The Lord of The Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien

Author: J. R. R. Tolkien

Published: 1954
Novel.
Trilogy.

A sequel to The Hobbit.

Thousands of years before the events of the novel, the Dark Lord Sauron had forged the One Ring to rule the other Rings of Power and corrupt those who wear them: the leaders of Men, Elves and Dwarves. 

Sauron was later vanquised in a battle by an alliance of the Elves and Men, led by Elendil and Gil-galad. 

Isildur, a ruler of Men, cut the One Ring from Sauron's finger, claiming it as an heirloon for his line, and Sauron lost his physical form. When Isildur was later ambushed and killed by the Orcs, the Ring was lost. 

Over two thousand years later, the Ring was found by one of the river-folk called Déagol. His friend, Sméagol immediately fell under the Ring's influence and strangled Déagol to acquire it. Sméagol was banished and hid under the Misty Mountains, where the Ring extended his lifespan and transformed him so much he became the corrupted creature called Gollum. 

He lost the Ring when it was found by Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit). 

Books: 

The Fellowship of the Ring

The Two Towers

The Return of the King

Characters:

Frodo Baggins

Bilbo Baggins

Samwise Gamgee

Meriadoc (Merry) Brandybuck 

Peregrin (Pippin) Took

Gandalf the Grey, later Gandalf the White

Aragorn, descendant of Isildur

Legolas Greenleaf

Gimli, son of Glóin

Denethor

Boromir

Faramir

Galadriel

Celeborn

Elrond

Arwen Undómiel, daughter of Elrond

Théoden, King of Rohan

Éomer

Éowyn

Treebeard

Sauron, the Dark Lord

The Nazgul or Ringwraiths

Saruman the White

Gollum

Shelob