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The REAL history behind Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and more

The REAL history behind Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and more

If you thought Lord of the Rings, Rings of Power or The Hobbit was pure fairytale, you would be way off. HistoryExtra's James Osborne explains more

James Osborne

Published: November 20, 2025 at 1:17 PM

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From the epic battles of Beowulf to the myths of Old Norse sagas and the real-world struggles of the Anglo-Saxons, Tolkien’s legendary world was deeply rooted in the past.

But how exactly did these influences weave their way into The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit? In this video, we explore the sources that helped Tolkien forge his fantasy masterpiece, uncovering the warriors, monsters, and lost kingdoms that made Middle-Earth feel so real.

Authors

James OsborneSenior content producer

James Osborne is a senior content producer at HistoryExtra