In the first volume of The Lord of the Rings, the fate of the world rests in the hands of a quiet hobbit named Frodo Baggins, who inherits the One Ring—an object of unimaginable power forged by the Dark Lord Sauron. With enemies closing in, Frodo sets out from the peaceful Shire with a fellowship of allies: men, a wizard, an elf, a dwarf, and fellow hobbits. Their mission? To destroy the Ring in the fires of Mount Doom. The Fellowship of the Ring is a sweeping tale of friendship, betrayal, ancient powers, and the beginnings of an unforgettable journey across Middle-earth.

J.R.R. Tolkien (1892–1973) was an English author, scholar, and linguist best known for creating The Hobbit (1937) and The Lord of the Rings (1954–1955). Born in South Africa, he moved to England as a child and later studied at Oxford, where he became a professor of Anglo-Saxon and English literature. A veteran of World War I, Tolkien drew on his love of mythology, language, and medieval literature to craft Middle-earth, an intricate fantasy world with its own histories, cultures, and languages like Elvish. His works, blending epic adventure with deep themes of heroism, friendship, and the struggle against evil, redefined modern fantasy. Though initially slow to gain popularity, The Lord of the Rings became a global phenomenon, influencing countless writers and artists. Tolkien continued expanding his legendarium until his death in 1973, with posthumous works like The Silmarillion (1977) further enriching his mythos. Today, he is celebrated as one of literature's greatest world-builders.