The Hobbit: or There and Back Again - Softcover

J.R.R. Tolkien

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0618002219 ISBN 13: 9780618002214

Publisher: Mariner Books, 1999

Synopsis

J.R.R. Tolkien's classic prelude to his Lord of the Rings trilogy

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum.

Written for J.R.R. Tolkien's own children, The Hobbit has sold many millions of copies worldwide and established itself as a modern classic.

About this title

About the Author

J.R.R. Tolkien (1892–1973), beloved throughout the world as the creator of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, was a professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford, a fellow of Pembroke College, and a fellow of Merton College until his retirement in 1959. His chief interest was the linguistic aspects of the early English written tradition, but even as he studied these classics he was creating a set of his own.

Reviews

First published in the U.K. in 1937, this is the volume that introduced the world to hobbits, Middle-earth, Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf the wizard, and the Ring of power. A new edition, formatted for younger readers, was released in August and features cover art by Peter S!s (ISBN 0-618-16221-6. $18; pap. ISBN 0-618-15082-X. $10).
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

"For Mr. Bilbo Baggins visited various notable
persons; conversed with the dragon, Smaug the
Magnificent; and was present, rather unwillingly, at
the Battle of the Five Armies. This is all the more
remarkable, since he was a hobbit. Hobbits have
hitherto been passed over in history and legend,
perhaps because they as a rule preferred comfort to
excitement. But this account, based on his personal
memoirs, of the one exciting year in the otherwise
quiet life of Mr. Baggins will give you a fair idea of
the estimable people now (it is said) becoming rather
rare. They do not like noise."

Edition details

• Publisher: Mariner Books
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0618002219
• ISBN 13: 9780618002214
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 320