The Fellowship of the Ring is the first of three volumes of the novel The Lord of the Rings. It is divided into two books, Book I and II. It was originally released on July 29, 1954 in the United Kingdom by Alin and Unwin. The book begins with a prologue, which summarizes the events of the first book, The Hobbit. It gives you the backstory of the ring and how it came to be. It tells how the creator, Sauron first came upon it. It gives the backstory of Smeagol and his friend Deagol and how they came upon the Ring after Sauron was temporarily defeated. It also explains how Bilbo Baggins found the One Ring after Smeagol who had turned to Gollum lost it. Then Bilbo returns to Bag End in The Shire and the story of Frodo Baggins, the son of Drogo Baggins, begins.