Product Description

Written for J.R.R. Tolkien's own children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when first published more than sixty years ago. Now recognized as a timeless classic with sales of more than 40 million copies worldwide, this introduction to Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf the Wizard, and the spectacular world of Middle-earth tells of the adventures of a reluctant hero, a powerful and dangerous ring, and the cruel dragon Smaug the Magnificent.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1641 in Books
• Published on: 2002-08-15
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Amazon.com
"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 down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort."

The hobbit-hole in question belongs to one Bilbo Baggins, an upstanding member of a "little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves." He is, like most of his kind, well off, well fed, and best pleased when sitting by his own fire with a pipe, a glass of good beer, and a meal to look forward to. Certainly this particular hobbit is the last person one would expect to see set off on a hazardous journey; indeed, when Gandalf the Grey stops by one morning, "looking for someone to share in an adventure," Baggins fervently wishes the wizard elsewhere. No such luck, however; soon 13 fortune-seeking dwarves have arrived on the hobbit's doorstep in search of a burglar, and before he can even grab his hat or an umbrella, Bilbo Baggins is swept out his door and into a dangerous adventure.

The dwarves' goal is to return to their ancestral home in the Lonely Mountains and reclaim a stolen fortune from the dragon Smaug. Along the way, they and their reluctant companion meet giant spiders, hostile elves, ravening wolves--and, most perilous of all, a subterranean creature named Gollum from whom Bilbo wins a magical ring in a riddling contest. It is from this life-or-death game in the dark that J.R.R. Tolkien's masterwork, The Lord of the Rings, would eventually spring. Though The Hobbit is lighter in tone than the trilogy that follows, it has, like Bilbo Baggins himself, unexpected iron at its core. Don't be fooled by its fairy-tale demeanor; this is very much a story for adults, though older children will enjoy it, too. By the time Bilbo returns to his comfortable hobbit-hole, he is a different person altogether, well primed for the bigger adventures to come--and so is the reader. --Alix Wilber

From Publishers Weekly
J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, which first appeared on the literary scene in 1937, receives elegant and appropriately fantastical treatment with Peter Sis's artwork on the jacket just in time for the December release of The Fellowship of the Ring. The paperback features sturdy foldover flaps on the cover.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
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.

Customer Reviews

Rob Inglis Audioreview - The Hobbit A+
I had the pleasure of listening to the Rob Inglis audiobook version of The Hobbit on a recent long car trip. While I was already familiar with the story, I hadn't read it in a long time. Mr. Inglis' reading was very engaging and entertaining. His voices for the characters and singing of the included songs/poems were delightful.

I highly recommend this audiobook version of The Hobbit.

Amazing Story!
If you are a Lord of the Rings fan, you will definitely enjoy this story of Bilbo Baggin's adventures and the discovery of the ring. Amazing story for anyone to listen to, and the narrator does an excellent job.

Hobbit unabridged audio book
Our 10 year old and 7 year old sons and their mum are really enjoying this recording every time we get in the car. Mum thinks the reading by Rob Inglis is superb (he uses different voices for the various characters and the narration and also sings). The boys are gripped by the story. This is 10 CDs long so you need stamina. Our four year old son finds it boring because it is so long. Highly reccommended for 7 to 12 year old boys.