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Cover of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Hobbit

J.R.R. Tolkien

  • 310 pages · about 5 hours
  • First published 1937
  • 481 editions
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1 About this book

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 children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when published.

  • Fantasy
  • Dragons
  • Classics
  • Magic in fiction
  • Magic
  • Quests (Expeditions)
  • Comics & graphic novels, fantasy
  • Science fiction

2 What to expect

Bilbo Baggins is swept into a company of dwarves on a quest to win back their treasure from a dragon. Cozy and humorous, told by a chatty narrator; a lighter, more playful adventure than The Lord of the Rings.

Good for readers who want: fantasy adventure, dragons, and a story for any age.

3 About J.R.R. Tolkien

1892–1973

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973) was an English writer and academic philologist. He was the author of the high fantasy works The Hobbit (1937) and The Lord of the Rings (1954–1955). From 1925 to 1945 Tolkien was the Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon and a Fellow of Pembroke College, both at the University of Oxford.

Bio adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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