By the end of Fellowship, Frodo faces a betrayal and decides to set off toward Mordor on his own, though he’s joined by a stubbornly loyal Samwise. 3. The Two Towers There have been many different book covers to face the front of the epic Lord of the Rings trilogy. The covers below do not represent all the book covers created in the last 59 years but from covers illustrated by Tolkien himself to covers illustrated by the notable Alan Lee we have collected 16 of the most recognizable collections to carry the Lord of the Rings title. The covers for this edition of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy by Alan Lee are stunning and bold, with different cinematic images as the focal points for each book. Book covers for the Lord of the Rings published by Harper Collins

The Hobbit is Tolkien’s first Middle-earth book by in-universe chronology and real-world release date. The tale of Bilbo Baggins was first published in 1937, 17 years before the first volume of The Lord of the Rings. Alan Lee’s designs for the this edition of the Lord of the Rings books is magical and visually exciting. The covers are all brought together using a ring on each, containing the book’s title. The Fall of Númenor, published in November 2022, is a collection of Tolkien’s works related to the Second Age of Middle-earth. The stories within have appeared in The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, and The History of Middle-earth, though here they are assembled in a single volume by Brian Sibley, co-writer of the 1981 radio adaptation of The Lord of the Rings and author of over a dozen Middle-earth-related works. (Christopher Tolkien, long the steward of his father’s work, died in 2020.) One might also add illustrators to the list of Tolkien interpreters above who have—in the almost eighty years since The Hobbit’s publication and sixty years since the first appearance of The Lord of the Rings trilogy—done their best to visualize Tolkien’s world. But perhaps no one did so better than the master himself. Long known as a visual artist as well as a literary one, Tolkien left behind over 100 illustrations for The Hobbit, one of which adorns 2011’s HarperCollins 75th anniversary edition of the book. He also created these original cover designs for each book in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The Hobbit follows Thorin and Company — Bilbo, Gandalf, and 13 dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield — as they set off to reclaim the dwarves’ ancestral home beneath Lonely Mountain from the dragon Smaug. Along the way, we’re introduced to Gollum and discover how Bilbo came into possession of the One Ring. The adventure culminates in the Battle of Five Armies, which lent its name to the final Hobbit film. 2. The Fellowship of the RingLike other post-Lord of the Rings publications, The Fall of Númenor is a collection of writings rather than a single narrative. The stories cover the rise and fall of Númenor, the forging of the Rings of Power, the rise of Sauron, the building of Barad-dûr (Sauron's tower), and the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. How to Read The Lord of the Rings By Release Date For the first time ever, a very special edition of the classic masterpiece, illustrated throughout in colour by the author himself and with the complete text printed in two colours. With potential series newcomers in mind, these brief plot synopses contain only mild spoilers such as broad plot points and character introductions. 1. The Hobbit The designs for the 1995 edition of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy books are colorful, bright, and abstract. It doesn’t reveal much as to what the story could be about, but it gives a nice visual design with vibrant color schemes.

Since it was first published in 1954, The Lord of the Rings has been a book people have treasured. Steeped in unrivalled magic and otherworldliness, its sweeping fantasy and epic adventure has touched the hearts of young and old alike. Over 150 million copies of its many editions have been sold around the world, and occasional collectors’ editions become prized and valuable items of publishing. These covers feature beautifully illustrated scenes from each story of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Using the colors blue, green, and red gives each book its own individual personality. Houghton-Miffin’s covers for the Lord of the Rings Trilogy books are mythical, and give a feeling of mystery as to what’s waiting inside the books. The uniquely designed images in each book coordinate with one another and look as though they’re different views of the same mystical scene. Ballantine’s cover designs present s mystical, magical and brilliant visual display for the Lord of the Rings Trilogy books. There’s a wide spectrum of cool colors which bring about the feeling of mystery. Book covers for the authorized Canadian edition of the Lord of the RingsThese covers from a 1988 edition of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy books are a wonderful match, as they feature exceptional illustrations of scenes from within the books, and bold color schemes. Book covers for the Lord of the Rings published by Houghton-Mifflin