The Novel Index

Where to start with J. R. R. Tolkien

British novelist, 1892–1973.

Best J. R. R. Tolkien book to start with: The Lord of the Rings (1954), on 9 of the 17 lists it could have made.

The Lord of the Rings is the lists’ choice, but The Hobbit is the gentler way in. It is the shorter and lighter book, written as a children’s adventure, and it will tell you quickly whether you like the world. You can read it in a few evenings.

The Lord of the Rings is one long story published in three volumes, and The Fellowship of the Ring is the first of them, which the index also lists on its own. The opening chapters are slow and full of detail, so be patient: the pace picks up once the journey begins. Read the volumes in order, because each ends in the middle of the story.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Photo: Unknown photo studio, public domain

J. R. R. Tolkien's books, ranked best first

The Lord of the Rings is the one with its own page, on 9 of the 17 lists it could have made.

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J. R. R. Tolkien's novels in order

The earliest on our lists is The Hobbit (1937), and the most recent is The Lord of the Rings (1954).

  1. 1937 The Hobbit
  2. 1954 The Fellowship of the Ring
  3. 1954 The Lord of the Rings

Novels on at least one of our 30 lists. Not a complete bibliography.

Also on one list

2 more of J. R. R. Tolkien's novels are each on one of our lists.

Lists used on this page