkien is believed to have started work on The Lord of the Rings.

1938. Following it's publication in USA, The Hobbit earns Tolkien the New York Herald Tribune award.

1939. Britain declares war on Germany. Second World War begins (3rd September).

1943. Tolkien writes Leaf by Niggle.

1945. The War in Europe ends. Tolkien appointed Merton Professor of English Language and Literature at Oxford.

1947. Tolkien moves house in Oxford.

1949. Tolkien completes The Lord of the Rings. Farmer Giles of Ham is published.

1950. Tolkien moves house in Oxford once more. Wrangles begin over the manuscript of The Lord of the Rings.

1952. George Allen and Unwin agree to publish The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien continues rewrites.

1953. Tolkien moves house (again) in Oxford.

1954. In August The Fellowship of the Ring is published. It is followed up with the publication, in November of The Two Towers.

1955. The Return of the King is released to an anxious readership!

1959. Tolkien retires from his professorship.

1962. The Adventures of Tom Bombardil is published.

1965. A pirate version of The Lord of the Rings is published in the USA. Later the same year an official version is published.

1966. Settlement is reached with the publishing company that rushed out the pirate version and due to publicity The Lord of the Rings becomes an International bestseller. Tolkien and his wife celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary.

1967. The Smith of Wootton Major is published.

1968. Edith and Ronald move to Poole in Dorset.

1971. Edith Tolkien dies on the 29th November.

1972. Tolkien moves back to Oxford. Awarded a C.B.E. (Commander of the order of the British Empire). Made Honorary Doctor of Letters at Oxford University.

1973. Tolkien dies in the 2nd September in Bournemouth.

1976. The Father Christmas Letters is published.

1977. The Silmarillion is published.

1979. Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien is published.

1982. Mr Bliss is published.

1983 - 1996. The History of Middle Earth published in 12 volumes and is edited by Christopher Tolkien.

1984. Roverandom published.

1997. Waterstones (a national bookstore in the UK) has a National Poll in all it's stores asking "What is your favourite Book?" The Lord of the Rings wins.

2002. A first edition of The Hobbit is sold at Sotherby's for just over �43,000 (US $75,000).

2003. The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) launch, The Big Read an attempt to find the Nations Favourite Novel. I listen to all the radio and tv adverts for this new series and NO ONE mentions The Lord of the Rings except occasionally and then it's derrogatory ("I bet Tolkien will win it," said in a way as to internate they don't approve!). I will be adding a link to the home page for the website you need to go to to vote for your favourite book.