The Return of the King

The Return of the King is the third and final volume of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, first published in 1955. It brings the War of the Ring to its climax, follows the Ring-bearer Frodo Baggins to the fires of Mount Doom, and resolves the fate of Middle-earth. The volume comprises the fifth and sixth of the six internal books of The Lord of the Rings, along with extensive appendices on the history, languages, and chronology of Middle-earth.

Its title refers to the return of Aragorn to claim the throne of the reunited kingdom of Gondor and Arnor, fulfilling the long-prophesied restoration of the line of kings.

Overview

The forces of Sauron march against Gondor, and the great Battle of the Pelennor Fields is fought before the walls of Minas Tirith. The defenders, aided by the riders of Rohan, hold against the assault, and the Lord of the Nazgûl is slain by Éowyn and Merry. Aragorn reveals himself as the rightful king, summons aid, and in the Houses of Healing uses the herb athelas to cure those stricken by the Black Breath, confirming his kingship.

To distract Sauron from the secret quest, the captains of the West march to the very gates of Mordor in a desperate gambit. Within Mordor, Frodo Baggins and Sam struggle across the blasted land toward Mount Doom. At the brink, Frodo is overcome at last by the One Ring and claims it for himself, but the creature Gollum seizes it and falls with it into the fire, destroying the Ring and unmaking Sauron. The volume closes with the crowning of Aragorn, the return of the hobbits to the Shire, and the departure of the Ring-bearers over the Sea.

Place in the series

The Return of the King concludes the quest begun in The Fellowship of the Ring and continued in The Two Towers. Its principal viewpoint characters include Frodo Baggins, Sam, Merry, Pippin, and Aragorn. Its appendices provide much of the deeper history and lore of Middle-earth referenced throughout the work.

Publication

The Return of the King was first published in 1955 by George Allen and Unwin, the last of the three volumes of The Lord of the Rings to appear, its release delayed in part by the preparation of the appendices.