J.R.R. Tolkien
(1892-1973), Anglo-Saxon scholar and writerJohn Ronald Reuel ('J.R.R.') Tolkien
Sitter in 5 portraits
Graduated in Classics and English at Oxford, J.R.R Tolkien served at the Battle of the Somme and was invalided home with trench fever. He taught at Leeds University and was elected Professor of Anglo-Saxon (1925) and English Language and Literature (1945) at Oxford. Best known for his international bestsellers The Hobbit (1937) and The Lord of the Rings (1954-5) he also wrote scholarly publications including a study on Chaucer (1934) and an edition of Beowulf (1937). His later works include The Silmarillion (1977) presenting the mythological beginnings of Middle Earth and the posthumous Unfinished Tales (1980) edited and completed by his son Christopher.
Watch a film clip on the sitter from the BBC Archive in the Media section below
by Pamela Chandler
modern bromide print from original negative, September 1961
NPG x88830
by Pamela Chandler
C-type colour print, September 1961
NPG x88898
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