The Lord of the Rings is an epic high fantasy novel written by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. It is one of the best-selling novels ever written, with over 150 million copies sold. The three volumes were titled The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. The story of The Lord of the Rings, include philology, mythology, religion and the author's distaste for the effects of industrialization, as well as earlier fantasy works and Tolkien's experiences in World War I.