September 2nd: The Day J. R. R. Tolkien Died

A literary legend and the man who wrote the much-celebrated works of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, J. R. R. Tolkien died on September 2nd 1973. Ranked at number 6 on The Times' 2008 list of 'The 50 Greatest British Writers Since 1945', Tolkien has contributed outstanding work to literature and Britain itself, as he was also appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire by the Queen in 1972. 

The Grandfather of High Fantasy

   Tolkien was principally known for redefining the high fantasy literary genre. I mean, just read a couple of pages of either of his most popular works, and you'll see why. High fantasy is in its own league of other-worldly creatures and life. After his death, his son Christopher published a series of unpublished notes and manuscripts that practically became The Silmarillion. Tolkien's literary greatness continued into his social life also, being good pals with C. S. Lewis, and part of the informal literary discussion group known as the Inklings. His lectures, most notably Beowulf, were inspiring to his students, one of whom being W. H. Auden who said of Tolkien: 'I don't think that I have ever told you what an unforgettable experience it was for me as an undergraduate, hearing you recite Beowulf. The voice was the voice of Gandalf.'

   Indeed, J. R. R. Tolkien (whose initials, by the way, stand for John Ronald Reuel) was an inspiration for many budding literary greats, and remains one of the few writers who can posthumously continue to make money and stay popular. Not to mention the multi-million dollar movies recreating The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, Tolkien's imagination has paved the way for numerous other high fantasy writers and film directors. Long live J. R. R. Tolkien!