Overview

J.R.R. Tolkien, author of the The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and the Silmarillion, has become one of the 20th century’s most influential writers.

His fantasy creations are known and loved around the world and have reached new audiences through the remarkable success of director Peter Jackson’s cinematic adaptations of The Lord of the Rings and more recently The Hobbit, shot entirely in New Zealand.

The inspiration behind the books and films can actually be found in South Birmingham, where Tolkien grew up.

This series of short videos explore the places and people who influenced the young Tolkien and celebrate the lasting legacy of his remarkable work.