Which 1957 prize did J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings win?

J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings won the International Fantasy Award in 1957.

The award recognized the completed novel in the category of fiction. The Lord of the Rings had been published in three volumes between 1954 and 1955, and its influence continued to grow through reviews, reprints, and later paperback editions. The 1957 prize was an important early recognition of Tolkien’s achievement.

The International Fantasy Award was established to honor fantasy and science fiction works. Tolkien’s win predates the major awards that many modern readers associate with speculative fiction. The novel later became a landmark of modern fantasy literature and influenced writers, publishers, artists, games, and film-makers.

A common error is to call the 1957 honor a Hugo, Nebula, or World Fantasy Award. Those awards either began later or belong to different award histories. The specific early prize associated with The Lord of the Rings is the International Fantasy Award.