For which work did J.R.R. Tolkien receive the 1957 International Fantasy Award?

J.R.R. Tolkien received the 1957 International Fantasy Award for The Lord of the Rings.

The award recognized the complete epic rather than The Hobbit or one of Tolkien’s shorter works. By 1957, the trilogy had already attracted major attention, although its reputation continued to grow through later editions and especially through the paperback market.

The International Fantasy Award was associated with the early British science-fiction and fantasy community and was presented at the annual Eastercon convention. Tolkien’s win helped confirm that his work was being treated as a major contribution to speculative literature, not merely as children’s fiction. The award is distinct from later honors and nominations connected with the books and their film adaptations, so the year and category are important when identifying this particular recognition.