World Famous Comics: The Hobbit: or, There and Back Again (Collector's Edition)
The Hobbit: or, There and Back Again (Collector's Edition)
By: J.R.R. Tolkien Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: Houghton Mifflin Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 319 Publication Date: October 24, 1973 Reading Level: Young Adult
Product Description: This deluxe collector's edition of Tolkien's modern classic is boxed and bound in green leatherette with gold and red foil rune stamping on the spine and cover. The text pages are printed in black with green accents. It includes five full page illustrations in full color and many more in two color in addition to Thror's map -- all prepared by the author. 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. For Mr. Bilbo Baggins visited various notable persons; conversed with the dragon, Smaug the Magnificent; and was present, rather unwillingly, at the Battle of the 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."
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
I went there and back again...and back again. I first read this book when I was ten, I thought it was great book and read it again. Just recently I read it AGAIN and it was seemed even better than before. I love this book and I would highly recommend it for any fantasy fan.
fantastic lighthearted wonderful read. pick it up if you want to be transported to a mystical world with rich and engaging characters and plot.
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.
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