Exeter unveils its favourite book

Exeter City of Literature has announced Exeter’s favourite book as part of its City Reads campaign.

Several months of public voting have revealed J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings as the city’s favourite book.

This announcement comes partly as a celebration of Exeter’s fifth year as a UNESCO City of Literature, honouring its long-standing love of reading and commitment to culture.

Lord of the Rings appears as a fitting victor given its connection to the city, with much of Middle Earth inspired by the Exeter Book, a 10th-century anthology of Anglo-Saxon poetry and riddles that currently resides at Exeter Cathedral.

Fans shared their reasoning for voting for the globally lauded trilogy, praising its themes of escapism and well-being, as well as Tolkien’s important contribution to the fantasy genre.

The winner was announced at a private event at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, attended by individuals such as Lord Mayor Kevin Mitchell, leader of Exeter City Council Phil Bialyk, The Lord of the Rings illustrator Alan Lee, and other leaders across the business, cultural, and educational sectors.

Across the course of the campaign, almost 200 books were submitted by local businesses such as Browne Jacobson, CoLab, Exeter Chiefs, Generator Hub, and many more.

The public then voted for an eclectic shortlist:

• The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien
• Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie 
• The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, Becky Chambers
• Babel, R.F. Kuang
• Open Water, Caleb Azumah Nelson
• Heartstopper, Alice Oseman (which received an honorary mention beside the winner)

To further its mission to make reading accessible and enjoyable for all, Exeter City of Literature will provide free books featured on the City Reads shortlist to neighbourhoods with low literacy levels throughout the city.

This decision is part of the charity’s Book Nooks in Warm Spaces project.

Chris Smith, Publishing Director at HarperCollins, J.R.R. Tolkien’s official worldwide publisher, said: “HarperCollins is delighted that J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings has been chosen as the city’s favourite book. It is fitting that, in the 70th anniversary year since Tolkien’s masterwork was first published, it is being acclaimed in this way.

“Its author could have had little idea that the book’s appeal would endure into the twenty-first century, for, as is well known, J.R.R. Tolkien’s own interest lay in the languages and literature of the past. Yet, as a former undergraduate of Exeter College, Oxford, I believe he would have appreciated the particular honour of his work being acknowledged by such a venerable city as Exeter, itself home to the Exeter Book, a volume with which Tolkien was very familiar.

“On behalf of ourselves and the Tolkien Estate, who represent the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, we would like to express our thanks to the people of Exeter for this accolade and to commend them on their excellent taste!”

Anna Cohn Orchard, Executive Director of Exeter City of Literature, says: “Exeter's legacy as a place of readers was cemented when it was awarded UNESCO City of Literature status five years ago. As a charity, we work to uphold that legacy and the timeless power of reading to inspire, connect, and uplift our communities. Books open doors to new worlds, foster lifelong learning, and create a shared sense of belonging. In every corner of Exeter, reading continues to be a vital force for unity, creativity, and growth. City Reads started a conversation about the books the people of Exeter love, and we hope that conversation continues for generations to come.”

You can discover more about the charity and project here.