What honor did J.R.R. Tolkien receive in 1972 for his services to literature?

J.R.R. Tolkien was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1972 for his services to literature.

The honor is commonly abbreviated CBE. Tolkien received it from Queen Elizabeth II at an investiture ceremony in 1972. The appointment recognized his literary contribution, especially the international impact of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, as well as his standing as a scholar and writer.

A CBE is one grade within the United Kingdom’s order of chivalry. It ranks below a knighthood and above an OBE. Tolkien was not knighted, so “Sir J.R.R. Tolkien” is not his correct formal style. He was, however, widely respected for both his fiction and his academic work in English language and literature.

The award came late in his life, after The Lord of the Rings had become a major international success. Tolkien died the following year, in 1973, in Bournemouth, England.