J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings began publication in 1954.
The first volume, The Fellowship of the Ring, was published on 29 July 1954 by George Allen & Unwin. The Two Towers followed later that year, and The Return of the King appeared in 1955. Although the work is commonly called a trilogy, Tolkien regarded it as one novel divided into six internal books plus appendices.
The story was written as a sequel to The Hobbit, but it became much larger and more serious in tone. Its plot follows the attempt to destroy the One Ring and defeat Sauron, while its appendices provide extensive historical and linguistic background.
Some readers encounter dates from later editions or the American publication history, which can cause confusion. The original British publication began in 1954. The complete three-volume set was not available until the third volume appeared in 1955.