The BnF is proud to present a major exhibition dedicated to J.R.R. Tolkien, the brilliant Oxford professor and creator of imaginary worlds, whose multi-faceted works remain very much alive for a wide audience. Revealing both the man himself and his work, the exhibition will include close to 300 pieces. For the first time in France, many original manuscripts and drawings by J.R.R. Tolkien will be on display. In parallel, a selection of exceptional pieces, most of which are from the BnF collections, will provide a context for this literary and artistic creation.

The exhibition is a journey through the lives of 12 Indian rulers and French speaking officers serving under them during the second half of the 18th and the first decades of the 19th century. Sharing the court life, some ruling over vast jagirs, some of those officers commissioned or collected priceless collections of manuscripts and paintings. Today, many of those treasures are preserved at the BnF.