Exeter’s favourite book unveiled at special event

Published: 11 September 2024

The Lord of the Rings is Exeter’s favourite book…and that’s official!

J.R.R Tolkien’s masterpiece was declared Exeter’s favourite read after months of public voting.

The City Reads campaign celebrated Exeter’s fifth year as a UNESCO City of Literature.

J.R.R Tolkien’s novel is a fitting winner, given its special connection to Exeter, with the inspirations for Middle Earth stemming from The Exeter Book, a 10th-century anthology of Anglo-Saxon poetry and riddles that resides at Exeter Cathedral.

Fans shared that they voted for the globally lauded trilogy thanks to The Lord of the Rings’ themes of escapism and well-being, an undeniable Westcountry feeling, and J.R.R’s importance in the fantasy genre.

The announcement came as part of a private event at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum to celebrate the City Reads campaign and Exeter’s fifth year as a UNESCO City of Literature. Attendees included The Lord of the Rings illustrator Alan Lee, as well as the Lord Mayor of Exeter Kevin Mitchell and the Leader of the City Council, Cllr Phil Bialyk.

Also present were leaders across the business, cultural, and educational sectors, coming together to honour Exeter’s long-standing love of reading and commitment to culture.

During City Reads, almost 200 books were submitted from local businesses such as Browne Jacobson, CoLab, Exeter Chiefs, Generator Hub, and many more. The public then voted on the exciting and eclectic shortlist, which included The Lord of the Rings, Torbay’s Agatha Christie with Murder on the Orient Express, Becky Chambers’ beloved sci-fi adventure The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, R.F. Kuang’s modern fantasy Babel, Caleb Azumah Nelson’s contemporary fiction Open Water, and the hugely successful graphic novel Heartstopper by Alice Oseman.

Alongside the winning novel The Lord of the Rings, Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper received an honorary mention during the event, which featured live readings, literary-themed activities, an appearance from Alan Lee, and a video message from J.R.R Tolkien’s publisher, Chris Smith at HarperCollins.

To further Exeter City of Literature’s mission to make reading accessible and enjoyable for all, the charity and its business sponsors will provide free books featured on the City Reads shortlist to neighbourhoods with low literacy levels throughout the city as part of the charity’s Book Nooks in Warm Spaces project.

Chris Smith, Publishing Director at HarperCollins, J.R.R. Tolkien’s official worldwide publisher, said: “HarperCollins is delighted that J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings has been chosen as the city’s favourite book. It is fitting that, in the 70th anniversary year since Tolkien’s masterwork was first published, it is being acclaimed in this way.

“Its author could have had little idea that the book’s appeal would endure into the twenty-first century, for as is well known, J.R.R. Tolkien’s own interest lay in the languages and literature of the past. Yet, as a former undergraduate of Exeter College, Oxford, I believe he would have appreciated the particular honour of his work being acknowledged by such a venerable city as Exeter, itself home to the Exeter Book, a volume with which Tolkien was very familiar.

“On behalf of ourselves and the Tolkien Estate who represent the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, we would like to express our thanks to the people of Exeter for this accolade, and to commend them on their excellent taste!”

Anna Cohn Orchard, Executive Director of Exeter City of Literature, said: “Exeter's legacy as a place of readers was cemented when it was awarded UNESCO City of Literature status five years ago. As a charity, we work to uphold that legacy and the timeless power of reading to inspire, connect, and uplift our communities. Books open doors to new worlds, foster lifelong learning, and create a shared sense of belonging. In every corner of Exeter, reading continues to be a vital force for unity, creativity, and growth. City Reads started a conversation about the books the people of Exeter love, and we hope that conversation continues for generations to come.”

City Reads Winner

• The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien | HarperCollins Publishers

City Reads Honourable Mention

• Heartstopper - Alice Oseman | Hodder, Hachette Children's Group

City Reads Shortlist:

• The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet - Becky Chambers | Hodder & Stoughton
• Murder on the Orient Express - Agatha Christie | HarperCollins Publishers
• Babel - R. F. Kuang | HarperVoyager, HarperCollins Publishers
• Open Water - Caleb Azumah Nelson | Viking, Penguin Books Ltd