In one volume for the first time this revised and updated examination of how J.R.R.Tolkien
came to write his original masterpiece The Hobbit includes his complete unpublished draft
version of the story together with notes and illustrations by Tolkien himself. The Hobbit was
first published on 21 September 1937. Like its sequel The Lord of the Rings it is a story
that 'grew in the telling' and many characters and plot threads in the published text are
quite different from the story J.R.R. Tolkien first wrote to read aloud to his young sons as
one of their 'fireside reads'. Together in one volume The History of the Hobbit presents the
complete text of the unpublished manuscript of The Hobbit accompanied by John Rateliff's
lively and informative account of how the book came to be written and published. Recording the
numerous changes made to the story both before and after publication he examines - chapter by
chapter - why those changes were made and how they reflect Tolkien's ever-growing concept of
Middle-earth. As well as reproducing the original version of one of the world's most popular
novels - both on its own merits and as the foundation for The Lord of the Rings - this book
includes many little-known illustrations and draft maps for The Hobbit by Tolkien himself. Also
featured are extensive commentaries on the dates of composition how Tolkien's professional and
early mythological writings influenced the story the imaginary geography he created and how
Tolkien came to revise the book years after publication to accommodate events in The Lord of
the Rings . Endorsed by Christopher Tolkien as a companion to his essential 12-volume The
History of Middle-earth this thoughtful and exhaustive examination of one of the most
treasured stories in English literature offers fascinating new insights for those who have
grown up with this enchanting tale and will delight any who are about to enter Bilbo's round
door for the first time.
