September 21, 1937: The Hobbit is published. ... : UNHISTORICAL ￫ about September 21, 1937: The Hobbit is published. J.R.R.Tolkien’s classic children’s novel turns 75 years old today. The book begins with the line “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit”, a sentence which, according to Tolkien, came to him spontaneously while marking papers. The first edition dust jacket was designed by the author himself, who also provided the black and white illustrations. Since 1937, The Hobbit has been translated into over forty languages and sold tens of millions of copies. The initial print of 1,500 copies ran out in three months, and response was unanimously favorable. Tolkien’s close friend and fellow fantasy author C.S. Lewis wrote in The Times Literary Supplement : "Prediction is dangerous: but The Hobbit may well prove a classic.“ Perhaps The Hobbit’s greatest legacy was not the book itself but the sequel that was published seventeen years later - the far more complex first volume of The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring.

Urged on by his publishers, who wished to make the most out of the smashing success that was The Hobbit, Tolkien worked on his sequel slowly and deliberately through the years of World War II and after. Both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings brought the popularity of fantasy literature to new heights and established Tolkien as the "father” of modern high fantasy. The first film of Peter Jackson’s new trilogy, based off The Hobbit, is set for release in December. Hobbit by Tolkien, First Edition, 1937 - AbeBooks Hobbit by Tolkien, First Edition, 1937 You Searched For: Results (1 - 3) of 3 Sort By Published by London: George Allen and Unwin, 1937 (1937) Used First Edition Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: London: George Allen and Unwin, 1937, 1937. Octavo (190 x 135 mm).

Finely bound by the Chelsea Bindery in green morocco, titles to spine and front cover gilt, raised with bands with gilt to compartments, gilt blocked dragon to front cover, gilt rule to turn-ins, original map endpapers, gilt edges. An excellent copy. Frontispiece and 9 illustrations after the author's drawings; with final advert leaf. First edition, first impression. A beautifully bound copy of this children's classic. Hammond & Anderson A3b. Bookseller Inventory # 92214 Published by London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1937 (1937) Used First Edition Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1937, 1937. Octavo. Original green cloth, spine and covers blocked in black, top edge green, map endpapers printed in black and red. With the dust jacket. Housed in a custom box within an elaborate brown morocco-backed slipcase, with gilt lettering and leather onlays to the spine. Bookplate to first blank.

Cloth a little faded to edges, otherwise a very good copy in a brighter than usual jacket that has some nicks to extremities, a touch of black ink at upper edge of front fold, and a little paper restoration to the top edge. Frontispiece and 9 full-page uncoloured illustrations after drawings by the author. First edition, first impression, first issue jacket with the hand-correction to "Dodgeson" on the rear inside flap. The first edition was published on 21 September 1937 and the first impression of 1,500 copies was sold out by December. Hammond & Anderson A3b. Bookseller Inventory # 93967 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: George Allen & Unwin Ltd [1937]., London, 1937. Octavo, pp. [1-11] 12-310 [311: colophon] [312: blank] [note: first leaf is a blank], original pictorial light green cloth, front, spine and rear panels stamped in black, top edge stained light green, endpaper maps. First edition, first printing.

1500 copies printed. Barron (ed), Fantasy Literature 3-339. Bleiler, The Guide to Supernatural Fiction 1805. Sargent, British and American Utopian Literature, 1516-1985, Additions. Survey of Modern Fantasy Literature II, pp. 732-39. Tymn (ed), Fantasy Literature, pp. 162-63. Hammond and Anderson A3a. Bookseller ticket affixed to front paste-down at lower right corner, mild spotting to page edges, some light foxing to cloth edges around the paste-downs, pale green top stain faded, a fine copy in nearly fine to fine dust jacket with small 10 mm closed tear at the top edge of front panel mended and minute professional restoration of the upper right front corner, the upper and lower rear corners, and a tiny area at the upper edge of the rear panel. A lovely copy of one the major high spots of modern fantasy fiction. (#154558). Bookseller Inventory # 154558 SFandFantasy.co.uk - J.R.R. Tolkien - The Hobbit.

1937 An SF and Fantasy Bibliography The Hobbit. 1937 Jacket illustration by J.R.R. Tolkien. 312 pages. The Hobbit, a novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. Published on 21 September 1937. The text includes nine illustrations by J.R.R. Tolkien. The maps printed on the endpapers and the design on the binding were also drawn by the author. Details of all British editions of The Hobbit can be found at TolkienBooks.net . Blurb ï¿½ Dust Jacket Flaps If you care for journeys there and back, out of the comfortable Western world, over the edge of the Wild, and home again, and can take an interest in a humble hero (blessed with a little wisdom and a little courage and considerable good luck), here is a record of such a journey and such a traveller. The period is the ancient time between the age of Faerie and the dominion of men, when the famous forest of Mirkwood was still standing, and the mountains were full of danger.

In following the path of this humble adventurer, you will learn by the way (as he did) ï¿½ if you do not already know all about theses things ï¿½ much about trolls, goblins, dwarves, and elves, and get some glimpses into the history and politics of a neglected but important period. For Mr. Bilbo Baggins visited various noble persons; conversed with the dragon, Smaug the Magnificent; and was present, rather unwillingly, at the Battle of 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. J.R.R. Tolkien is Rawlinson and Bosworth professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford, and fellow of Pembroke College.

He has four children and The Hobbit was written for them, and read aloud to them in nursery days, which is of course the way in which practically all the immortal childrenï¿½s stories have come into being. But the fame of the story spread beyond his immediate family and the manuscript of The Hobbit was lent to friends in Oxford and read to their children. Though they are utterly dissimilar in character, the birth of The Hobbit recalls very strongly that of Alice in Wonderland. Here again a professor of an abstruse subject is at play; while Alice in Wonderland is full of crazy conundrums, The Hobbit has constant echoes of magic and mythology culled from a wide and exact knowledge. Dodgson at first did not think it worth publishing his tale of Wonderland and Professor Tolkien ï¿½ but not his publishers ï¿½ still remains to be convinced that anybody will want to read his most delightful history of a Hobbitï¿½s journey. If you are looking for new, secondhand or out-of-print books then AbeBooks UK may be able to help.

The Hobbit by Tolkien, First Edition - AbeBooks The Hobbit by Tolkien, First Edition You Searched For: Results (1 - 30) of 405 1 ISBN 10: 0395476909 ISBN 13: 9780395476901 Used First Edition ISBN 10: 970370199X ISBN 13: 9789703701995 Used First Edition ISBN 10: 970370199X ISBN 13: 9789703701995 Used First Edition Published by Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston (1966) Used Hardcover First Edition Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, 1966. Hardcover. Book Condition: Fair. 1966. First Edition, 25th printing. 317 pages including two-page facing maps at the front and back of the book. Light green bords with black title on the cover and spine.

The cover and spine are dust soiled and spotted , with wear on the ends edges of the spine and corner tips. There are two horizontal creases in the spine. There is a name in colored ink on the flyleaf. The paper at the top of the front hinge is cracked but the hinges and binding are firm. There may be a slight forward tilt. This text is age-toned but otherwise very good. No DJ. Bookseller Inventory # KJS872 ISBN 10: 3423250518 ISBN 13: 9783423250511 Used Softcover First Edition Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, München , 1991. Book Condition: mäßiger Zustand. Zustand: befriedigend; Broschur; 1.

Auflage; Taschenbuch; illustriert; 448 Seiten; Format: 12,5 x 19,0 cm ; Reihe: dtv großdruck 25051 Mit einer Karte von Juliane Hehn-Kynast; us dem Englischen; Originaltitel: The Hobbit or There and Back Again; John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892 - 1973); farbige Einbandillustration von Celestino Piatti; Einband (Rücken weiß) etwas berieben; Klebebandstreifen auf Vorblatt und Seite 444, Seiten sonst gut; Internationale Belletristik,Belletristik Englisch. Bookseller Inventory # 52897 ISBN 10: 0345339681 ISBN 13: 9780345339683 New Mass Market Paperback First Edition Quantity Available: 1 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Ballantine, 2012. Mass Market Paperback. Book Condition: New. Illustrated with Map(s) (illustrator). REVISED EDITION.

This book features the Shire illustration on the front cover. This is a new book, direct from the publisher. Pages are clean, tight and bright. Bookstore's stamped address appears on the inside of the rear cover. Bookseller Inventory # JT001 ISBN 10: 0345339681 ISBN 13: 9780345339683 New Mass Market Paperback First Edition Quantity Available: 1 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Ballantine, 2012. Mass Market Paperback. Book Condition: New. Illustrated with Map(s) (illustrator). REVISED EDITION. This is a new book, direct from the publisher. Pages are clean, tight and bright. Bookstore's stamped address appears on the inside of the rear cover. Bookseller Inventory # JT01 ISBN 10: 0618260307 ISBN 13: 9780618260300 New Paperback First Edition Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Paperback. Book Condition: New. 1st. 132mm x 24mm x 196mm.

Paperback. "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit.Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. 320 pages. 0.421. Bookseller Inventory # 9780618260300 ISBN 10: 061815082X ISBN 13: 9780618150823 New Paperback First Edition Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Paperback. Book Condition: New. 1st. 129mm x 23mm x 197mm. Paperback. J.R.R. Tolkien's classic prelude to his "Lord of the Rings" trilogy featuring cover art by Caldecott Honor winning children's book illustrator Peter Sis, this edition o.Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. 352 pages. 0.467.

Bookseller Inventory # 9780618150823 Tolkien, J. R. R.;Tolkien, J.R.R.;Tolkein, J. R. R. Published by Wilmington, Massachusetts, U.S.A.: Graphia (2001) ISBN 10: 061815082X ISBN 13: 9780618150823 Used Soft cover First Edition Quantity Available: 1 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Wilmington, Massachusetts, U.S.A.: Graphia, 2001. Soft cover. Book Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. 1st Edition... Soft cover with attached inside flaps. Unclipped. Clean & tight. NO spine creases. Three small chips to bottom back cover. (bin 9) Language: eng Language: eng 0.0 Language: eng 0.0 Language: eng 0.0 Language: eng 0.0 Language: eng 0.0 Language: eng. Bookseller Inventory # ABE-5170949069 Grotta-Kurska, Daniel. ( J.R.R.

Tolkien Related ) Published by Warner Books ., New York, USA. (1977) Used Soft Cover First Edition Quantity Available: 1 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Warner Books ., New York, USA., 1977. Soft Cover. Book Condition: Near FN. Greg & Tim Hildebrandt Painted cover! (illustrator). Second Edition. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" Tall. 256 pgs. Biography of Tolkien. (Non fiction); >>> WITH; Prologue, The Young Lad (1892-1911), the Exhibitioner (1911-1915), the Soldier (1915-1919), the Scholar (1919-1925), the Professor (1925-1937), the Mythmaker (1937-1953), the Author (1953-1965), the Recluse (1966-1973), Epilogue & Afterword; Mass Market Paperback.

Bookseller Inventory # 180-2 ISBN 10: 068146576X ISBN 13: 9780681465763 Used Hardcover First Edition J. R. R. Tolkien) GREEN, Michael (illustrator). Published by Running Press,, Philadelphia: (1978) ISBN 10: 0894710400 ISBN 13: 9780894710407 Used Paperback First Edition Published by Caedmon Audio / Harpercollins, N. Y. (1992) Used Hardcover First Edition Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Caedmon Audio / Harpercollins, N. Y., 1992. Cassette Tape Audio Book. Book Condition: Very Good. Cassette Tape Set. This single Cassette Tape features the voice of the Author J. R. R. Tolkien, reading excerpts from the HOBBIT & THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING. These rare audio readings were recorded in 1952, and the tape runs approx. 49 minutes.

Tape in original plastic case with illustrated insert. Bookseller Inventory # 4524 ISBN 10: 0618002219 ISBN 13: 9780618002214 Used Soft Cover First Edition Quantity Available: 1 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA, 1999. Soft Cover. Book Condition: Very Good. Fourth Printing. Book appears unread, spine unbent. Pictorial wraps may have shopwear. Pages are clean & text is free from markings. All pages secure in binding. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Bookseller Inventory # 119218 More Information About This Seller | Ask Bookseller a Question 15. Stock Image ISBN 10: 0345277112 ISBN 13: 9780345277114 Used Trade Paperback First Edition Quantity Available: 1 Tolkien, J. R. R. & Annotated by Douglas A.

Anderson (intro & notes) Used Hardcover First Edition Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Tolkien, J. R. R. & Annotated by Douglas A. Anderson (intro & notes)., Houghton Mifflin, nd, c1988, BCE 1st printing (stated), cloth w/gilt spine titles, few small spots on top edge o/w vg w/chipped dj, 337 pp, B & W illus. by the author, 4to, "Or There and Back Again", $17.50. Bookseller Inventory # 328397 ISBN 10: 0007445210 ISBN 13: 9780007445219 New Hardcover First Edition Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Harper, NY, 2012. Hardcover. Book Condition: New. Dust Jacket Condition: New. 1st Edition. 12mo - over 6¾ - 7¾" tall. This is a New and Unread copy of the first edition (4th printing). Translated into Latin by Mark Walker.

Bookseller Inventory # 044898 ISBN 10: 0395520215 ISBN 13: 9780395520215 New Paperback First Edition Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Paperback. Book Condition: New. 1st. 198mm x 23mm x 251mm. Paperback. This edition of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic is illustrated with 48 paintings by noted artist Michael Hague.Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely tr.Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. 304 pages. 0.998. Bookseller Inventory # 9780395520215 ISBN 10: 054792822X ISBN 13: 9780547928227 Used Trade Paperback First Edition Quantity Available: 1 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Mariner Books, N. Y., 2012. Trade Paperback.

Book Condition: Near Fine. No Jacket. First Mariner Books Edition. trade paperback is in near fine condition with no dust jacket. is a stated first mariner edition, first printing. copy is unmarked and tightly bound. 300 pages. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Bookseller Inventory # 013314 ISBN 10: 0547928254 ISBN 13: 9780547928258 Used First Edition ISBN 10: 0008118043 ISBN 13: 9780008118044 New Softcover First Edition Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Softcover. Book Condition: New. 1st edition. Brand New; Paperback; Black & White or Color International Edition. ISBN and cover design are exactly same as mentioned. GET IT FAST in 3-5 business days by DHL/FEDEX with tracking number. Books printed in English. No shipping to PO Box/APO/FPO address. In some instances the international textbooks may have different end chapter case studies and exercises.

International Edition Textbooks may bear a label "Not for sale in the U.S. or Canada" and "Content Same as U.S. Edition" - printed only to discourage U.S. students from obtaining an affordable copy. The U.S. Supreme Court has asserted your right to purchase international editions, and ruled on this issue. Access code or CD is not provided with these editions, unless specified. We may ship the books from multiple warehouses across the globe, including India depending upon the availability of inventory storage. Customer satisfaction guaranteed. Bookseller Inventory # GBBDIN1569703 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Softcover. Book Condition: New. 1st edition. Brand New; Paperback; Black & White or Color International Edition. ISBN and Cover page may differ but similar contents as US edition. GET IT FAST in 3-5 business days by DHL/FEDEX with tracking number. Books printed in English. No shipping to PO Box/APO/FPO address. In some instances, the international textbooks may have different end chapter case studies and exercises. International Edition Textbooks may bear a label "Not for sale in the U.S. or Canada" and "Content may different from U.S.

Edition" - printed only to discourage U.S. students from obtaining an affordable copy. The U.S. Supreme Court has asserted your right to purchase international editions, and ruled on this issue. Access code or CD is not provided with these editions, unless specified. We may ship the books from multiple warehouses across the globe, including India depending upon the availability of inventory storage. Customer satisfaction guaranteed. Bookseller Inventory # GBBD1569703 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: St Martins Pr, New York, 2001. Hard Cover. Book Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good Plus. Jackte art & interior illustrations by John Howe, (illustrator). First Edition First Printing. -----Grey cloth with gilt on spine, headband, (xvi) 235 pages, book feels unopened, Near Fine condition, errant ink mark on bottom edge, dust jacket is in Very Good Plus condition with faint shelf wear now in Mylar. Contents include: Preface: The Beat Goes On by Karen Haber / Intro by George R. R. Martin / Our Grandfather: Meditations on J. R. R.

Tolkien by Raymond Feist / Awakening the Elves by Poul Anderson / A Changeling Returns by Michael Swanwick / If You Give a Girl a Hobbit by Esther M. Friesner / The Ring and I by Harry Turtledove / Cult Classic by Terry Pratchett / A Bar and a Quest by Robin Hobb / Rhythmic Pattern in The Lord of the Rings by Ursula K. Le Guin / The Longest Sunday by Diane Duane / Tolkien After All These Years by Douglas A. Anderson / How Tolkien Means by Orson Scott Card / The Tale Goes Ever On by Charles de Lint / The Mythmaker by Lisa Goldstein / "The Radical Distinction." A Conversatioon with Tim & Greg Hildebrandt by Glenn Hurdling / On Tolkien and Fairy-Stories by Terri Windling / Author Biographies. The scan you see is the book you get Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Bookseller Inventory # 004888 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Ballantine Books, USA., 1980. Soft Cover. Book Condition: Very Good to Fine. Lester Del Rey. (illustrator).

TRUE FIRST EDITION THUS.. Issued in 1980, for use in 1981; inspired by Tolkien's THE LORD OF THE RINGS & THE HOBBIT. Also has full Middle-Earth chronological information & the most important dates in Middle Earth. .Contains 14 color paintings including a two-page center spread. Calendar is 12"x12" " Superb New depictions of Tolkien's World by the Brothers Hildebrandt plus the most important dates in Middle Earth." >>> Great Collectible for this Popular Author & Artist! >>> weight = 205 grams. >> Minor bend top top left corner of calender; Size: Folio - over 12" - 15" tall. Calendar. Bookseller Inventory # OS-286-1 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Christopher Enterprises / Fairfax Prints Ltd., Lansing, MI, USA., 1976. Soft Cover. Book Condition: FN+, Near New. STEVE HICKMAN Painted Art! (illustrator). TRUE FIRST EDITION THUS. 17-1/2" x 23-1/2". >> Titled; "THE INVISIBLE THIEF "!

HOBBIT Poster / Print #4 of 5 in the "Wizards, Rings, Elves and Things" Series, (other 4 posters are Lord of the Rings) with Beautiful Painted Art by Steve Hickman. >> [ Hickman has illustrated book covers for; Robert E. Howard, Larry Niven, G.Dickson, Piers Anthony, Anne McCaffrey, Keith Laumer, Poul Anderson & many others!] >> Size is 17-1/2" wide x 23-1/2" Tall; Gorgeous FULL Color, on quality paper! FANDOM PRESS item, LIMITED EDITION, with LOW Print Run! Now 25 Years Out-Of-Print! [Issued 2 years before the Bakshi film, when very few Tolkien memorabilia items were on the market!] { This series does not copyright or credit Tolkien, so it is unlicensed & does not carry any Tolkien terminology. Yet it is obvious to everyone it is a TOLKIEN item, it WAS Marketed as such by MOST dealers & is accepted as such in the market. Call it a Tolkien "Inspired" item!

} >>>>> This Poster depicts; BILBO IN SMAUG'S lair, Smaug the DRAGON is sleeping on his Treasure. POSTER / PRINT. Bookseller Inventory # 3736-3 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: DEL REY - Ballantine Books, Canada, 1979. Soft Cover. Book Condition: Very Good +. Greg & Tim Hildebrandt Painted cover! (illustrator). PBO - Paperback Original (True 1st).. (from the Hobbit to the Silmarillion) 573 pages. " A Master Key to Middle-Earth, this alphabetical encyclopedia describing every person, place & thing.from Adaldrida Brandybuck to Zaragamba, beginning with flames of the heart of Orodruin to the depths of the Crack of Doom. " >>> Previous person name & address write in pen writen on title page. >>> Creasing to spine >>>> Slight spine slant. Size: 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" Tall. Mass Market Paperback.

Bookseller Inventory # 13287-1 1937: “The Hobbit” Published – a Novel of the Fervent Catholic J.R.R. Tolkien | History.info 1937: “The Hobbit” Published – a Novel of the Fervent Catholic J.R.R. Tolkien Photo Credit To Wikipedia Commons Story Highlights Historical event: 21 September 1937 It is interesting to note that Tolkien personally made illustrations for the first edition of "The Hobbit", as well as the attractive cover of the book. “The Hobbit”, one of the most successful novels of the 20th century in the field of fiction, was published on this day in 1937. It was written by the 45-year-old J.R.R. Tolkien, a Professor of Anglo-Saxon Language at the famous Oxford University. That was Tolkien’s first fantasy novel, and he started to write it during the early 1930s. He said he was assessing his students’ works when he started to write the novel.

He saw an empty sheet of paper, and suddenly wrote: “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.” Tolkien finished his writing in 1932, and asked his friends to read “The Hobbit”. The famous C.S. Lewis, who wrote “The Chronicles of Narnia”, was among them. At the time, C. S. Lewis also was a lecturer at Oxford. Tolkien was a fervent Catholic, and inspired C.S. Lewis to convert to Christianity. Tolkien was quite surprised when he heard that Lewis had become member of the Anglican Church (the Protestant church in England). C. S. Lewis became a well-known defender of Christianity, and even a lay theologian. He wrote “The Chronicles of Narnia”, which are something akin to an allegorical representation of Christian themes. “George Allen & Unwin Ltd.” (London) published “The Hobbit” on this day in 1937. It is interesting to note that Tolkien personally made illustrations for the first edition of “The Hobbit”, as well as the attractive cover of the book. The success of “The Hobbit” was so great that the publishers wanted Tolkien to write another book.

He agreed, but warned them that he was writing very slowly. Tolkien also wrote “The Lord of the Rings”, which became popular throughout world. Facebook Comments The Hobbit: or There and Back Again: J.R.R. Tolkien: 0046442002219: Amazon.com: Books 5.0 out of 5 stars Very nice set of books for the price. Recommended. Read review and view pics for detail on font for pocket-sized "paperback." By B on May 11, 2015 Very nice books, binding seems nice. I love the covers although they are not "paperback" and are more of a fake leather material. These books are beautiful and very convenient. They are pocket-sized which is great for on the go, they aren't too small or too big (actually bigger than I anticipated which is a plus). The font size is readable, the only thing I would have to note is that the font size isn't the same throughout the different books.

The font size seems to be based on the length of the books, the longer the books are, the smaller the font is (I suppose this was in order to keep them pocket-sized as well as consistent with the sizes of the other books throughout the set). If you have decent to good eyes, this set would be perfectly fine for you on the go but those people who don't have as good of eye sight, because I know some people who tend to get headaches while focusing on small font, this set may not be for you. I will upload some pics of the font comparisons, books, etc. 5.0 out of 5 stars Really, the best way to read The Hobbit By Mark Pollock on February 20, 2003 Okay, so I say that this is the best way to read The Hobbit. And I am dead serious. I know that annotated books can be difficult to navigate, filled with useless, pointless, or just plain boring information, and can be grossly oversized. That is not the case here. So - here's the scoop. The original story is very nicely presented, with all original illustrations in color when possible, and in black and white elsewhere.

The type is nice and clear, very easy to read. (Many cheaper editions are also rather hard on the eyes. Check the print before you buy, folks!) The illustrations are printed very clearly, and with very good notes on what they are. And then the annotations - useful, engaging, and very well done. You will WANT to read these. We discover how the book was written, and what was changed between editions. (There were many changes made so that The Hobbit would conform more easily to the Lord of the Rings trilogy.) There are fascinating tidbits about Tolkien's life and the experiences that made their way into the story. The forward tells about the writing of the novel, and the appedices give additional details about the text. There are also many illustrations from other editions of the book. These are varied, from thought-provoking to not-provoking. And the book is not too big. Some editions are simply too big to be read, but this book is reasonably sized so that you can actually READ IT! In fact, I have not read any other edition of The Hobbit for years, since the original annotated version came out. The new edition is very much worthwhile. Enjoy!

By CJ on September 21, 2001 Format: Audio CD|Verified Purchase I am not one who usually buys books-on-tape (or CD as in this case) but I have long wanted to obtain the Lord of the Rings so as to hear this incredible story over and over. After having read it several times, my book is in tatters and so I searched for an unabridged audio recording. Many of those that I have seen claim to be "unabridged" but the fact is that they are not complete! They give parts of the books in full but leave out many sections or chapters. This set by Rob Inglis is COMPLETE!!! It is very well read with no drastic voicing of characters. Characters are easily distinguished and thoroughly enjoyable. This set is not full of sound effects and music, so if you are looking for that this is not for you. However, I personally prefer the fact that this is not an over-production and is rather quite focussed on what I wanted in the first place, the characters and the story. Inglis does a marvelous job and I am very happy with this set. Again, not to harp on it but, this is a "complete" package well worth the money!!!

By Larry D. Curtis on October 26, 2004 While the price of this book is steep, this is easily the best version of this book in print. The gilded pages and high-quality leather look, smell and feel wonderful. This is not the questionable quality leather used on previous versions, this is the real deal. More importantly, this version has, as J.R.R. recorded in letters, reproductions of the Book of Marzubul. These are the pages from the Dwarven book found in the Mines of Moria by Gandalf and the Fellowship. In the begining and ending of the book are also included maps that fold out to render Middle-earth for the reader, again as the author originally wanted. This is the book that Tolkien dreamed of having published but couldn't due to the realities of post-WWII publishing costs and questions about a 400,000 word publication. For me, there is an emtoional response to this book for two reasons. One, it is as fine or better than the book the author originally wished to have published and two, it is a beautiful piece of art all on its own, suitable for display.

If you love books or love Tolkien or both, this is a must have and the centerpiece of any worthy collection. (Some are commenting that the book isn't actually leather. Be sure to check your version as there are others available, but the information provided to me stated my copy was leather and if it is fake, it fooled me.) The Hobbit | The One Wiki to Rule Them All | Fandom powered by Wikia Background Cover of the 1937 first edition J.R.R. Tolkien wrote The Hobbit (as well as the first two books of The Lord of the Rings ) during his time as a Fellow and Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College of the University of Oxford in England . [2] Tolkien recollected in a 1955 letter to W.H. Auden [3] that The Hobbit began in the late 1920s when he was marking School Certificate papers and wrote the words "In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit" on the back of one of them. The Hobbit didn't go any further than that at the time, although in the following years he drew up Thror 's map , outlining the geography of the tale.

The story itself he wrote in the early 1930s, and it was eventually published because he lent it to the Rev. Mother of Cherwell Edge when she was sick with the flu, and while she had the manuscript it was seen by a former student who was employed in the office of Allen & Unwin , a British publishing house. Tolkien introduced or mentioned characters and places that figured prominently in his legendarium , specifically Elrond and Gondolin , along with elements from Germanic legend. But the decision that the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings could belong the same universe as The Silmarillion was made only after his initial success and the request by his publisher for a sequel. Although a fairy tale, the book is both complex and sophisticated: it contains many names and words derived from Norse mythology , and central plot elements from the Beowulf epic, it makes use of Anglo-Saxon runes , information on calendars and moon phases, and detailed geographical descriptions that fit well with the accompanying maps. Story Bilbo Baggins , a hobbit , was smoking in his porch-way at Bag End one day, when Gandalf the Wizard visits him.

After a lengthy discussion, during which Bilbo uses the phrase "Good Morning" several times, Bilbo finding himself flustered, invites Gandalf to tea, and goes back inside his Hobbit-House with a final "Good Morning". Gandalf carves a secret mark on Bilbo's front door, which translated means "Burglar wants a good job, plenty of excitement and reasonable reward." Soon after, 13 Dwarves ( Thorin Oakenshield , Gloin , Óin , Ori , Nori , Dori , Dwalin , Balin , Kili , Fili , Bifur , Bofur , and Bombur ) show up and begin rudely discussing their planned treasure hunt while the hapless Bilbo provides the obligatory hospitality. After the dwarves and Bilbo clean up the mess, a map is produced and Gandalf arranges for Bilbo to get the job — as well as to break the unlucky number 13.

The company's quest: Use a secret door to get into the Lonely Mountain, send forth their burglar to steal as much of the riches within its halls as is possible, and give a recon report, then have everyone kill the dragon Smaug, to become rich again. The next morning, after oversleeping and nearly missing the start of the journey, Bilbo goes off with the Dwarves. They are nearly eaten by 3 trolls , but Gandalf manages to trick the trolls into staying up all night whereupon they are turned into stone by the first light of dawn and die (the stone trolls appear later in The Fellowship of the Ring). In the trolls' cave they find the trolls' storage of supplies, including several weapons. Bilbo acquires an elvish short sword which he will later name Sting , which glows blue in the presence of goblins . Thorin acquires Orcrist , and Gandalf acquires Glamdring . The party travels to Rivendell , where they enjoy the hospitality of elves . There, Elrond finds moon-runes on the company's map of the mountain, giving information about a secret door on its side. They then proceed eastward toward the Misty Mountains .

There they are captured by goblins, and carried under the mountain. They run away, and during the escape Bilbo loses the Dwarves. Alone in the dark after running away from the goblins, Bilbo finds a gold ring on the floor of a cave passage and puts it in his pocket. Little did he know that this was the One Ring lost by Sauron centuries ago. Continuing down a tunnel, he finds himself at the shore of an underground lake . Gollum quietly paddles up in his boat, and the two enact the Riddle Game , under the condition that if Bilbo wins, Gollum will show him the way out, but if Bilbo loses, Gollum will eat him. After several riddles, which each manages to answer, Bilbo, whilst fiddling in his pocket unable to think of a riddle, asks himself aloud "What have I got in my pocket?". Gollum thinks this is supposed to be the next riddle, and as it doesn't comply with the rules of the riddle game, demands three guesses; in the end he fails to guess the answer.

Bilbo demands his reward, but Gollum refuses and paddles off in his boat to an island in the lake, upon which he lives. After searching around for a while asking aloud "Where is it? Where's my precious!?" to which Bilbo replies, "I don't know and I don't care. I just want to get out of here", Gollum becomes suspicious, gets in his boat, and starts paddling back across the lake towards Bilbo. Bilbo realizes his life is in danger and makes his escape down the maze of pitch-black tunnels, and Gollum gives chase. Bilbo trips, and finds the ring on his finger. Realizing he has no chance to escape his pursuer, he stays where he is and prepares to meet his fate, but Gollum runs right over him. Bilbo realizes the ring, while on his finger, makes him invisible. He manages to escape past Gollum, who has gone to guard the only exit, and finds his way to the surface where he rejoins the Dwarves. Descending from the Misty Mountains , they survive an encounter with Wargs (large evil wolves) and goblins by climbing trees.

Eagles , summoned by Gandalf, then came to rescue them. They soon meet Beorn , a man who can transform into a bear. They depart, having rested for several days. Gandalf leaves soon on an errand. The party traverses the great forest , Mirkwood , eventually running out of supplies. Gandalf had warned them not to leave the path, but they saw fire and heard singing, so, hopeless, they leave the path to beg food from Wood-elves , only to get lost. They are captured by giant spiders , but Bilbo rescues the Dwarves by becoming invisible via the ring and killing many spiders with Sting and rocks. Elves then capture the Dwarves and imprison them, but Bilbo manages to sneak into the Elvenking Thranduil 's palace unnoticed using the ring; he then helps the Dwarves escape in barrels floating down the river. After staying for a short period of time at Laketown , the treasure-seekers proceed to the Lonely Mountain. Finding themselves unable to locate the secret door, the company sits down, depressed, on a cliff.

Hearing a Thrush knocking on a stone, Bilbo looks up just in time to see the last rays of the Sun of Durin's Day , shining on the cliff wall, to magically reveal the secret door (as was foretold by moon-letters upon a map that the company was in possession of). Bilbo is sent down to meet Smaug , the dragon, who realized the Company received help from the people of Laketown, and sets out to destroy it. However, the Thrush that had been knocking on the stone was no ordinary bird but of an ancient race with whom the men of the lake could communicate, and it had heard Bilbo's report to the dwarves, that Smaug had a bare patch in his armor on the left side of his chest (nearest his heart) that could be used to slaughter him, if only you could get close enough. It conveyed this message to one Bard the Bowman , who seeing the bare patch on the chest of Smaug, dispatched the dragon with a single arrow, thus allowing the party of Dwarves to take possession of the treasure.

The citizens of Laketown arrive to make historical claims and demand compensation for the help they had rendered, as well as reparations for damage Smaug inflicted during his attack. They're joined by the Elves, who also demand a share based on historical claims. The Dwarves refuse all negotiations and in turn summon kin from the mountains to strengthen their position. Seeing no other way to avert a war, Bilbo uses the ring to steal the prized Arkenstone from the Dwarves, which he uses to broker peace. Just as a grudging truce is agreed to, the three armies at the Lonely Mountain (Elves, Men, and Dwarves) are attacked by Goblins and Wargs from the Misty Mountains. A bitter battle ensues (named the Battle of the Five Armies ). Though suffering heavy losses, Elves, Men, and Dwarves prevail with the help of the Eagles. The treasure is apportioned. Bilbo refuses most of the riches, realizing he has no way to bring them back home; he nevertheless takes enough with him to make himself a wealthy hobbit and live happily thereafter, unaware of the dangerous nature of his ring , which he places in a glass case on his mantle.

Alternate version In the first edition, Gollum willingly bets his magic ring on the outcome of the riddle game. During the writing of The Lord of the Rings Tolkien saw the need to revise this passage, in order to reflect the concept of the One Ring and its powerful hold on Gollum. Tolkien tried many different passages in the chapter that would become chapter 2 of The Lord of the Rings, " The Shadow of the Past ". Eventually Tolkien decided a rewrite of The Hobbit was in order, and he sent a sample chapter of this rewrite (" Riddles In The Dark ") to his publishers. Initially he heard nothing further, but when he was sent galley proofs of a new edition he learned to his surprise the new chapter had been incorporated as the result of a misunderstanding. Tolkien explained the two different versions in the introduction of The Lord of the Rings, as well as inside "The Shadow of the Past", as a "lie" that Bilbo made up, probably because of the One Ring's influence on him, and which he originally wrote down in his book. Inside The Lord of the Rings, Bilbo finally confesses the real story at the Council of Elrond , although Gandalf had deduced the truth earlier.

As Tolkien presented himself as the translator of the supposedly historic Red Book of Westmarch , where Bilbo and Frodo's stories were recorded, he further explained the two differing stories in The Hobbit by stating he had originally used Bilbo's original story, but later re-translated the work with the "true story" recorded by Frodo . This first edition also mentions "gnomes", an earlier word Tolkien used to refer to the second kindred of the High Elves — the Ñoldor (or "Deep Elves"). Tolkien thought that "gnome", being derived from the Greek gnosis (knowledge), was a good name for the Ñoldor he created to be the wisest of the other Elves. However, because of its English connotations of a small, secretive, and unattractive creature (see garden gnome ), Tolkien removed it from later editions. He made other minor changes in order to conform the narrative to events in The Lord of the Rings and in the ideas he was developing for the Quenta Silmarillion . However, this still doesn't fit perfectly: even revised, The Hobbit is so much different in tone that it sometimes seems to belong in another universe from other Middle-earth works.

Examples include the following: Anachronisms: Bilbo has a clock (the clock makes an appearance in Lord of the Rings as well [4] [5] , the Shire has clocks, and the term 'o'clock' is mentioned throughout as a specific hobbit term in Shire reckoning of time based on said clocks). Many artists like John Howe prefer to omit it from their paintings. Bilbo also is mentioned to have matches for his pipe (it does make a point to note that Dwarves only use tinder-boxes [6] and thus suggesting it also a Shire specific technology). In the world of Lord of the Rings matches had not yet been invented [citation needed] and all use flints. To be fair the LOTR never describes how Hobbits light their pipes (when pipes are mentioned Hobbits are already smoking them), Gimli the dwarf lights his pipe with flint and tinder). Sam has a tinder-box (which he prominently needs for his cooking gear). Even matches and fireworks (which feature prominently in Hobbit and LOTR both) have similar histories (both using similar chemistry) in the real world (matches actually predate fireworks in development in China, and may go back further in other cultures as well).

Tinder-boxes are better for long journies as well (only times the Hobbit mentions matches Bilbo had already run out of them). The Trolls have English first and last names, like fairy-tale characters. Lighthearted use of "magic": when Bilbo tries to steal a purse from the Trolls, the purse shouts. Elves appear as either silly mischiefs (Rivendell) or hostile (Mirkwood). Orcs are still called Goblins, and are more like bogeymen than man-eating humanoid warriors (although in Lord of the Rings Orcs are also called Goblins in places). Gandalf mentions Radagast as his cousin. (Then again, both Gandalf and Radagast are angelic Maiar spirits, and thus in a sense are "related", both being children of the thought of Ilúvatar .) The extensive mentioning (and brief appearance) of Giants and stone-giants . Giants were never developed in Tolkien's other works, but since they should exist and possibly take a grand part in the past and upcoming Wars, they are never mentioned again.

Even if Giants are seen as a kind of large Troll, they are hard to justify, as trolls are described as either incredibly stupid or incredibly evil: quite unlike the stone-giants of The Hobbit. Giants actually do get mentioned several times in Lord of the Rings but as rumors, tales, or legends of the past (i.e. Giants on the boarders of the shire or in the High Moor , or that men say the Hornburg was built with the hands of giants). The comical allusion to Vita Sackville-West , who had been involved in a sensational court case over an English estate in the decade before The Hobbit was written. The Orcs pictured in The Hobbit are not depicted as being allied to either Sauron (called the Necromancer in this case) or Saruman. They are simply depicted as hating all the Free Peoples, and attacking them randomly. References to fairies and ogres are also included. Direct references to wicked dwarves a nod back to some of his earlier dwarves such as Mim (which would later divide into ideas of Petty-dwarves and other Dwarves). Dwarves are also spell casters and use enchanted curses in similarity to his earlier tales.

Some of the tone differences can be explained by accepting Bilbo as the author of the work: Bilbo wrote the story of his journeys to recount them to the children of Hobbiton and therefore changed the story somewhat. Apparent major differences such as the different perception of the Ring can also be explained by Bilbo's lacking knowledge of these matters. From a development standpoint The Hobbit and also some of the material in The Adventures of Tom Bombadil was first written when Tolkien was still enmeshed in and writing material in The Book of Lost Tales and Lays of Beleriend in the early tales. Not all of that earlier material was edited out in the final editions. Similarities to Beowulf During his time as a professor at the University of Oxford Tolkien studied Anglo-Saxon . One of the Anglo-Saxon pieces of literature he studied is the epic poem Beowulf , about which he wrote essays such as The Monsters and the Critics . Interesting parallels can be found between The Hobbit and Beowulf. The plots of the two stories are very similar. In both of them a party of 13 sets out to seek satisfaction for a crime committed by a dragon.

Both parties contain a thief , which in The Hobbit is Bilbo, who steals a cup from the sleeping dragon's hoard by using a secret passage. Both dragons then awake from their deep slumber and cause terror and destruction. Both dragons are well protected by their armour, a natural one in Beowulf and one made of gold and diamonds in The Hobbit, but finally they are killed. Both stories end or almost end with a fight with a dragon. But not only the plots share similarities: both main characters, Bilbo and Beowulf, share characteristics. Both heroes defy their enemies with their supernatural power, which in Bilbo's case is the ring and in Beowulf's case is his supernatural strength. While Beowulf has the help of God , Bilbo often prevails because of his sheer luck. Both are of noble ancestry and both get separated from their group, Bilbo in the mountains, Beowulf when he travels down to the lair of Grendel's mother in order to kill her. Additionally some elements of Anglo-Saxon culture can be found. In both books a king, which in Anglo-Saxon sometimes is called ring or gold giver, awards his warriors with treasures and war gear.

In Anglo-Saxon culture poems are important, as they contain the people's history and they are sung by scops . Two of these songs are found in Beowulf and more in The Hobbit. The Anglo-Saxon society was one of warriors and Tolkien's dwarves are close to this culture. They are warriors and like Anglo-Saxons they value jewellery and war gear. Editions One of the many covers of The Hobbit George Allen & Unwin, Ltd. of London published the first edition of The Hobbit in September 1937 . It was illustrated with many black-and-white drawings by Tolkien himself. The original illustrations would be colour plates. Allen & Unwin decided to incorporate the colour illustrations into their second printing, released at the end of 1937. Despite the book's popularity, wartime conditions forced the London publisher to print small runs of the remaining two printings of the first edition. As remarked above, Tolkien substantially revised the text describing Bilbo's dealings with Gollum in order to blend the story better into what The Lord of the Rings had become. This revision became the second edition, published in 1951 in both UK and American editions.

Slight corrections to the text have appeared in the third (1966) and fourth editions (1978). New English-language editions of The Hobbit spring up often, despite the book's age, with at least fifty editions having been published to date. Each comes from a different publisher or bears distinctive cover art, internal art, or substantial changes in format. The text of each generally adheres to the Allen & Unwin edition extant at the time it is published. The remarkable and enduring popularity of The Hobbit expresses itself in the collectors' market. The first printing of the first English language edition rarely sells for under U.S. $10,000 in any whole condition, and clean copies in original dust jackets signed by the author are routinely advertised for over $100,000. Online auction site eBay tends to define the market value for those who collect The Hobbit . J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit has been translated into many languages.

Known translations, with the first date of publishing, are: Language Der Hobit, oder, Ahin un Vider Tsurik Barry Goldstein Portlaoise: Evertype, ISBN 978-1-78201-120-0 (hb), ISBN 978-1-78201-119-4 (pb). Contains both maps with place-names in Yiddish; the runes are translated into Yiddish. On the cup in the illustration "Conversations with Smaug" ('Shmuesen mit Smaug') the text in Tengwar and initials in runes are translated into Yiddish. Portrayal in Adaptations The Hobbit is a 1977 animated television movie adaptation of the book by J. R. R. Tolkien . The film was made by Rankin/Bass Productions and manages to economically retell most of the story within its 78-minute duration.

An LP with the soundtrack and dialogue from the film was also released in 1977 by Disney through its Buena Vista Records label and an edited version, along with accompanying "storyteller read-alongs," was later issued for the Mouse Factory's Disneyland Records imprint. Harry N. Abrams published a large coffee-table illustrated edition of the book featuring concept art and stills. A second album by Glenn Yarbrough of music "inspired" by The Hobbit was also released. The film was first broadcast on NBC in the United States , on November 27, 1977 (on Sunday night, three days after Thanksgiving ) and is presented in a heart-warming style, featuring a lot of songs (many of which are based on poems and lyrics from the book). Much of the story has been simplified and several episodes and key scenes are omitted. The poster for part 1 (Unexpected Journey)

Question: In September 1937, the first edition of which J R R Tolkien novel was published?
Answer: The Hobbit