J.R.R.Tolkien (1892-1973) was a distinguished academic, though he is best known for writing The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, plus other stories and essays. His books have been translated into over 30 languages and have sold many millions of copies worldwide.
BRIAN SIBLEY is a writer and broadcaster with a life-long interest in fantasy books and cinema. His fascination with J. R. R. Tolkien and the myths and history of Middle-earth first led to his critically-acclaimed 26-part BBC radio dramatisation of The Lord of the Rings in which the role of Frodo was played by Ian Holm, who went on to portray Bilbo in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, a role he is now reprising in The Hobbit.