The Hobbit
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, is a book by J.R.R. Tolkien and the first published work about Middle Earth. In the book Bilbo Baggins, a common hobbit, is drafted by the wizard Gandalf, to go on an adventure. He travels with 13 dwarves who seek to reclaim their treasure from the dragon, Smaug. After much adventure they finally make it to the dragon's lair. In the end Bilbo returns home laden with sacks of gold and silver. He also finds a mysterious magical ring.
This book is a delightful book for children and adults alike. In the chronology of Middle-earth, Tolkien's classic The Lord of the Rings trilogy follows The Hobbit. In Tolkienesque mythology the two books together form the History of the Finding of the One Ring and The War of the Ring as recorded in the Red Book of Westmarch written by Bilbo and Frodo Baggins and preserved for posterity by Samwise Gamgee and his descendants.[1]
Plot summary
Bilbo is idling in front of his semi-underground house when he's accosted by the famous wizard Gandalf, who introduces a group of Dwarves to the "Burglar", as he calls Mr. Baggins. The wizard and his 14 companions set off to recover their stolen treasure from a dragon (Smaug). They encounter trolls and goblins in their travels, and Bilbo finds a golden ring which makes the wearer invisible.
The company is aided by the Elves of Rivendell, enormous Eagles, and a shape-shifting bear-man (Beorn). The are nearly killed by huge spiders and are captured by Wood Elves. Bilbo engineers their escape, and aided by the lake men they climb the Lonely Mountain seeking a way inside to recover their treasure. Bilbo gets a clue from a little bird and dares to confront the dragon.
References
- ↑ The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, Houghton Mifflin, 1937.