The Lord of the Rings Books in Order

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1954–1955 fantasy novel trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien

Publication order

In the order the books were originally released.

  1. Cover of The Fellowship of the Ring

    The Fellowship of the Ring

    1954 · J.R.R. Tolkien

    The Fellowship of the Ring is the first volume of The Lord of the Rings, a trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien. It was published in 1954 in the United…

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  2. Cover of The Two Towers

    The Two Towers

    1954 · J.R.R. Tolkien

    J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings is an epic fantasy set in the imaginary world of Middle-earth, home to creatures like hobbits, who are…

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  3. Cover of The Return of the King

    The Return of the King

    1955 · J.R.R. Tolkien

    The Return of the King is the third and final volume of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, published in 1955. It follows the events of The…

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Frequently asked questions

What order should I read the The Lord of the Rings books in?

Read them in publication order, starting with “The Fellowship of the Ring”. Start with “The Fellowship of the Ring.”

How many books are in the The Lord of the Rings series?

We list 3 books by J.R.R. Tolkien , published between 1954–1955.

Where can I buy the The Lord of the Rings books?

Each title above links to Amazon. See our affiliate disclosure.

Reading order compiled from author/publisher guidance and verified bibliographic data. Spotted a wrong order, a missing book, or any other mistake? and we'll correct it.