The timeless classic presented in the standard hardcover edition using the author's original jacket design. J. R. R. Tolkien's own description for the original edition: "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 traveler. 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) -- if you do not already know all about these things -- much about trolls, goblins, dwarves, and elves, and get some glimpses into the history and politics of a neglected but important period.

Wayne G. Hammond (Editor) A classic children's story by the author of The Hobbit Rover should never have bitten the wizard's trousers. His punishment was to be transformed into a toy, and now he is forced to track down the magician so he can be returned to normal. His adventures will take him to the moon and under the sea, introducing him to many fabulous - and dangerous - creatures. Inspired by the loss of his own child's favourite toy, this charming tale was written by J. R. R. Tolkien long before The Hobbit, yet remained unpublished for more than 70 years. This new paperback edition includes a full introduction and detailed notes about the story. This is an old-fashioned story, yet it still speaks freshly today. . . would leap to life when read aloud to a child. - INDEPENDENT Lord of the Rings buffs will enjoy picking out bits of Nordic mythology and will relish Tolkien's fabulous sense of landscape - THE TIMES Cover illustration by J. R. R. Tolkien

Delve into Middle-earth, decipher the Dwarves' alphabet and more, with this indispensable and comprehensive guide to J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit.This wide-ranging encyclopedia covers all the characters, places, and objects included in the seminal book that first introduced the world of Middle-earth, highlighting the legendary sources from which Tolkien took inspiration.With rich illustrations of action scenes and characters, this encyclopedia has in-depth entries on such subjects as: The ArkenstoneAzog and BolgDragonsElvishFaërieGirionLake-townPipes and pipe-weedThe Quest of EreborWasterlandsThe prequel to The Lord of the Rings (1954), The Hobbit (1937) is an extraordinarily rich work that first introduced us to the world of Middle-earth, and sets up the fantasy world that would be built upon at greater length in...

A collection of short parodies, excerpted from the award-winning Henry Potty series and An Unexpected Parody: The Unauthorized Spoof of The Hobbit, How Game of Thrones Will End, and new side-splitting material for readers young and old. A delightful romp through the world's favorite franchises.A collection of short parodies, excerpted from the award-winning Henry Potty and the Pet Rock, An Unexpected Parody: The Unauthorized Spoof of The Hobbit, How Game of Thrones Will End, and new side-splitting material for readers young and old. A delightful romp through the world's favorite franchises.

"It's a dangerous business, going out your front door."In the age of men, one must face myriad challenges: epic quests, imminent danger, the evil gaze of Sauron . . . okay, so maybe not. But wouldn't life's day-to-day challenges be easier if one were to take a cue from the diminutive hobbit? With The Unofficial Hobbit Handbook as your guide, you'll be ready to brave the difficulties, discomforts, and occasional orcs you may encounter.Become acquainted and form fellowships with the peoples of Middle-earth: elves, dwarves, wizards, Ents, and moreLearn about the dangerous creatures that lurk in the lands beyond the Shire: orcs, wolves, and dragonsUse hobbit tactics of running away, hiding, and disappearing (with or without the use of magical rings)Discover the proper etiquette for the delivery and solving or riddlesSo put another log on the fire, cut another slice of seed-cake (is it time for elevenses already?) and curl up with The Unofficial...

Exploring the brilliant web of verbal hocus-pocus that J.R.R. Tolkien delightedly spun inThe Hobbit andThe Lord of the Rings, master hobbit investigator David Day reveals the myriad crafty puns and riddles, hidden meanings, and mythical associations beneath the saga's thrilling surface.

A major new examination of how J.R.R.Tolkien came to write his original masterpiece ?The Hobbit?, including his complete unpublished draft version of the story, and many little-known illustrations and previously unpublished maps by Tolkien himself. For the first time in one volume, The History of the Hobbit presents the complete unpublished text of the original manuscript of J.R.R.Tolkien?s The Hobbit, accompanied by John Rateliff's lively and informative account of how the book came to be written and published. As well as recording the numerous changes made to the story both before and after publication, it examines ? chapter-by-chapter ? why those changes were made and how they reflect Tolkien's ever-growing concept of Middle-earth. The Hobbit was first published on 21 September 1937. Like its successor, The Lord of the Rings, it is a story that "grew in the telling", and many characters and story threads in the published text are completely different from what Tolkien first...