The Fellowship of the Ring is the first part of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic adventure The Lord of the Rings, a beautifully written masterpiece which is among the greatest works of imaginative fiction of the twentieth century. 'For width of imagination' said the novelist Richard Hughes, 'it almost beggars parallel, and it is nearly as remarkable for its vividness and narrative skill which carries the reader on enthralled for page after page.'

In a sleepy village in the Shire, a young hobbit is entrusted with an immense task. He must make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ruling Ring of Power - the only thing that prevents the Dark Lord's evil dominion.

Thus begins J.R.R. Tolkien's classic tale, which continues in The Two Towers and The Return of the King.

NOTE ON THE TEXT

NOTE ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

FOREWORD TO THE SECOND EDITION

PROLOGUE Concerning Hobbits, and other matters

BOOK ONE

 I A Long-expected Party

 II The Shadow of the Past

 III Three is Company

 IV A Short Cut to Mushrooms

 V A Conspiracy Unmasked

 VI The Old Forest

 VII In the House of Tom Bombadil

 VIII Fog on the Barrow-downs

 IX At the Sign of The Prancing Pony

 X Strider

 XI A Knife in the Dark

 XlI Flight to the Ford

BOOK TWO

 I Many Meetings

 II The Council of Elrond

 III The Ring Goes South

 IV A Journey in the Dark

 V The Bridge of Khazad-dun

 VI Lothl6rien

 VII The Mirror of Galadriel

 VIII Farewell to L6rien

 IX The Great River

 X The Breaking of the Fellowship