The father of John Ronald Reuel (J.R.R.) Tolkien, Arthur Reuel Tolkien, was a bank clerk. He went to South Africa in the 1980's for better prospects of promotion. Along came his wife, Mabel. John R.R. Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, on the 3rd of January, 1892. He later said that one his clearest memories of living there, was a scary encounter with a large, hairy spider. This influenced his writing of …showed first 75 words of 999 total…

…showed last 75 words of 999 total…like gardens, trees, unmechanized farmlands, I smoke a pipe and like good, plain food - unrefrigerated - but I detest French cooking. I like, and even dare to wear in these dull days - ornamental waistcoats. I'm fond of mushrooms out of a field, have a very simple sense of humour (which even my most appreciative critics find tiresome). I go to bed late and get up late, whenever possible." - J.R.R. Tolkien