Why Tolkien's epic was split into three volumes against his wishes
In short: J.R.R. Tolkien originally envisioned The Lord of the Rings as a single, massive work. However, his publisher decided to divide the saga into three volumes to manage the sheer bulk and minimize financial risk. This decision fundamentally changed how the world would experience the conclusion of the Third Age.
When J.R.R. Tolkien first proposed his work to publisher Rayner Unwin, he envisioned a single narrative comprising six books and extensive appendices. He even suggested specific titles for the final sections, such as 'The War of the Ring' for Book Five and 'The End of the Third Age' for Book Six. These specific titles were eventually adopted in the 2000 Millennium edition, but they were not what appeared on the original covers. The original proposal for the work included a total of six books. These sections were intended to be accompanied by detailed appendices.
To mitigate the risk of a commercial failure due to the book's immense size, the publisher opted to split the work. This resulted in the three-volume structure we recognize today. This decision was not without tension; Tolkien expressed dissatisfaction with the final titles, feeling that 'The Return of the King' revealed too much of the plot. He preferred the more ambiguous 'The War of the Ring' for the final volume.
The resulting third volume, published in the UK on 20 October 1955, encompasses the final two books of the saga. It follows Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee to Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring, while Aragorn rallies forces at Minas Tirith to confront the Dark Lord Sauron. While the volume achieved immense popularity—including a 1965 US paperback release—it also sparked literary debate, receiving praise from figures like W. H. Auden and criticism from Edwin Muir.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Return of the King | work by Tolkien | Britannica
- Also: The Return of the King
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