Tolkien, TOHL keen, J. R. R. (1892-1973), an English author and scholar, wrote a popular series of novels about an imaginary people called hobbits. Tolkien introduced the short, hairy-footed hobbits in The Hobbit (1937). He continued their story in three related novels called The Lord of the Rings. These novels are The Fellowship of the Ring (1954), The Two Towers (1954), and The Return of the King (1955). The three novels were adapted into three immensely popular motion pictures released in 2001, 2002, and 2003.