Tolkien Book Sales Soar
Press Reporter

Sales of J. R. R. Tolkien's books have increased 10-fold since news that films will be made of Lord of the Rings.

Harper Collins publicity sales manager Lorraine Steele said that sales of all of Tolkien's books had increased dramatically throughout New Zealand in the last week

It was announced on August 26 that Lord of the Rings, Tolkien's best known work, will be filmed by New Zealand director Peter Jackson.

The $260 million trilogy will be filmed in Fiordland, Milford Sound, Queenstown, and Central Otago.

Millions of people worldwide have already read Lord of the Rings, which was last year voted the most popular work of the century.

The trilogy is an epic tale of the adventures of four hobbits -- creatures just over one metre tall -- who, with the help of the wizard Gandalf, journey with a ring carrying the power to dominate the world.

"Tolkien's books have a real enduring quality," Ms Steele said.

"I think the public profile recently has moved more people to action."