J.R.R. Tolkien 

Linguist, Author (1892–1973)

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, on

January 3, 1892, to Arthur Tolkien and Mabel Suffield Tolkien. After Arthur Tolkien died from peritonitis, Mabel settled with 4-year-old J.R.R. (then called Ronald) and his younger brother, Hilary, in the country hamlet of Sarehole, in Birmingham, England.

Mabel Tolkien died in 1904, and the Tolkien brothers were sent to live with a relative and in boarding homes, with a Catholic priest assuming guardianship in Birmingham. J.R.R. went on to get his first-class degree at Exeter College, specializing in Anglo-Saxon and Germanic languages and classic literature. He enlisted as a lieutenant in the Lancashire Fusiliers and served in World War I, making sure to continue writing as well. He fought in the Battle of the Somme, in which there were severe casualties, and was eventually released from duty due to illness. In the midst of his military service, he’d married Edith Bratt in 1916.

Continuing his linguistic studies, Tolkien joined the faculty of the University

of Leeds in 1920 and a few years later became a professor at Oxford University. While there he started a writing group called The Inklings, which counted among its members C.S. Lewis and Owen Barfield. It was also at Oxford, while grading a paper, that he spontaneously wrote a short line about "a hobbit."

The award-winning fantasy novel The Hobbit—about the small, furry-footed Bilbo Baggins and his adventures—was published in 1937 and was regarded as a children’s book, though Tolkien would state the book wasn’t originally intended for children. He also created more than 100 drawings to support the narrative.

Over the years, while working on scholarly publications, Tolkien developed the work that would come to be regarded as his masterpiece—the Lord of the Rings series, partially inspired by ancient European myths, with its own sets of maps, lore and languages.

Tolkien released part one of the series, The Fellowship of the Ring, in 1954;The Two Towers and The Return of the King followed in 1955, finishing up the trilogy. The books gave readers a rich literary trove populated by elves, goblins, talking trees and all manner of fantastic creatures, including characters like the wizard Gandalf and the dwarf Gimli.

While Rings had its share of critics, many reviewers and waves upon waves of general readers took to Tolkien’s world, causing the books to become global best sellers, with fans forming Tolkien clubs and learning his fictional languages.

Tolkien retired from professorial duties in 1959, going on to publish an essay and poetry collection, Tree and Leaf, and the fantasy tale Smith of Wootton Major. His wife Edith died in 1971, and Tolkien died on September 2, 1973, at the age of 81. He was survived by four children.

Jane Austen was a Georgian era author, best known for her social

commentary in novels including Sense and Sensibility, Pride and

Prejudice, and Emma.

Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775, in Steventon, Hampshire, England. While not widely known in her own time, Austen's comic novels of love among the landed gentry gained popularity after 1869, and her reputation skyrocketed in the 20th century. Her novels, including Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, are considered literary classics, bridging the gap between romance and realism. 

Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775, in Steventon, Hampshire,

England. While not widely known in her own time, Austen's comic

novels of love among the landed gentry gained popularity after 1869,

and her reputation skyrocketed in the 20th century. Her novels,

including Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility,

are considered literary classics, bridging the gap between romance

and realism. 

Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775, in Steventon, Hampshire,

England. While not widely known in her own time, Austen's comic

novels of love among the landed gentry gained popularity after 1869,

and her reputation skyrocketed in the 20th century. Her novels,

including Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility,

are considered literary classics, bridging the gap between romance

and realism. 

Ever fascinated by the world of stories, Jane began to write in bound notebooks. In the 1790s, during her adolescence, she started to craft her own novels and wrote Love and Freindship [sic], a parody of romantic fiction organized as a series of love letters. Using that framework, she unveiled her wit and dislike of sensibility, or romantic hysteria, a distinct perspective that would eventually characterize much of her later writing. The next year she wrote The History of England..., a 34-page parody of historical writing that included illustrations drawn by Cassandra. These notebooks, encompassing the novels as well as short stories, poems and plays, are now referred to as Jane's Juvenilia.

Ever fascinated by the world of stories, Jane began to write in bound

notebooks. In the 1790s, during her adolescence, she started to craft

her own novels and wrote Love and Freindship and Freindship [sic],

a parody of romantic fiction organized as a series of love letters.

Using that framework, she unveiled her wit and dislike of

sensibility, or romantic hysteria, a distinct perspective that would

eventually characterize much of her later writing. The next year she

wrote The History of England... History of England...,

a 34-page parody of historical writing that included illustrations

drawn by Cassandra. These notebooks, encompassing the novels as well

as short stories, poems and plays, are now referred to as

Jane's Juvenilia.

Jane spent much of her early adulthood helping run the family home, playing piano, attending church, and socializing with neighbors. Her nights and weekends often involved cotillions, and as a result, she became an accomplished dancer. On other evenings, she would choose a novel from the shelf and read it aloud to her family, occasionally one she had written herself. She continued to write, developing her style in more ambitious works such as Lady Susan, another epistolary story about a manipulative woman who uses her sexuality, intelligence and charm to have her way with others. Jane also started to write some of her future major works, the first called Elinor and Marianne, another story told as a series of letters, which would eventually be published as Sense and Sensibility. She began drafts of First Impressions, which would later be published as Pride and Prejudice, and Susan, later published as Northanger Abbey by Jane's brother, Henry, following Jane's death.

Jane spent much of her early adulthood helping run the family home,

playing piano, attending church, and socializing with neighbors. Her

nights and weekends often involved cotillions, and as a result, she

became an accomplished dancer. On other evenings, she would choose a

novel from the shelf and read it aloud to her family, occasionally

one she had written herself. She continued to write, developing her

style in more ambitious works such as Lady Susan Susan,

another epistolary story about a manipulative woman who uses her

sexuality, intelligence and charm to have her way with others. Jane

also started to write some of her future major works, the first

called Elinor and Marianne and Marianne, another story told as a series of letters, which would eventually be published as Sense and Sensibility and Sensibility.

She began drafts of First Impressions Impressions, which would later be published as Pride

and Prejudice and Prejudice, and Susan, later published as Northanger

Abbey Abbey by Jane's brother, Henry, following Jane's death.

In 1801, Jane moved to Bath with her father, mother and Cassandra. Then, in 1805, her father died after a short illness. As a result, the family was thrust into financial straits; the three women moved from place to place, skipping between the homes of various family members to rented flats. It was not until 1809 that they were able to settle into a stable living situation at Jane's brother Edward's cottage in Chawton.

In 1801, Jane moved to Bath with her father, mother and Cassandra. Then,

in 1805, her father died after a short illness. As a result, the

family was thrust into financial straits; the three women moved from

place to place, skipping between the homes of various family members

to rented flats. It was not until 1809 that they were able to settle

into a stable living situation at Jane's brother Edward's cottage in

Chawton.

Now in her 30s, Jane started to anonymously publish her works. In the period spanning 1811-16, she pseudonymously published Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice (a work she referred to as her "darling child," which also received critical acclaim), Mansfield Park and Emma.

Now in her 30s, Jane started to anonymously publish her works. In the

period spanning 1811-16, she pseudonymously published Sense and Sensibility

and Sensibility ,Pride and Prejudice and Prejudice (a work she referred to as her "darling child," which also received critical acclaim), Mansfield Park Park and Emma.