Did you know that J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings has sold over 150 million copies? This epic has been translated into more than 38 languages, making it one of the best-selling books in history. The story revolves around the hobbit Frodo Baggins of the Shire, who bears the One Ring. He must destroy it in the fires of Mount Doom to prevent the dark lord Sauron from returning to Mordor. J.R.R. Tolkien, a distinguished Oxford University philologist, began writing this saga in 1937. The first volume, The Fellowship of the Ring, was published only in 1954, completing the trilogy by 1955. Tolkien originally envisioned The Lord of the Rings as a single novel, a sequel to The Hobbit. However, at the decision of Allen & Unwin, the work was divided into the three volumes we know today. Its cultural impact is colossal: polls have named it the "book of the millennium." Peter Jackson's 2001-2003 film adaptation won 17 Oscars, immortalizing Middle-earth for millions of new fans.