How to Read the Lord of the Rings Books in Order: Series Reading Guide

From Frodo’s quest to destroy the One Ring to the fall of Gondolin, the world of Middle Earth is richly detailed, elegantly drawn, and undeniably epic. If you’re new to the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, you’ll soon discover that there’s more to the author’s acclaimed fantasy sagas than The Lord of the Rings, which can make it difficult to know where to start reading. Good thing we’re here to make sure you start your adventure right.

How Many Lord of the Rings Books Are There?

The Lord of the Rings is a single work divided across three volumes. As a result, it’s commonly referred to as a trilogy. However, there are many other works published in J.R.R. Tolkien’s name that expand the world of Arda and Middle Earth.

Recommended Reading Order of Tolkien’s Works

If you want to read The Lord of the Rings, the best place to start isn’t the first book in the trilogy. Instead, let’s begin our tale sixty years before, with the finding of the One Ring.

1. The Hobbit

The Hobbit was first released in 1937, more than a decade before The Lord of the Rings. The story follows the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, who departs home in the company of thirteen dwarves in an attempt to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from the clutches of the dragon Smaug. It’s the best place to start for readers who are new to Tolkien’s works because it introduces hobbits and helps make The Fellowship of the Ring’s initial chapters easier to follow.

2. The Fellowship of the Ring

The Fellowship of the Ring is the first of three volumes in The Lord of the Rings. Frodo Baggins, Bilbo’s adopted heir, inherits the One Ring after Bilbo’s departure but soon finds that the dreaded Ringwraiths are following his trail. The epic quest to take the One Ring to Mount Doom begins.

3. The Two Towers

The Fellowship of the Ring is broken and all is in doubt when The Two Towers opens. The Three Hunters, led by Aragorn, attempt to rescue captive friends and aid the land of Rohan, while Frodo and Sam must contend with Gollum and his desire for the Ring.

4. The Return of the King

The Return of the King covers the climactic conclusion of The Lord of the Rings. Aragorn and his company fight in both the siege of Minas Tirith and the Battle of the Morannon. Sam and Frodo reach the fires of Mount Doom, where they attempt to destroy the Ring. A new king is crowned in Gondor.

5. The Silmarillion

The Silmarillion is a grand retelling of the greatest myths of Arda, of which the tale of the Ring is only a small part. The narrative covers everything from the creation of the world to the end of the Third Age, though its primary focus is on the Years of the Trees and the First Age, which occurred thousands of years before The Lord of the Rings. The word ‘epic’ is an understatement when it comes to describing this one.

6. Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth

Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth is a set of additional stories that fill in the corners of Arda and Middle Earth. Some of these stories tie in with The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, while others further detail the events of the First and Second ages.

The Road Goes Ever On

After Unfinished Tales, the nature of Tolkien’s works becomes considerably more fragmented. All of the books below (as well as The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales) were published posthumously. They’re best for those of us who can’t get enough of Middle Earth.

7. The History of Middle Earth (Volumes 1-12)

The twelve volumes of The History of Middle Earth detail the development of Tolkien’s world. Early drafts, notes on the languages of Middle Earth, and editor annotations uncover much of Tolkien’s process for creating his epic. You don’t need to read the twelve volumes in order and can easily jump into the segments relevant to your favorite parts of the Legendarium.

8. The Children of Húrin

Children of Húrin is a novel-like retelling of Túrin Turambar’s tragic life and travels, which initially appeared in lesser detail in The Silmarillion. It’s the first of the three Great Tales of the First Age and perhaps the darkest of Tolkien’s stories.

9. Beren and Lúthien

Beren and Lúthien is the least complete of the three books focusing on the Great Tales of the First Age. At the center of this story is a romance between Beren, a mortal, and Lúthien, an elf. The two work to steal a Silmaril from the crown of Morgoth and are thus counted amongst the greatest of Tolkien’s heroes.

10. The Fall of Gondolin

The Fall of Gondolin is the last of Tolkien’s Great Tales. The book assembles the various stories related to the secret city of Gondolin in a single volume and also covers the mariner Eärendil’s journey at the end of the First Age.

11. The Fall of Númenor

The most recent book published in Tolkien’s name is The Fall of Númenor. It’s a collection of writings related to the events of the Second Age, edited by Brian Sibley and released in close proximity to Amazon’s The Rings of Power TV show. 

12. The Nature of Middle Earth

The Nature of Middle Earth is also a collection of Tolkien’s notes and minor works. It focuses not only on the literal ‘nature’ of Middle Earth but on its inhabitants, from their physical description to their connection with fate and free will. 

Middle Earth Books in Chronological Order

The timeline of Middle Earth is complex, with publications like The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales containing stories from several ages. However, if you’d like to read the main books in as close to chronological order as possible, the suggested order is as follows: The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and finally, Unfinished Tales.