The Hobbit By J.R.R. Tolkien

Title: The Hobbit
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
ISBN: 0-261-10221-4
288 pages
Grafton Publishing, 1991 edition

Description:

The Hobbit tells the tale of Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit (a small, human-like creature) who lives in quiet comfort in his Hobbit hole, only concerned with the contents of his pantry. In comes Gandalf the wizard, an old friend of Bilbo's, with a group of 13 dwarves who are their in order to bring Bilbo along on a perilous but lucrative journey. Bilbo is initially against any such adventure but is herded off by Gandalf and is whisked along on this adventure, of which he is none too thrilled. The dwarves mean to travel a great distance to the Lonely Mountain, a stronghold of their ancestors where a dragon named Smaug stands guard over a vast fortune that was stolen from the dwarves' ancestors. Gandalf, in order to convince the dwarves to bring Bilbo along, sells Bilbo as an ace thief (something which he is not) that will be an asset on their adventure.

Bilbo, Gandalf and the dwarves set off through goblin filled mountains where Bilbo happens upon a magic ring that allows him to disappear from sight (all except his shadow). The troupe voyages through these mountains and through deep, dark forests populated by frightening creatures with Bilbo and his ring often there to save the day. Finally the dwarves and Bilbo make their way to the Lonely Mountain and its fiery inhabitant Smaug. This motley crew must defeat the evil dragon in order to regain what is rightfully theirs

Review:

A long time classic of childrens fiction, 'The Hobbit' well deserves this distinction. The characters are immediately likable (or not, depending on the character) and the writing is witty and engaging. I loved this book, as well as Tolkien's 'Lord of the RIngs' series, when I was a kid and upon re-reading; not much has changed. Despite its' length, for a childrens book at least, 'The Hobbit' draws one along quickly and the reader becomes easily engrossed in the adventure of Bilbo and the dwarves. Written in the 1930's, many subsequent authors have tried to duplicate Tolkien's brand of fantasy but none have succeeded, in my estimation, in the way that Mr. Tolkien has. A must-read for any child (or adult) who has a penchant for adventures or fantasy.