The Hobbit

By J.R.R. Tolkien, J.R.R. Tolkien (Illustrated by)

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Average Rating: (See all 14 reviews) Format: Paperback, 400 pages, 70th Anniversary ed Edition Other Information: illustrations Published In: United Kingdom, 19 March 2001 Quantity Available: 388 Ships within 3-6 days This is a new paperback edition of JRR Tolkien's fantasy masterpiece, "The Hobbit". "The Hobbit" is a tale of high adventure, undertaken by a company of dwarves in search of dragon-guarded gold. A reluctant partner in this perilous quest is Bilbo Baggins, a comfort-loving unambitious hobbit, who surprises even himself by his resourcefulness and skill as a burglar. Encounters with trolls, goblins, dwarves, elves and giant spiders, conversations with the dragon, Smaug, and a rather unwilling presence at the Battle of Five Armies are just some of the adventures that befall Bilbo. Bilbo Baggins has taken his place among the ranks of the immortals of children's fiction. Written by Professor Tolkien for his own children, "The Hobbit" met with instant critical acclaim when published. Reviews 'One of the most influential books of our generation! A flawless masterpiece' The Times 'The English-speaking world is divided into those who have read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and those who are going to read them.' Sunday Times About the Author J.R.R.Tolkien (1892-1973) was a distinguished academic, though he is best known for writing The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, plus other stories and essays. His books have been translated into over 30 languages and have sold many millions of copies worldwide. Prizes A new paperback edition of JRR Tolkien's fantasy masterpiece, The Hobbit / The most successful of all Tolkien titles, The Hobbit has been translated into 30 languages and sold over 35 million copies / Read by each new generation since publication in 1937 / Has a huge cult following plus potential for far wider readership, both children and adult / Special edition -- completely reset and now includes the first chapter of The Lord of the Rings Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd ISBN: 0261102214 EAN: 9780261102217 Dimensions: 17.0 x 11.0 centimeters

this shows that a simple knock on the door can lead to an adventure beyond the imagination, bilbo and a rag tag group of surley dwarves not only change the course of middle earth but create legendary tales to boot, and i have'nt even mention the dragon yet, this is a must read for anybody

Even though it is only the start of the tale I found The Hobbit the best one in the series. The way the story is told makes it appeal to both children and Adults. It was a great book but the furry feet bothered me a bit.

This has been a staple in my library for many years. You cannot read "Lord of the Rings" without first reading this. It tells the story of how Bilbo Baggins first obtained possession of the "one ring", and the history behind "Lord of the Rings". A must for all JRR Tolkien fans.

I remember when I was seven, I was in bed one evening. My dad brought me this book to read.

"What is it about?" I ask.

"A hobbit," he says.

"What is a hobbit?" I reply. If I was a few years older it would have been 'what the bloody hell is a hobbit?'

My first thought was a small creature with furry feet sounded dumb and boring.

I was wrong.

The hobbit is my favourite book of all time and much better then the whole lord of the rings series in my opinion. I first read this when i was 12 and read it every year since then and enjoy it more and more each time. I reccomend this book to anyone young or old.

I never really got into the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and even then this is a pretty good read. Don't try and read it to your 5 year old daughter though! it will put her off it for years. the 8 year old son loved it though!

magical story about trials and triumphs - quite scary in parts.

The one that started it all, this is the prelude to the infamous Lord of the Rings trilogy, telling the story of Bilbo Baggins, the uncle of Frodo, who went with a band of dwarves and the wizard Gandalf to take back the dwarves' legendary treasure, that has found its way to the lair of the evil dragon Smaug. Along the way, the band of intrepid treasure-hunters faced many perils, and Bilbo met a certain strange creature named Gollum, and found a mysterious magical ring that makes the wearer invisible...

This is a much more light-hearted and fun book than the Lord of the Rings, though the prose is still as dense and evocative in many places. The plot is simply a fun adventure tale, suitable for children even; but it's the characters that really make it stand out, Bilbo in particular is a joy to read about. A very worthy companion to the classic epic fantasy trilogy, and a classic in its own right.

The hobbit is a much more accessible book than the lord of the rings, so if you're thinking you should read the great trilogy i'd suggest starting here. You get the story of how Bilbo obtained the ring in the first place, and you get an idea of JRR tolkeins writing style. Overall i enjoyed the Hobbit, it is full of excitement and adventure and can appeal to people from all walks of life.

In my mind even better than the Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit is a beatifully written and often thrilling little book. While in some ways it works mroe as a kind of childrens fable it still holds true as a great read for anyone.

It will also make the Lord of the Rings a much more enjoyable read.

I have to say that I enjoyed the Hobbit as much if not more than the Lord of the Rings. The story is less convoluted and does not drag as much. It is a classic and a must-read for fantasy lovers. The faults of the book are that the overly-descriptive style and sometimes detached style of Tolkien can detract from the readers involvement. But both this book and the Lord of the Rings revived / inspired an entire genre. It is just a shame that a significant portion of that genre has been inferior copycats to Tolkien's work.