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.
by Pamela Chandler
modern bromide print from original negative, September 1961
NPG x88830
by Pamela Chandler
chromogenic print, September 1961
NPG x88898
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.