The tale of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins and his dwarf companions on a perilous journey in search of treasure guarded by Smaug the dragon is among the most loved literary classics of the 20th century. This is an introduction to J.R.R. Tolkien’s magic world of high fantasy and fast paced adventure.

An unassuming Oxford professor with a passion for languages and Northern folklore, Tolkien is widely regarded as the father of modern High Fantasy genre. We look at his life and works, and what influenced his writing style.

What lead to the creation of the famous Legendarium? Inhabited by magicians and men, dwarves and hobbits, goblins and elves — where good ultimately defeats evil.