For over fifty years, J.R.R. Tolkien's peerless fantasy has accumulatedworldwide acclaim as the greatest adventure tale ever written.No other writer has created a world as distinct as Middle-earth, completewith its own geography, history, languages, and legends. Andno one has created characters as endearing as Tolkien's large-hearted, hairy-footed hobbits. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings continues toseize the imaginations of readers of all ages, and this new three-volumepaperback edition is designed to appeal to the youngest of them.In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elvensmiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it withhis own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring wastaken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, stillit remained lost to him . . .