J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth novels have sold as many as a quarter billion copies worldwide, and his literary stature has continued to grow since his death in 1973. While this has led to several penetrating studies of his work—including rewarding studies of the role played by his philological studies and his conservative Catholic worldview—what remains less well understood is how his Middle Earth fiction expresses his fierce commitment to limited government and conveys a wealth of insights into both political and economic freedom. This lecture will serve as an introduction to this rich vein of inquiry, focusing primarily on The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.