Here is a roughly 800 word overview of the writer J.R.R. Tolkien:

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973) was an English writer, poet, philologist, and academic best known for authoring the high fantasy works The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. His books have sold over 150 million copies worldwide and profoundly influenced the fantasy genre.

Tolkien was born in South Africa but moved to England as a young child after his father's death. He was raised by his mother, who homeschooled him and instilled in him a love of languages and storytelling. Tragically, she died when Tolkien was only 12, leaving him an orphan. He was then raised by a Catholic priest, Father Francis Morgan, who became his guardian.

As a young man, Tolkien studied at Oxford University, focusing on English language and literature. His academic career was interrupted by World War I, where he served as a signal officer and experienced the horrors of trench warfare. Many scholars believe his wartime experiences influenced the darker aspects of his later fantasy writings.

After the war, Tolkien pursued an academic career, becoming a professor at Oxford University where he taught Anglo-Saxon and English language and literature. He was a renowned scholar in his field, particularly for his work on Beowulf and other Old English texts.

Throughout his academic career, Tolkien worked on creating his own mythology and languages in his spare time. This project, which would later become known as the legendarium of Middle-earth, was a lifelong passion. He began developing his invented languages as a teenager and continued refining them throughout his life. The most fully developed of these languages were Quenya and Sindarin, the two main Elvish languages in his works.

Tolkien's first published work of fiction was The Hobbit in 1937. Originally written as a bedtime story for his children, it was well-received and led to publishers requesting a sequel. This sequel would eventually become The Lord of the Rings, published in three volumes in 1954-1955.

The Lord of the Rings is Tolkien's magnum opus, a sprawling epic that expanded the world introduced in The Hobbit. Set in the fictional world of Middle-earth, it tells the story of the hobbit Frodo Baggins and his quest to destroy the One Ring and defeat the Dark Lord Sauron. The work is notable for its complex mythology, invented languages, and themes of good versus evil, the corruption of power, and the importance of friendship and loyalty.

While initially receiving mixed reviews, The Lord of the Rings gradually gained a cult following and eventually became one of the best-selling novels of all time. Its popularity exploded in the 1960s, particularly on American college campuses, where it resonated with the counterculture movement.

Tolkien's work is characterized by its deep linguistic roots, elaborate world-building, and moral complexity. He drew inspiration from various sources, including Norse mythology, Celtic legends, and his Catholic faith. His creation of a fully realized secondary world with its own history, languages, and cultures set a new standard for fantasy literature.

Beyond The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien wrote several other works set in Middle-earth, most of which were published posthumously. These include The Silmarillion, a collection of mythopoeic works that provides the backstory to Middle-earth, and Unfinished Tales, which contains stories and essays related to The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion.

Tolkien's influence on literature and popular culture cannot be overstated. He is often referred to as the "father of modern fantasy literature," and his works have inspired countless other authors, filmmakers, and artists. The immersive world he created has spawned numerous adaptations, including the highly successful film trilogies directed by Peter Jackson.

In addition to his fantasy works, Tolkien was a respected academic and philologist. He produced important scholarly works, including a landmark lecture on Beowulf titled "The Monsters and the Critics," which is still considered a seminal work in the field of Old English studies.

Tolkien was also part of a literary group known as the Inklings, which included his close friend C.S. Lewis, author of The Chronicles of Narnia. The group would meet regularly to discuss literature and share their works in progress.

Despite his fame, Tolkien led a relatively quiet life. He was devoted to his wife, Edith, and their four children. His Catholic faith was a central part of his life and influenced his writings, though he eschewed overt allegory in his works.

J.R.R. Tolkien died in 1973, but his legacy lives on through his enduring works. His son Christopher Tolkien dedicated much of his life to editing and publishing his father's unfinished writings, providing fans with a deeper understanding of Tolkien's vast mythological world.

Today, Tolkien is remembered not just as a fantasy author, but as a linguistic inventor, a myth-maker, and a writer who explored profound themes of morality, power, and the human condition through the lens of high fantasy. His works continue to captivate readers and inspire new generations of writers, cementing his place as one of the most influential authors of the 20th century.