John Ronald Reuel Tolkien is widely regarded as one of the most influential English novelists of the 20th century, despite occasional critical dismissal and the absence of his works from many school curricula. His epic fantasy, The Lord of the Rings, continues to top reader polls as one of the greatest novels ever written. Beyond literary acclaim, Tolkien’s creation of Middle-earth has inspired an extensive cultural footprint, including successful franchise adaptations and a lasting influence on subsequent fantasy authors such as Terry Pratchett, J.K. Rowling, and George R.R. Martin. Notably, several prominent figures including Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, Giorgia Meloni, and J.D. Vance credit Tolkien’s work with shaping their political views.

Since the publication of Humphrey Carpenter’s authorized biography in 1977, there have been few major fresh insights into Tolkien’s life, with John Garth’s Tolkien and the Great War being a notable recent exception. The scarcity of new biographical work has been partly attributed to the Tolkien estate, which has been described as protective of Tolkien’s archives and resistant to new full-length biographies. The estate’s approach has been criticized for promoting lesser works that Tolkien chose not to publish, while simultaneously rejecting comprehensive biographical projects.

In this context, DJ Taylor’s new book, The King Under the Mountain, offers a distinctive contribution to Tolkien scholarship. An established biographer and a self-described Tolkien enthusiast with deep personal engagement—including writing unpublished Tolkien-style novels and participating in a Tolkien-inspired music group—Taylor approaches the author’s life and work with both affection and critical insight. Rather than presenting a traditional biography, the book adopts an essayistic style that explores various facets of Tolkien’s life, including his political views, academic interests, religious beliefs, and the creative origins of his fictional world.

Taylor highlights the contrasts within Tolkien’s personality: the scholarly, reserved exterior masking a man who endured significant personal challenges, including the early deaths of his parents, migration from South Africa to Britain, a complex teenage romance with Edith Bratt who later became his wife, and harrowing experiences during the First World War in which he lost close friends. The book details the slow developmental process behind Tolkien’s major works, noting the near-accidental emergence of The Hobbit from his lifelong passion for constructed languages, and the nearly two decades of drafting that culminated in The Lord of the Rings.

The book also reflects on Tolkien’s ambivalence toward his growing fame and the sometimes incongruous reception he received—from being seated beside Hollywood star Ava Gardner to attempts by the 1960s counterculture to claim him as a figurehead. Anecdotes such as Tolkien’s careful responses to fan letters, including from a psychiatric patient, illustrate his conscientiousness amid public attention.

A poignant theme in Taylor’s work is the long and complex marriage between Tolkien and Edith, which shifted over time from youthful romance to a relationship marked by distance and illness. Throughout, the book balances humor and reverence, acknowledging Tolkien’s quirks while affirming the enduring magic and rigorous craftsmanship behind his literary legacy.