Tolkien, Lord of the Rings author, whose his newest book, Beren and Lúthien, edited by his son Christopher Tolkien finally went on sale last week - about a century after he first conceived it.

Tolkien passed away in 1972, but his son Christopher continued his legacy by publishing, completing his unedited works. One of such tales is this story of Beren and Lúthien,

The book which features illustrations by Alan Lee, who won an Academy Award for his work on Peter Jackson's film trilogy is described as a "very personal story" that the Oxford professor thought up after returning from the Battle of the Somme.

John Garth, Tolkien biographer, said Tolkien used his writing like an "exorcism" of the horrors he witnessed in World War One.

He said: "He'd lost two of his dearest friends on the Somme and you can imagine he must have been inside as much of a wreck as he was physically."

It’s believed the story was meant as a tribute to Tolkien’s wife, Edith.

The headstone that marks the grave where Tolkien and his wife are buried is engraved with the names of Beren and Lúthien.