Born on 3rd January, 1892 in Bloemfontein, South Africa, J.R.R. Tolkien was a writer and philosopher. He was also a close friend of C.S.S. Lewis. As a child, he settled in England and went on to study at Exeter College. While teaching at Oxford University, Tolkien published the popular fantasy novels The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The works have had a devoted international fan base and been adapted into award-winning blockbuster films. Tolkien died in 1973, at the age of 81.