The Lord of the Rings Books, Ranked by a Diehard Fan of the Series

The Lord of the Ringsis one of the greatest pieces of literature ever written and one that has withstood the test of time as the most enduring work within the legendarium of J.R.R. Tolkien. The Hobbit had been a hugely successful book that Tolkien’s publishers begged to have a sequel for, but his plans for another adventure set in Middle-earth lead him down a far more ambitious path that collided with events in the real world. Written throughout World War II, The Lord of the Rings was heavily inspired by the experiences of the young men who had given their lives to face off against the ultimate evil; the notion of the different nations coming together amidst their differences to form the Allied Forces can be seen within the alliance between men, elves, and dwarves to defeat the Dark Lord Sauron. However, there is not a strict basis in metaphor that offers a one-to-one explanation within history for everything that Tolkien came up with. Christian mythology is also a major component, as the three Christ figures in the priest, the prince, and the prophet can be seen within the three main characters of Gandalf, Aargorn, and Frodo.