BookBingeThe Lord of the Rings Books in Order
The Lord of the Rings is an epic high-fantasy novel by English author J.R.R. Tolkien.
Here is the complete The Lord of the Rings reading order — all 3 books by J.R.R. Tolkien, in the order you should read them:
Publication order (recommended)
- The Fellowship of the Ring(1954)
- The Two Towers(1954)
- The Return of the King(1955)
Good news: for this series, publication order and chronological order are the same — just read straight down the list.
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Get BookBingeFrequently asked questions
How many books are in the The Lord of the Rings series?
There are 3 books in the The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien, beginning with The Fellowship of the Ring (1954) and most recently The Return of the King (1955).
What is the first The Lord of the Rings book?
The first book is The Fellowship of the Ring, published in 1954. That's where new readers should start.
Should I read The Lord of the Rings in publication or chronological order?
Publication and chronological order are identical for this series, so just follow the list.