On what date did J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings begin publication?

J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings began publication on 29 July 1954, with The Fellowship of the Ring.

The first volume was published in London by George Allen & Unwin. The Two Towers followed on 11 November 1954, and The Return of the King appeared on 20 October 1955. The gaps between volumes reflected production and publication issues rather than a decision by Tolkien to write three entirely separate novels.

Tolkien had been working on the manuscript for years, revising it repeatedly and responding to editorial and printing concerns. The completed work is one continuous narrative, but paper shortages, printing costs, and the scale of the book contributed to its release in three volumes.

The date is sometimes confused with The Hobbit’s 21 September 1937 publication date. The Hobbit introduced Bilbo and the wider setting, while The Lord of the Rings expanded that world into a much larger conflict centered on the One Ring.