Task: Text Simplification
Input (English): the story began as a sequel to tolkien 's earlier , less complex children 's fantasy novel the hobbit -lrb- 1937 -rrb- , but eventually developed into a much larger work.
Output (English): though the story started as a follow up to tolkien 's earlier , less complex children 's fantasy novel " the hobbi -lrb- 1937 -rrb- " , it turned out to be a much larger work.